Pastor Brian Responds to Critics

The Love Connnection

Hillsong's senior pastor Brian Houston answers his critics and insists that love, not money, is at the heart of his church.

Here is an extract of his response.

The Hillsong story is not about my wife Bobbie or me. It's founded instead on the lives of the thousands of everyday Sydneysiders who attend our church each week: they're the real Hillsong story.They come from a diversity of cultures, backgrounds and experiences - a microcosm of Sydney itself.

Although I can't vouch for everyone who attends, in the same way a football club can't vouch for everyone sitting in the stands, overall I know them to be genuine, free-thinking, everyday Australians. Ordinary, yet inspiring and dedicated people who love God and love their church.

For two decades, we've walked with those battling life-threatening illnesses and marriage breakdowns, and have cried and supported parents who've said goodbye to children taken far too soon. We've seen the isolated find a loving church community. We've celebrated the successes with those who've overcome addictions or found the courage to tackle the pain of their past. We've applauded as young people passed their HSC, university or secured their first job. We've celebrated engagements, weddings, births, anniversaries and birthdays, and seen lives lifted.

When we started 23 years ago in a little school hall, long since replaced by the M2 motorway, we had no comprehension of the adventure that lay ahead.We were full of hope for the future, but we never dreamed that Christians the world over would sing songs penned by our worship team, or that our conferences would gather multiple thousands of people from all over Australia and the world, representing almost every Christian denomination.I'm the first one to pinch myself.

Despite the profile Hillsong has gained in recent years, we're still a local church that exists to serve our local community. I'm astounded by the opportunities we have as a church, but I'm all too aware that "to whom much is given, much is required".

We were in our 20s when we started the church and, along with the successes, we've made our mistakes. Maturity and experience are certainly good teachers.If I had my time again, I would not have called a book You Need More Money. Ten years ago, when my public profile, and that of our church, was minimal, I thought an intentionally provocative title was a good idea, but I may as well have drawn a target on my forehead and said to the critics, "Free shot!"

Brian Houston is a senior pastor of Hillsong Church and national president of the Australian chapter of Assemblies of God.You can read the full version of Brian Houston's article in this week's Bulletin magazine.

The Love Connnection