Hillsong Church Celebrates 40th Anniversary

August 18, 2023239 views0

Hillsong Church Celebrates 40th Anniversary

2023-08-18T10:33:14+01:00

By Church News

Hillsong Church, commonly known as Hillsong, a charismatic Christian megachurch based in Australia celebrates its 40th anniversary recently.The original church was established in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, as Hills Christian Life Centre by Brian Houston and his wife Bobbie in 1983.The church grew to attract millions of worshippers including a number of A-list celebrities. It became famous for publishing Christian worship albums and hosting massive charismatic worship events in several cities, including London.The global church founder has expressed gratitude to those who were a part of the Hillsong journey. “Well it’s 40 years this weekend since Bobbie and I pioneered our church with our 3 and 1 year old sons in tow,” Houston wrote on Instagram.“What a journey from small beginnings to millions who were reached and influenced with the gospel; with worship, and other globe impacting ministries and outreaches. All this was only possible because of God’s amazing grace and it’s to Him goes all the glory. Thank you to all those who have been part of the journey, for your faithfulness and support over many years.”The foundation of Hillsong church was inspired by Brian’s father, Frank Houston, a former pastor who founded Sydney Christian Life Centre. At the time, Hillsong was affiliated with the Pentecostal church in Australia. It was part of the Assemblies of God until 2018 when it created its own denomination.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, an inner-city Sydney, in what was described by scholar Sam Hey as “a neo-Pentecostal megachurch.”Two campuses of 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.ALSO READ: Catholic Priest Places Community Elders on Monthly Stipend