How God is Using Hillsong Church

The faith of Brian Houston built one of the largest Christian ministries in the world with over 150,000 worshipers and its influence through church planting, television, and social media. Houston also founded Hillsong music, Hillsong International Leadership College located in several nations around the world with students representing 70 countries, and Hillsong TV Channel is seen in over 180 countries.

Hillsong Church was planted by Brian Houston and his wife Bobbie as the Hills Life Christian Center in Sydney, Australia in 1983 with 45 worshipers in the first service. Today, Hillsong has the largest number of worshipers in the world. Their average Sunday worship is estimated at 150,000 to over 200,000.1 But after careful examination you don’t know if it is a megachurch, a denomination, a huge Christian enterprise, or a movement. Perhaps it is best described as a ministry movement that has spawned megachurches around the world, i.e., 123 Hillsong locations (i.e., parishes) in 24 countries with almost 150 million worshipers with major Hillsong churches in New York, London, Paris, Sao Paulo, Cape Town, Kiev, Stockholm, Oslo, and Phoenix. The Hillsong television channel beams its message to 183 countries, or to at least 164 million households worldwide.

Worship Is Why It Grows

What is one word that best describes the extraordinary success of an Australian church in a land that is not known for vibrant evangelism? That one word also describes the phenomenal response across national boundaries, cultural divides, and denominational difference—worship! To describe it best, Hillsong is worship!

Houston explains, “God graced our church with a ministry of praise and worship that has exceeded our natural abilities.”2 He goes on to describe, “Worship is the strategy by which we interrupt our preoccupation with ourselves and attend to the presence of God.”3

Houston is very quick to let you know worship is not just praise to God in contemporary music, it is not laughing or dancing, and it is not a method. “Worship cannot . . . be led from the platform. Worship must be an environment we cultivate, a culture we encourage . . .”4

When listening to the worship at Hillsong praise God, Houston commands, “I believe the sound of the house will always reflect the soul of the house. Where there is a healthy sound, filled with life . . . praise . . . adoration of God . . . there will be a healthy soul.”5

To make sure you understand the transforming power of worship Houston said, “Worship is the overflow of what is going on in our heart.”6 Looking deeper into the heart, Houston says, “Worship has the power to write the story of your life.”7 Then to tie the two ideas together he says, “The same way worship does that to a room, I believe it can do it to your life.”8

Then Houston changes the focus from what it does to the individual to focus on the cause for the personal transformation, “People begin to worship Christ as He is revealed to them . . . true worship comes out of a revelation of the One whom we worship.”9

Brian does not discredit past worship; he notes, “There is a beautiful reverence that comes from singing the old hymns penned by Wesley and Newton . . . yet there is something powerful about new songs.”10 “The new worship is powerful because it is speaking to the here-and-now.”11 Houston says we can never move forward out of “what we used to be.” We only move forward from “where we are” and “who we are.”

Therefore, the secret of Hillsong success is that worship breaks down walls that divide. He mentions the age-old denominational divide.12

What Is Hillsong?

Brian Houston was born in New Zealand, attended Bible college there, and met his wife Bobbie at a Christian convention and was married in 1977. He served as assistant pastor to his father Frank Houston in New South Wales, Australia. When he saw a need for a church in the northwest suburbs of Sydney, he started Hills Life Christian Center in a rented public school in 1983. Houston pictures the Hillsong movement as “one house, many rooms.” This is a description he gets from his wife Bobbie: “Hillsong is a single house with many rooms.”13

Brian Houston was president of the Assembly of God denominations that was eventually named Australian Christian Churches (ACC). But in 2019, Houston left the ACC to form Hillsong into its own international denomination. Why? He answered, “The ACC has no idea who our pastors are around the world.” He explained that the new denominations will “be able to issue credentials to our own pastors.”14 Today, the two organizations operate in good fellowship. Houston went on to add, “Denominations are (not) as important as they used to be. I think relationships between churches are so much more important than denominationalism.”15

How Hillsong Grows

What makes Hillsong unique? What makes it attractive so that it is growing? The movement has an attraction to youth. It is more than the upbeat music, and more than the atmosphere, although those venues reflect the passion of the movement. Brian Houston is dedicated to three things—preaching about Jesus and His gospel; listening to the Holy Spirit and living supernaturally a life that is accessible to all, from the traditional church member to the skeptic and doubter.16

This attraction of Hillsong comes from their commitment to live out the Bible. Too often people read or study only one page or chapter of the Bible. Houston says, “If you read only a few pages you only see a few things from one point of view, but when you read the whole Bible it is like looking at the whole tree. One thing that stands out for me, from Adam and Eve all the way through, is obedience . . . when people are obedient to God, He blesses them.”17

When you look at a Hillsong, the audience seems to be a crowd in their 20s and 30s, although that is misleading. Because many older believers are caught up in the energy of worship and the rush to Christian experience, they dress, act, and worship like the young crowd.

So what is the core of Hillsong? “At its core, Hillsong is devoted to preaching the gospel, listening to the Holy Spirit, and living supernaturally.” This is accessible to everyone. “It stems from a commitment to living out the Bible.”18

Brian Houston said, “The secret of Hillsong’s success has been making Pentecostal theology accessible, even attractive to people who might be otherwise be turned off . . . by Charismatic elements.” He says worship is the one element that has broken down walls between denominations, national cultures, and the difference between the rich and poor, the educated and those without education. “Worship has drawn great groups of people from the various parts of the Body of Christ.”19

Because they want everyone to hear the gospel, when they come in the doors they are accepted, come as you are. Every person whether rich, poor, famous, unknown, or anything in between, they make sure they hear the gospel.

Brian says, “People are always looking for a way off this toxic highway that culture is giving people. But there is nowhere to go. So my job is to create local churches that are right there off the highway—you can see them a mile away.”20

Ministries of Hillsong

Music Ministry of the Church

Hillsong Music Australia is the hub of its ministry. They have released almost 75 albums with sales into the millions distributed in 90 counties. They have produced chart-topping albums from Hillsong United (youth) and Hillsong Live (worship) that involve their entire musical teams. Each year they produce Hillsong Live, an album of their music that is sung by congregations worldwide. Their most popular songs coming out of the movement are “Mighty to Save” and “Shout to the Lord” (featured on the television show American Idol).

Hillsong International Leadership College

Today, it is known as Hillsong College but was launched in 2010 with 550 students. Today it has numerous campuses across Australia and other nations of the world, plus Phoenix, Arizona. The college also offers courses online, offering diplomas, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. It is accredited in Australia, with academic credit transferable to several of the best-known Christian universities in the U.S. Its emphasis is leadership training, but it also offers technical majors in creative arts, media, and artistic expressions. Both the student body and alumni represent over 100 nations.

Television

Brian Houston is host to a weekly television program, Brian Houston TV, seen in over 180 countries every week. He also airs another weekly program, Let’s Talk with Brian Houston, seen both internationally and on Hillsong television channel.

The Hillsong channel is seen in 180 countries worldwide and is a joint venture of International Hillsong Church and America’s Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), and can be seen on Direct TV, channel 371 (US), Dish Network, channel 258 (US), Glorystar (North America), channel 115, Sky in many nations, ABS1 India, and the Middle East, plus Hot Bird Satellite to Europe, and Agile 2 in Asia and the Philippines.

Hillsong Leadership Network

Their podcast was launched in 2016 and quickly jumped to the top five in religious podcasts with its Christian ministry. This teaching gives leaders around the world an opportunity to connect with Hillsong leaders and leadership teaching from Brian Houston and some of the other Christian leaders of mega ministries around the world. The Leadership Network sponsors open houses, luncheons, and informal gatherings around the world.

Hillsong Sisterhood

Bobbie Houston is the leader and mentor to the women of Hillsong, generally supports the traditional role of wife and mother, but also supports the church’s position to “empower” women. Many describe the women’s ministry as moving women from being a timid woman into leadership roles at Hillsong. Sisterhood takes on issues like HIV, domestic violence, and human trafficking. Bobbie’s leadership for women came from the “Pentecostal understanding of spirit empowerment.”

Hillsong City Care

Hillsong City Care has been established in many cities where Hillsong ministries include counseling services, health care, youth mentoring, and personal care program. It works within the communities to feed, clothe, and provide for the homeless.

Belief

Hillsong beliefs are traditional Evangelical and Pentecostal beginning with the belief the Bible is the authority in faith and life. They believe in the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, whose death and resurrection provided forgiveness and new life in salvation for all. A person can be transformed by repenting, believing, and submission of life to Jesus Christ. They teach the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit gives supernatural gifts, which include but are not limited to speaking in tongues.

Hillsong Young and Free

Hillsong Young and Free is a brand that has been successful in adapting worship and ministry to postmillennial youth worshipers. They especially include dubstep and electronic music.

Hillsong Kids

This contemporary ministry produces children’s songs and albums. The album Jesus Is My Super Hero and Super Strong God were included in “Best Christian children’s album” lists for several years. Also, Hillsong Kids releases an annual worship music album for children that includes live music recorded from Kiev, London, and Sydney.

Hillsong Conferences

Mid-year weeklong conferences are held yearly in Sydney, London, and New York. This is the largest gathering in Australia. The conference is led by Brian and Bobbie Houston and includes a variety of Christian leaders from across the globe. Delegates experience Hillsong and they become “messengers” to plant Hillsong back home.

Hillsong New York

The future of Hillsong might be seen in a Hillsong church planted in New York City. The reasons the New York church has thrived are an indication of how other Hillsong churches thrive around the world.

Pastor Brian commissioned a young Carl Lentz who was ministering at the Sydney church to go plant Hillsong in New York City. Lentz was originally from the United States. Houston wanted to plant a Hillsong church in the U.S., but he understood the difference in culture. Today, the church in NYC has 6,000 worshipers, and the following is a glimpse into the reasons for success in foreign church plants. Brian gave him this vision: “I am not going to tell you what color to use. I am not going to tell you what style to use. The (Hillsong) framework has to remain the framework. This is who we are. This is our culture. This is what we believe. But within that, that is why I picked you. You know things that maybe I won’t know.”21

When you think of Hillsong in New York, you have to realize the celebrities who attend, worship, and testify of their experience of regeneration. It is a crowd of athletes, Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin, and Kevin Durant (who was baptized in a pool on a New York high rise roof top).

Also, Hollywood celebrities include Justin Bieber, Hailey Baldwin, and Selena Gomez. There is reserved seating for these celebs.

In New York, Hillsong doesn’t have a permanent location—no stained-glass windows, pews, or sanctified altar. Hillsong New York uses a mix of locations, a church on 22nd Street, Irving Plaza in Union Square, event space in New Jersey, and the Hammerstein Ballroom. For the millennials without a Hillsong in their area there is an app for worship, as well as the 24/7 Hillsong digital channel, including access to worship with acoustic communication, including BTS (behind the scenes) footage from a Hillsong conference, and even coffee time with Pastor Brian Houston online, Café Theology.

The church considers jeans “Sunday best” with casual tees and hats (to show off the fresh ink). No suits, ties, and Sunday dresses. Worshipers don’t need a Bible; they follow the message with their iPhone. As traditional churches see Sunday crowds dwindling, Hillsong has beach day at Santa Monica Pier, food trucks at baptismal after-parties, light shows, and there are happy times when beach balls are thrown into the crowd.

Carl Lentz said, “When you say the word supernatural, what do you think?” He explains, “When you break down the word, it is super-natural, it is just ‘natural’ with ‘super’ on it. That explains Hillsong. It means everything is enhanced, everything is better, but it is still natural . . . it is not something you possess; you have the right to access it anytime you want.” He then explained, “Supernatural is not a place you visit. It is presence you live with.”22 This is indwelling faith.

Elmer Towns

Notes

1. This figure is not verified, and it may include people who view worship by media (internet or television), or may include those who attend all their services, but worship is not connected by media.

2. Quoted in James Davis and Leonard Sweet, We Are the Church (Orlando, Florida: Billion Soul Publisher, 2014), 169.

3. Houston, Brian. “Creating a Worshipful Environment,” June 7, 2013, https://hillsong.com/collected/blog/2013/06/creating-a-worshipful-environment/#.XbcM8WYpCUk (accessed October 28, 2019).

4-12. Ibid.

13. Berglund, Taylor, associate editor. “Brian Houston: How Hillsong Grew from a Small Local Church to an International Movement.” Charisma Magazine, April 2019. https://www.charismanews.com/world/75791-brian-houston-how-hillsong-grew-from-a-small-local-church-to-an-international-movement (accessed October 28, 2019).

14-22. Ibid.