Christian missionary hailed as ‘holiest man alive’ pleads guilty to abusing boys in Texas

Daniel Savala, who preached for decades in an Assemblies of God-run college ministry, was sentenced to 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole.

This article is part of “Pastors and Prey,” a series investigating sex abuse allegations in the Assemblies of God.

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WACO, Texas — Daniel Savala, a former missionary whose influence inside an Assemblies of God-run college ministry persisted for years despite repeated warnings about his predatory behavior, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges that he sexually abused two boys.

Appearing by video from jail, Savala, 70, entered the plea before Judge Susan Kelly, admitting to one count of continuous trafficking of persons, a felony charge for offenders who engage in a pattern of sexual exploitation involving multiple victims over time. Under a negotiated plea agreement, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole.