55-519: Hillsong Music is Christian music produced by Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia as well as offshoot churches, Hillsong London , and Hillsong Kyiv . Hillsong albums are released and distributed by Hillsong Music . The main groups are Hillsong Worship , Hillsong United , Hillsong Young & Free , and Hillsong Kids. Hillsong Church's popularity in Christian praise and worship music stems from
110-528: A megachurch through the 1980s and 1990s was largely driven by young people attracted by its contemporary worship music , and by its practice of planting churches internationally. In 1992, Hills CLC planted London Christian Life Centre as an independent church, with Gerard and Sue Keehan as pastors; it was renamed Hillsong London in 2000 and gradually grew to twelve locations across the United Kingdom. Kyiv Christian Life Centre, now Hillsong Kyiv ,
165-470: A "confluence of sophisticated marketing techniques and popular music". The music of Hillsong United and Hillsong Worship are credited with driving Hillsong's global popularity. Through the 1980s and 1990s, the congregation grew from 45 members to nearly 20,000 and emerged as a significant influence in the area of contemporary worship music . This was a result of strategic marketing that targeted younger generations and Hillsong's success at establishing itself as
220-437: A "global corporate brand ", and "Australia's most powerful brand", with its fast global growth assisted by the spectacle of its huge conferences, the popularity of its music releases, young people's attraction to the charismatic leaders, Hillsong Television, its messaging and language (described by critics as "health and wealth"), customer service, targeting of children, presence on social media, and merchandising. The church
275-584: A Beautiful Name " won the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song . Some Hillsong songs have distinct gospel influences. Hillsong Music titles regularly feature in the top 25 of most songs sung in all reporting countries recorded through the CCLI website. Christian Copyright Licensing International allows churches to use any listed music through a flat fee based on congregational size rather than buying access to individual songs, making recent music more affordable to churches all over
330-514: A Beautiful Name". Hillsong United was conceived as the youth arm of the worship ministry, producing annual live albums similarly to Hillsong Live, with a focus on alternative rock . As the members grew older, United has since transitioned into a band with currently an eleven-member fixed lineup of Hillsong musicians as well as a focus on studio albums compared to the Worship and Young & Free ministries. Their song " Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) "
385-509: A denomination in the traditional sense of the word... We are a denomination purely for practical reasons related to having the ability to ordain our pastors in Australia to legally conduct weddings as marriage celebrants operating under the rites of Hillsong Church". Houston added that they had not shifted doctrinally and that the ACC was still their "tribe". In October 2020, Hillsong purchased
440-511: A female worship leader – Darlene Zschech . The 2004 Hillsong live worship album For All You've Done , debuted at No. 1 on the Australian Record Industry Association album charts. There was some controversy about this outcome as almost all of the albums were sold at Hillsong's annual conference held in early July. The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has defended the outcome noting that
495-458: A global music standard. Hillsong Church has produced over 40 albums, which have sold over 11 million copies. Albums are produced for different target audiences including Hillsong Kids for children. Hillsong Chapel features acoustic arrangements, which are "quieter" than the electric guitar, keyboard and drums that are typical of Hillsong's music. Hillsong's albums are produced by Hillsong Music Australia . Hillsong's congregational music has been
550-589: A health centre and youth mentoring. CityCare's "street teams" worked within the community to care for, feed and clothe the homeless. In July 2008, concerns were raised by some teachers, parents, and experts about the Hillsong City Care Shine program for girls being run in New South Wales public schools, community groups and the juvenile justice system . The concerns include that the program is "inappropriate for troubled young women, that
605-534: A misconduct investigation by the ministry. Since then, Brian Houston has announced through X, formerly known as Twitter , that they would be launching a new church in 2024. This would contain of weekly services through an online platform. On 9 March 2016, Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the American religious broadcaster , announced a partnership with Hillsong that saw TBN's digital terrestrial television (DTT) sub-channel, The Church Channel, rebranded as
SECTION 10
#1732798438311660-578: A new denomination. The church is known for its contemporary worship music , with groups such as Hillsong Worship , Hillsong United and Hillsong Young & Free with many musical credits and hits and a series of scandals and criticisms. Hillsong and its music have been highly successful globally, with its presence described as a global corporate brand , but a series of scandals and criticisms have negatively affected its image in recent years. In March 2022, Houston stepped down as global senior pastor after an internal investigation found that he had breached
715-506: A process that supports women's movement from timid, supportive wife into leadership roles within the church. The Sisterhood is involved in issues such as HIV/AIDS , domestic violence and human trafficking . Their midweek gathering is primarily for women. It is attended by all female staff members and is the foundation of Hillsong's women's ministries. The Thursday meeting for mothers includes businesswomen, and special quarterly "Sisterhood United" night meetings include working women. Members of
770-630: A teacher's federation representative insisted that children had been exposed to religious content, such as people relating stories about finding religion and joining the Hillsong Church. Hillsong was formerly affiliated with Australian Christian Churches (the Assemblies of God in Australia), part of Pentecostal Christianity. The church's beliefs are Evangelical and charismatic . Hillsong's positions on non-central doctrines of
825-623: A training arm of IICM, under Ian Fuller. It was first known as Power Ministry School, then in 1992 Power Ministry College, under Steve Kelly. In 1993 the Hillsong School and a School of Music was established to train young musicians. In 1996, after Mark Hopkins took over as director, the Hillsong School and the School of Music were merged to form the Hills Leadership College. In 1990, Robert Fergusson became principal at
880-778: A variety of guests from across the globe. Baptist minister Michael Frost described the 2011 conference as having, "a kind of electric, almost carnival atmosphere ... the delegates were full of anticipation and excitement". In 2014, the New York event was held in Madison Square Garden , while the London conference was held in The O2 Arena over three days and has continued to be held at this venue until at least 2018. Bobbie Houston Roberta Lee Houston (born 16 January 1957), better known as Bobbie Houston ,
935-802: Is a New Zealand -born Australian of Tongan descent and a Pentecostal pastor in the Australian Christian Churches . Houston and her husband, Brian were the Senior Pastors of the Hillsong Church in Baulkham Hills , Sydney, Australia prior to the latter's departure in 2022. Bobbie and her husband, Brian Houston moved to Australia in February 1978, serving at Sydney Christian Life Centre , Darlinghurst , under Brian Houston's father, Frank Houston . In
990-575: Is a charismatic Christian megachurch and a Christian association of churches based in Australia. The original church was established in Baulkham Hills , New South Wales , as Hills Christian Life Centre by Brian Houston and his wife, Bobbie Houston , in 1983. Hillsong was a member of the Australian Christian Churches – the Australian branch of the US-based Assemblies of God – until 2018, when it separated to form
1045-569: Is governed by the Hillsong Global Board and a group of elders known as the Hillsong Eldership, headed by Pastors Phil and Lucinda Dooley since 2022. The elders lead the church spiritually whereas the board of directors manages the corporate administration appointed for one year, with renewable terms. The founders, Brian and Bobbie Houston, had been the global senior pastors of Hillsong Church. On 31 January 2022 it
1100-600: The Festival Hall venue in Melbourne to become the home of Hillsong Church Melbourne City's weekly church services after undergoing renovations to better suit the new uses. In October 2021, Hillsong bought the Golders Green Hippodrome in London, England, with the intention of holding Sunday services there. Brian Houston stepped aside from his senior roles as global senior pastor and chair of
1155-606: The Hillsong International Leadership College arose from the two churches that are now Hillsong Church, the Sydney Christian Life Centre and Hills Christian Life Centre. Both original colleges had similar goals of creating courses in ministry and leadership development based in a local church setting. With an emphasis on the creative arts , theological education was based on the ministry model . The Sydney college
SECTION 20
#17327984383111210-829: The Lord" was an early hit for Hillsong in mid-1990s. In 2008, Reuben Morgan became Hillsong's third worship leader. Hillsong's worship music has been widely influential not only in Pentecostal churches, but more broadly in Evangelical churches. Many of Hillsong's "worship expressions" have been incorporated into Evangelical services including raised hands, vocal utterance and dance. Hillsong Music has released over 40 albums since 1992, many of them achieving gold status in Australia and one of them, People Just Like Us , achieving platinum status. The church's 2004 live praise and worship album For All You've Done reached No. 1 in
1265-505: The Sydney location and switched the focus to practical ministry training. Classes, at this time accommodating around 50-70 students, were moved back to the church site and the name changed to Aquila College of Ministries in 1993. After Hills CLC merged with Sydney CLC (referred to as its "parent church") in 1999, in early 2000 the Sydney college merged with the Hills Leadership College to become Hillsong International Leadership College, with Duncan Corby appointed principal of its "City campus". It
1320-624: The United States, establishing sixteen locations by 2022. In September 2018, Hillsong left the Australian Christian Churches—of which Brian Houston had been national superintendent/president from 1997 to 2009—to become an autonomous denomination, identifying itself more as a global and charismatic church. According to both Hillsong and ACC, the parting was amicable. Of the decision to spin itself off into its own denomination, Houston wrote, "We do not intend to function as
1375-431: The album sold more copies than any other record on sale in Australia that week. As of December 2011, Hillsong has sold more than 12 million records across the globe, following its first release in 1991 and a quarter of all contemporary songs heard in Australian churches in 2011 were written by Hillsong. Early albums were released solely on cassette and CD. Video recordings of the live albums have also been made for VHS since
1430-568: The association in 2022, it would have 38 churches in Australia and 150,000 members in 30 countries, up from 130,000 in 21 countries in May 2019 and 100,000 in 14 countries in September 2015. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the church started measuring online attendees instead of regular attendees, which they stated average 444,000 per weekend. Hillsong has been described as
1485-522: The board in January 2022, owing to the pressures of a court case relating to his alleged failure to report sexual abuse of a child by his father , of which he became aware in the 1990s. In March 2022, he stepped down as the global senior pastor of the church after he was found to have breached the moral code of the church in his behaviour with two women. In August 2022, Hillsong was sued by an Australian whistleblower in federal court there, alleging that
1540-527: The broadcast version of Hillsong Channel on 1 June 2016. The American linear channel was rebranded as TBN Inspire on 1 January 2022, and the international versions followed suit in April 2022, though Hillsong remained a partner in the network. Due to the scandals associated with Brian Houston in relation to Hillsong Church, TBN has decided to remove Hillsong Channel from their network. It has since then been replaced by similar Christian content. In substitute to
1595-454: The channel, they will be providing non-pulpit teachings, worship programs, documentary, and a one-hour flagship program. Hillsong Conference is a mid-year week long annual conference in Sydney, London and New York City each year. First started in 1986, it has grown to be the largest annual conference in Australia as of January 2022 . The Australian conference is hosted by Hillsong Church and lead pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston and involves
1650-495: The church say that her authority as a leader comes from "a Pentecostal understanding of Spirit empowerment". Hillsong has multiple campuses around Australia. As of February 2022 in New South Wales it has Baulkham Hills, two Sydney city campuses (one the location of the original Sydney CLC ), several around various suburbs, and one each in Newcastle and Wollongong . There are also one or two churches in major cities in all of
1705-557: The church's moral code of conduct for pastors by engaging in inappropriate behaviour with women on two occasions in the 2010s. In February 2023, Phil and Lucinda Dooley, who had been acting in the position since January 2022, took over as global senior pastors. In 1977, six years before the establishment of what would become Hillsong Church, Brian Houston 's father Frank founded the Sydney Christian Life Centre (Sydney CLC) in Waterloo , New South Wales , in inner-city Sydney , in what
Hillsong Music (label) - Misplaced Pages Continue
1760-471: The church's position is that their ministries "empower" women. Riches found via interviews with attendees that the ministries increased women's choice regarding around sexuality and child rearing; encouraged women to start small businesses and to take on promotions at work; facilitated women's participation in cultural events, as well as promoted women's voices in religious teaching and public life. Church members have described Hillsong's leadership development as
1815-562: The city campus is Sydney Christian Life Centre Pty Ltd, and one of its tax-deductible charitable funds is called the International Institute for Creative Ministries Library Trust Fund. Bobbie Houston has been especially influential in Hillsong's ministry for women, called Sisterhood. She is a mentor to many of Hillsong's women leaders. Although Hillsong generally supports the traditional roles of wife and mother for women,
1870-753: The collective, while Laura was also one of the vocalists of Young & Free prior to her resignation from Hillsong in 2023. Hillsong Kids is music designed for and by Hillsong's children's ministry. The albums Jesus Is My Superhero and Super Strong God were included on Natalie Gillespie's "Best Christian Children's Albums" lists for 2005 and 2006, respectively (published in Christianity Today ). In late March 2022, Network 10 removed Hillsong-produced television programs from its schedules and video on demand service 10Play . The removal came amid controversies involving Brian Houston, who resigned from his position as senior pastor after being indicted in
1925-503: The dominant source of the church's influence in the Charismatic Christianity movement. Music is central to worship at the church. Hillsong's worship leaders have generally enjoyed a high-profile international position. Early worship leaders included Geoff Bullock and Darlene Zschech . Zschech was Hillsong's second worship leader and Hillsong achieved international acclaim during her ministry. Zschech's "Shout to
1980-602: The early 1980s, Brian and Bobbie Houston started a church on the Central Coast , and a church in Liverpool . In 1983, they moved to Sydney's north-western suburbs and hired the Baulkham Hills Public School hall to start a new church, Hills Christian Life Centre. The first service was held on Sunday 14 August 1983 and is today Hillsong Church . Hillsong Church is located in major cities around
2035-563: The faith are diverse, although individuals have taken a public stand on many topical issues in contemporary Christianity in keeping with mainstream Pentecostalism; for example, the church's founder opposes abortion and supports teaching creationism in schools . Hillsong has also declared support for Creationism and Intelligent Design and believes this should be taught in schools. Hillsong's prosperity teachings have been criticised by Christian leaders Tim Costello and George Pell . Subsequent statements by Tim Costello indicated that he
2090-689: The inauguration of the Hillsong Conference in 1986 and the first publication of choruses written by Hills CLC members, especially Darlene Zschech . It is in this context that Hillsong Music was founded in 1991. Their first live worship CD The Power of Your Love was released in 1992. Since then, live praise and worship albums have been produced each year. Other music series include the Worship series , United , Youth Alive , Hillsong Kids and Instrumental series . They have also released two Christmas albums and several compilation albums. " What
2145-479: The mainstream Australian album charts ( ARIA ). In September 2012, Hillsong produced The Global Project , a collection of their most popular songs released in nine different languages including Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Mandarin, Indonesian, German, French, Swedish and Russian. The Hillsong Worship albums, formerly led by Darlene Zschech and Reuben Morgan and previously named Hillsong Live before 2014, all achieved gold status in Australia. The live album series
2200-490: The megachurch had moved millions of dollars overseas to avoid the charities regulator, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). The whistleblower alleged that Hillsong made "large cash gifts" to Houston and his family using tax-free money. In August 2023, Brian Houston was acquitted of covering up his father's crimes. In 2018, it had 80 churches. According to a census published by
2255-565: The other states except for South Australia . It also has churches in 30 countries across the world, and As of February 2022 reports 150,000 regular attendees globally. Hillsong purchased the heritage-listed Avalon Theatre in Hobart, Tasmania for $ 2.55 million in 2020. The theatre underwent renovations in 2022. In 1986 a social engagement program called CityCare was established in New South Wales, offering various community services including personal development programs, counselling services,
Hillsong Music (label) - Misplaced Pages Continue
2310-1143: The replacement chairperson has yet to be announced. George Aghajanian is General Manager, as well as a director of Hillsong Church Australia and its international entities. In March 2022, Brian Houston resigned from the board of Hillsong Church and from his role as global senior pastor as a result of breaching the moral code of the church in his behaviour with two women. Hillsong has a global presence, with churches and ministries in Australia, Indonesia and Japan, many European countries, Canada, US, South Africa, and, in Latin America , Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Uruguay as of February 2022 . Hillsong's various ministries include Hillsong Music, Hillsong Kids, Hillsong Youth, Hillsong Sisterhood, Hillsong Men, Hillsong Conference , Hillsong CityCare, Hillsong International Leadership College, TBN Inspire (branded as Hillsong Channel from June 2016 to 31 December 2021 ), TV & Film, Hillsong Performing Arts Academy and Hillsong Health Centre. Their total facilities are estimated to be worth around A$ 100 million. Two campuses of
2365-666: The second album in 1993, and additionally for DVD since 2000, with increasing additional content such as documentaries and extra songs. The Hillsong United series CDs have included an additional free part-length DVD since 2004. Several music books have also been published. Including all the series (LIVE, UNITED, Kids, Kids Junior, Chapel, Young & Free, Español, Youth Term, Youth Alive, Worship, Compilation, Instrumental, Christmas, Preview, KIEV, LONDON) and other special releases (Like The 1st Album, Or Other special recordings) they have more than 125 albums, in 15 series. Hillsong Church Hillsong Church , commonly known as Hillsong ,
2420-441: The under-qualified facilitators are reinforcing gender stereotypes and that some parents have not been properly informed" and that "the program encourages girls to be subservient by teaching them that they need to be attractive to men". Hillsong claimed that parents were supportive and that the program broke down barriers in a group situation. In a further response, Hillsong denied that the program had been used for evangelism, but
2475-411: The world. People Just Like Us was the first Christian album to achieve gold status in Australia as well as the first to go Platinum. To date, all Hillsong live worship albums have achieved Gold status in Australia. In 1996, Hillsong Music reached international prominence with the release of Shout to the Lord produced by Integrity Music . This was Integrity Music's first live worship album featuring
2530-468: The world. The Colour Your World Women's Conference is hosted annually by Houston and the Hillsong team in Sydney, London, the US, Cape Town and Kiev. Houston ran the weekly women's ministry of Hillsong. In 1997 she also started the annual Colour Your World Women's Conference. The Colour Sisterhood is a foundation set up by Hillsong Church through Hillsong Women, the women's ministry of the church. Houston
2585-709: Was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs list for a full year. It was the No. 1 song on the Billboard Christian Songs chart in 2014 and 2016, No. 2 for 2015, and the No. 1 song of the 2010s decade. The New York Times described their music as "ornate mainstream arena rock but with God-only lyrics that are vetted for adherence to theology ". Joel Houston , Hillsong's creative director and former lead pastor of Hillsong New York, leads Hillsong United. Hillsong Young & Free
2640-595: Was also planted in post-Soviet Ukraine in 1992. In 1997, Hills CLC moved into a new building at Baulkham Hills' Norwest Business Park. The church merged with Sydney CLC in May 1999, after Frank Houston had been exposed as a paedophile . Brian Houston became senior pastor of both churches for eighteen months. The multi-campus church was renamed Hillsong Church in 2001. Between 2008 and 2018, Hillsong Church planted more churches in Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Israel, Canada and Mexico. Hillsong also branched out into
2695-583: Was announced that Phil and Lucinda Dooley, pastors of the South African church, would be acting global senior pastors in Houston's absence until the end of 2022, after Brian Houston stepped down owing to the pressures of a court case relating to his alleged failure to report sexual abuse by his father, of which he was later acquitted. Brian Houston was also chairman of the board, until his resignation from this position in January 2022. As of February 2022
2750-598: Was approved as a registered training organisation in December 2002, and by 2007 there were around 900 full-time students enrolled across the two campuses, the majority from overseas. In February 2016, Duncan Corby was dean of the college, while Catrina Henderson was principal. and it was still trading as Hillsong International Leadership College. In late 2016 it shortened its name to simply Hillsong College, and as of 2022 has campuses in Sydney and Phoenix, Arizona , and has an online curriculum. The official trading name of
2805-417: Was described by scholar Sam Hey as "a neo- Pentecostal megachurch ". Brian Houston and his wife, Bobbie , started holding services at a school hall in Baulkham Hills , establishing Hills Christian Life Centre (Hills CLC) in 1983. Both Sydney CLC and Hills CLC were affiliated with the Australian Christian Churches (ACC), the Australian branch of the US-based Assemblies of God . Hills CLC's growth into
SECTION 50
#17327984383112860-500: Was established in 2012 as a new youth branch of Hillsong's ministry. Hillsong Church has been successful at adjusting the musical style of their ministries to keep up with changing musical trends. Hillsong Young & Free was launched to attract postmillennial youth worshippers. The style of music in this particular ministry reflects features of musical genres that are popular with this target demographic, including electronic dance music . Laura Toggs and Peter Toganivalu were founders of
2915-562: Was originally founded in 1983 by David Johnston and located at Arncliffe as the "International Institute for Creative Ministries" (IICM), but in 1989 Johnston parted ways with IICM, bringing the college under the auspices of Wesley Mission . That college moved to the Wesley Centre in Pitt Street, Sydney , and after a few name changes became Wesley Institute (now Excelsia College). In 1988, Hills Christian Life Centre developed
2970-517: Was recorded at the Sydney campus(es) and then edited and produced by Hillsong Music Australia . The worship series began as a compilation of songs and developed into studio recorded albums. To help make Hillsong Music mainstream, an agreement with Warner Music Australia took place in 1999. In 2003, Sony Music Australia also signed with Hillsong Music to make the group even more mainstream. In 2018, Hillsong Worship won its first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for "What
3025-454: Was satisfied with changes made by Brian Houston to Hillsong's teaching in response to criticism. Costello also wrote a foreword in Hillsong's 2019 annual report. Hillsong's teachings have been commented on favourably by Peter Costello , Tim Costello's brother, also a Baptist and a former Treasurer of Australia , who has defended the church against accusations of unorthodoxy. Hillsong has been described by popular music scholar Tom Wagner as
#310689