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

Pastors and PreyChristian missionary hailed as ‘holiest man alive’ pleads guilty to abusing boys in TexasDaniel 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.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00 body:has(.jw-flag-floating) .article-hero__container, body:has(.jw-flag-floating) .article-hero__media-holder, body:has(.jw-flag-floating) #content { z-index: auto; } Add NBC News to GoogleVictims of a college ministry's sexual abuse seek answers06:12Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 7, 2026, 2:34 PM EDTBy Suzanne Gamboa and Mike HixenbaughThis article is part of “Pastors and Prey,” a series investigating sex abuse allegations in the Assemblies of God.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.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.Savala, dressed in gray jail scrubs, showed no emotion as he entered his plea and accepted a sentence that prosecutors expect will send him to prison for the rest of his life.“I don’t expect he will ever see the light of day again,” McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens said afterward. “And that is justice in this case.”Daniel Savala poses with young followers in Alaska in 2002.Courtesy Olivia WolfThe plea brought closure to a criminal case that began in 2023 after reve...