Steve Maile, a senior pastor with more than 35 years in evangelical ministry, was dramatically arrested by British police while preaching on a public street in Watford, Hertfordshire. The footage of his arrest has gone viral online, triggering fury among his supporters who call it a gross injustice.
Handcuffed in Front of Family
Maile, senior pastor of Oasis City Church and a prominent figure in apostolic evangelical circles, was detained right in front of his wife, Karina, his co-pastor, and their children. Video shows him calmly preaching as officers move in to restrain him. He insists he’s doing nothing wrong, repeating, “There is no offence being committed here. None whatsoever.”
“You cannot arrest me. I am a preacher of the Gospel,” Maile says directly to the police. Even as he is handcuffed, he urges the crowd to “repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you’ll be saved.”
His wife was seen visibly shaken, and their children were reportedly reduced to tears by the scene.
Pastor Calls Arrest ‘Brutal and Unjust’
In a video update posted early the next morning, Maile described the arrest as “absolutely brutalised” and deeply traumatic. He said he was in “excruciating pain,” double handcuffed, and held for hours in custody. Yet, he fiercely denied any wrongdoing.
“The allegations against me are completely false,” he said, adding he was interrogated for hours before being released on three months’ bail — a move he called “absolute nonsense.”
Despite everything, Maile vowed to keep preaching. “You will never, ever stop Steve Maile preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” he declared, promising to seek the strongest legal help.
From Chef to Global Evangelist
Steve Maile converted to Christianity in Auckland, New Zealand in 1979, leaving behind a career as a head chef to travel the world preaching. He has ministered in over 50 countries and worked alongside some of the biggest names in the evangelical movement. He and Karina founded Oasis City Church in Watford, where they serve as co-pastors and raise their four children—some of whom are also involved in the ministry.
Police Silence on Charges
As of now, Hertfordshire Police have not confirmed the reason for Maile’s arrest, and no formal charges have been publicly disclosed. The pastor denies all allegations made against him. The dramatic street arrest of a veteran pastor preaching the gospel continues to raise questions about faith, freedom, and law enforcement in the UK today.
