New York is the state in the North-Eastern United States and was one of the original thirteen colonies that formed the United States. It is also called as The Empire State and the state song is “I Love New York”. It is the fourth most populous state in the United States with Albany as its capital. The state’s largest city, New York City makes up over 40% of the state’s population in which two-thirds of the population lives in the metropolitan area and remaining lives on Long Island. The famous places of New York include Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, Times Square and much more. It is said to be the best place for running different businesses which include hotels, casinos, locations, businesses, shopping malls, wedding venues, theaters place etc. There are some other places which reflect the traditions of people of New York viz. Churches, Wedding Locations etc. Now let’s look for the details of Hillsong Church in New York City.
Hillsong Church
Hillsong Church is a Pentecostal Mega Church in Sydney, New South Wales which is affiliated with Australian Christian Churches and is said as the branch of the Australian branch of the Assemblies of God. It was found in 1983, and it was called as Hills Christian Life Centre in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales by Brian Houston and his wife Bobbie. The Church was known for its bands and later called as Hillsong Worship, Hillsong United and Hillsong Young & Free. Now let’s know some other details regarding Hillsong Church which includes history, network, ministry, channel, conferences, political influences, address & website.
History
Brian with his wife Bobbie Houston moved from New Zealand in 1978 and joined Sydney Christian Life Center in Darlinghurst. The Church was pastored by Brian Houston’s father Frank Houston. They started another church by name Hills Christian Life Centre which is now called as Hillsong Church in August 1983 with services held at Baulkham Hills Public School hall with an initial congregation of 45 members. Later the church was moved from “the warehouse” to Hills Center which was now called Hillsong Conference in 1986. A new convention centre at the church’s ‘Hills’ location was opened on October 199, 2002 by John Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia of that time. Another branch of Hillsong church was opened in the Rothschild Avenue, Rosebery and the third campus was established in Campbelltown, New South Wales in 2009, and the fourth campus in Mount Gravatt, Queensland in 2015.
Hillsong Church, after its growth have joined with other churches and new churches are established for extending their services for cultural groups in other languages. These extension services run by a team of people who look to Hillsong Church for leadership, support and join the vision of the church. Presently, there are 15 extension services across Sydney in which many of them join with the “Hills” and “City” congregations for Sunday night services. As of 2016, the church has 80 affiliated churches in the world. The weekly attendance is 100, 000 and is present in major cities of 17 countries of the world. Finally, it covers a network of 37, 000 Mega Churches by 2016.
Ministry
Hillsong Church runs many different ministries in addition to weekend services and events with a small group structure by name “connect groups” in which groups are having approximately 10 – 20 people meet on a fortnightly basis across Sydney. The main ministries of Hillsong Church include Hillsong Kids, Hillsong Young & Free, Hillsong Sisterhood and Hillsong City Care in which Hillsong Kids is for children’s ministry of Hillsong Church which provides children’s program for all weekend services. Hillsong Young & Free is a youth ministry for two different age groups viz. Fuel from grade 7 through grade 9 and Wildlife from grade 10 through grade 12 that meet separately and have “Young & Free” rights when they come together. Hillsong Church runs a meeting for women which is entitled as Sisterhood. The service is hosted by Bobbie Houston for women of all ages and it runs on Thursdays at the Hills and City locations and finally, Hillsong City Care is a non-profit organization which aims to bring “social justice” to the people of Sydney and its executive pastor is Donna Crouch.
Conferences
The Hillsong Conferences are usually held during the first week of July at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park hosted by Brian & Bobbie Houston with worship led by the Hillsong Team. The Colour Conference (Women’s Conference) or Men’s Conference both are held every year by Brian & Bobbie Houston in London & Baulkham Hills.
Hillsong Channel
The American religious broadcaster Trinity Broadcasting Network announced partnership with Hillsong Church which led to the formation of a sub-network, The Church Channel which is now called as Hillsong Channel on 1st June, 2016 with connection to Hillsong’s American expansion plans.
Political Influences
Hillsong Church has firstly achieved support from high-profile politicians like John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia and he later opened Hillsong Convention Centre at Baulkham Hills in 2004 & 2005. Though the Church has high-profile involvement with political leaders, it has been questioned in the media and the Church has distanced itself from advocating certain political groups & parties by the statement of Brian Houston. In 2008, it was claimed that Hillsong had donated $600 to Member of the Legislative Council, Kristina Keneally for the tickets of fundraising dinner, featuring New South Wales Planning Minister Frank Sartor as the guest speaker before 2007 state election by Central Magazine. Though Hillsong issued a statement regarding denying of money as donation, the article claimed these descriptions and these descriptions are confirmed by the records of Electoral Commission.
Address: Hillsong Church, 311 W 34th St, New York City, New York – 10001, USA.
Website: https://hillsong.com/