If you can’t see the video above, click here to watch Pastor Brian’s most recent video blog online.

The headline is just that… a headline and it goes down the line of Hillsong ’selling itself’ and ‘franchising’.

Here’s what I find interesting, almost every Christian denomination I know levies their affiliated churches with ‘dues’ (a percentage of their offerings) but Hillsong charges NOTHING to those churches who are part of our greater family and carry the Hillsong name. We have only ever sought to resource them and help them.

I am glad that within this article itself, the journalist gave me a fair hearing and quoted me in context - as this is not always the case.

As written in the article: “Our heart is to bless and build churches through example, encouragement, and strategic partnerships and we believe it is right for churches to endeavor to reach and help people wherever there is need.”

To me, the church is all about GOD and PEOPLE and perhaps the day may come when we do have to consider how to pay for the administration of these relationships, but at this point that is not so.

Some call it franchising, but I prefer to see it as partnering to be more effective in bringing the good news of Jesus to a desperately hurting world.

Have a blessed day,

Just this past week, two of our very own songwriters were recognised in Nashville for their efforts. Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan were awarded the prestigious honour of a Dove Award for Worship Song of the Year for their congregational anthem ‘Mighty to Save’. This song has meant a lot to our church personally, but hearing that it has gone out from this house and blessed the global Church, touched lives and impacted them for Christ, is the greatest encouragement a Pastor could hear.

‘This song came from the ordinary, a very typical summers afternoon in the kitchen crunching out chords and melodies,’ said Songwriter and Hillsong Worship Pastor, Reuben Morgan.

‘It’s only on reflection that I realise God spoke clearly and intentionally to us from within that season.  It was the Word of God, found somewhere in the earthiness of a very normal Sydney summer.  In the middle of the buzz and the noise of life, I’m growing to appreciate that more than anything, in season and out of season, He is the same compassionate, mountain-moving, Saviour.’

‘Mighty to Save is a simple song that is grounded firmly in the Scriptures’, adds Ben Fielding, co-author of Mighty to Save.  ‘It’s an expression of the reality and belief that our God has seen our need for a Saviour, and has delivered us through Jesus.’

‘It continues to be our hope that Mighty To Save will give expression to the hearts of many believers, and that this song would continue to play a role in the greater story of what God is doing across the Earth.’

We are very proud of our songwriters, and I take great pride in watching the next generation of writers and Godly creative men and women emerge from the Australian Church. And I truly believe, the best songs are still to come…

Blessings,
Brian

There’s no question that many people today are living in desperation.  Whether here in Australia or in my travels around the world, I come across so many people who are really hurting… gripped in fear… and looking for hope.

You know, the truth is that we are living in a time when so many people are confronted by pressure and seemingly hopeless situations.

For many months now we have watched as people are losing their homes, losing money and losing hope.  Families, banks, and some of the worlds most high powered governments are taking desperate measures to prevent what some are predicting to be the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression. Many people are asking “Where is God in it all?”

Friends, so many circumstances in life are beyond our control. It can begin to seem that we are without hope. Can I encourage you, when everything else seems lost… God is still in control.  He is the unshakeable…the Absolute.

As stocks plummet, costs rise, and financial pressures close in around us we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.  In the midst of such turbulence, we must look to the Creator, and the sacrifice He made for humanity that we might have a lasting hope.

Life is full of disappointments. Changing circumstances, challenging moments.    We must ask ourselves these questions…will this disappointment affect my faith in Christ, the power of His Word, the truth about His death and resurrection, His heart to save, heal and transform the lives of people?

It amazes me then that, in the midst of all the devastation around us, we gather to proclaim that He is Risen.  We sing that death could not hold Him down, and believe that these very tragedies do not have the last word over us.

This Easter, as we watch countless Australians emerge from horrific, painful, and seemingly hopeless situations, let us remember that Christ’s sacrifice gave us victory over this present darkness, and His resurrection brings the hope of new life.

Over 2000 years ago on that first Easter morning, the angel declared with confidence, “He is not here; He has risen!” Those very words cause a deep stirring in my sprit, and an unexplainable reassurance that indeed my Saviour conquered the grave.  This truth is realised as we gather across Good Friday and resurrection Sunday, and the powers of darkness are momentarily paralysed as we join to worship the Risen Redeemer.

As tensions currently rise both globally, and right in our own backyard; I believe that God is calling the Church to rise up and bring hope and solutions to a community in desperate need.

We are called to be a church that desires to love others the way we have been shown love, on the rugged cross of Calvary.  The kind of love that presses in and won’t pretend that everything is ok, when it isn’t.  A people that find common ground with our neighbors and anyone who hurts, has felt pain and is facing loss.  A church that comes alongside the needy and oppressed.  The Church of Jesus is called to praise in the midst of fear and uncertainty.  For it is in these days, that the hearts of people all across the world are more and more open to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Theologian Tom Wright once said, ‘Easter is the central event of world history, the moment towards which everything was rushing and from which everything emerges new.’

Easter is about making a way for everyone to share in the resurrection, and have a hope that all things can be made new. The incredible promise that Easter brings is that we can look ahead at the path winding before us, and know that there is redemption at the end.  When your faith is firmly anchored in the cross of Jesus and the sacrifice He made, then we can have the hope and assurance that we have goodness, grace and mercy that will follow us all of our days.

Jesus died before you ever lived, and He still died! This very thought blows me away; that He knew my rebellion, doubt, sin, and still headed straight for the cross.

Jesus death is not a happy ending to the gospels; instead it is a new beginning…

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus Name
When all around my world gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay

-Edward Mote, 1834

May this Easter weekend be filled with family and community, and may you take the time to reflect on God’s incredible sacrifice, the empty tomb, and our lasting hope.

Happy Easter,
Brian

These men and women of God were there at a time when many heard the tragic news of their deceased loved ones, and came to the realization of lost property and business.

To date, this is Australia’s worst-ever national disaster, and has caused so much grief, shock and sorrow to our nation. Yet, on the same scale, it has also highlighted what a generous people Australians are at times of crisis.

I received an email today from our state (NSW) director of chaplaincy Australia, Craig Maher, and thought to share it with you:

“On Saturday Pastor Anne Iuliano, Pastor Phil Ohman (ACT Emergency Services Chaplain) and myself, joined three Chaplains from the Victorian Council of Churches.  We accompanied buses taking residents of Marysville (one of the worst hit areas) back to their township to see the destruction that the bush fires, a week before had wrought on their community.

This was a great honour for the three of us involved, and given that half the Chaplains involved were from Chaplaincy Australia – a great blessing in the midst of great despair. During the fire, unfortunately approximately 101 residents of a population of 500 died. There were 514 houses in Marysville and 500 were destroyed by the inferno. Almost every person on the bus either had a family member who died or had lost friends or neighbors to the fire.

Whilst people were not able to get off the bus, opportunity was given to go past every person’s home to see what had happened.  Many broke down as they saw their homes & businesses, and as they saw where relatives and friends had died. The atmosphere on the buses was of great grief and tremendous sadness, yet there was also thankfulness for survival, and many expressed the hope that their homes could be rebuilt.  Many told stories of miraculous survival & great heroism.

We were able to speak personally to every person on the buses both during the visit and following.  Everyone appreciated our ministry and we were given lots of hugs and kisses as people left. On the bus I was on, the local Marysville Policeman (who lost his own home & saved the lives of many) gave great words of reassurance to people and invited me to lead a minute of silence, and to pray for everyone as we returned to the reserve where folks were being dropped off. Mitchell Area Health Service, CEO, Mr. Chris McConnell commended our Chaplains on the excellence of their pastoral care and the compassion displayed to the surviving residents of Marysville. Senior Sergeant Jon Richardson also thanked Chaplaincy Australia for the support we gave to his officers, who also accompanied residents on the buses, and I had the opportunity to convey my thanks to him for the excellent work of his officers.

On another note, yesterday at a Memorial Service in Wandong (held open air on the back of a truck) the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd met two of our Chaplains and thanked Chaplaincy Australia for our involvement, then publicly acknowledged the great work Chaplains are doing in the midst of great pain.

The Lord is enabling our Chaplaincy Team to do extraordinary things as we support Victorian Communities impacted by Australia’s worst peacetime disaster.“

Praise God. What an incredible testimony we have, that we can claim to have hope in the midst of what would seem like such hopeless circumstances.  What a blessing to serve the people of this great nation, and work alongside the everyday heroes of our communities.

Well Craig, may I extend my congratulations and appreciation to Mark Bateman and yourself, plus each and every one of our chaplains. We are just so proud of you at this time.

Blessings,
Brian Houston

Currently, there are over forty chaplains representing our movement, the Australian Christian Churches, on the ground in some of the worst areas of Melbourne.  My hope is to visit them next week, along with the Victorian President of the ACC, Alun Davies, to pray with them, encourage and thank them for their great commitment and response.  I am so encouraged by the outpouring of love and support from our church family, and the tireless effort of incredible people lending a hand, and giving of their time and gifts to come alongside.

Last night, the core of Hillsong Church came together at Leadership Vision Night to pray and give of their resources to aid in this crisis. One hundred percent of the finances given last night, donations through the website, as well as a percentage of tithes this weekend are being distributed amongst the Australian Red Cross and Salvation Army to aid in their continued and effective efforts to bring hope, help and life back into the people of Victoria.

Both of these fantastic organizations are playing a major role in the restoration and organized labour of the emergency relief appeal.  Both the Red Cross and Salvation Army are on the front lines, offering personal support and assistance to those returning home, ongoing counseling for people in need, temporary accommodation and world-class first aid.  They are on the forefront of food and clothing distribution and have set up much needed call centers and blood donation clinics in the affected areas.

Thousands of volunteers are working around the clock at close to thirty relief centers, and continue to be innovative in facilitating the generous love and support of Australians all over the country, who are desperate to reach out and help.

I read an email this week from a volunteer at one of the Salvation Army crisis centres, who spoke about the distinct cross on the front of her uniform.  She spoke of the recognition the cross received, and likened her job and that of thousands of other volunteers, as being the hands and feet of Jesus when people need it the most.

Please continue to remember the victims of this tragedy in your prayers, and don’t underestimate the way that God wants to prove Himself faithful in days like these.
Brian Houston

In times like these, it is often easy to ask why things like this happen, and to look heavenward for answers.  Too often we try to understand these tragic times, and turn to political statements and moral codes to help us grasp the depth of these situations.  It breaks my heart to hear of people making broad, bold, and often very disillusioned statements equating such tragedies as ‘retribution from God’.

The God I serve is a personal being who cares about our everyday lives, and whose heart breaks over these unfair and often unjust circumstances.  I believe in a God who is full of mercy and grace, a compassionate Saviour who wants to build people’s lives for the better, feels the pain of loss as His own, and who cares deeply for those that are hurting, alone, widowed and orphaned.

Our days are filled with unpredictable circumstances, and it is at this time that we must quickly focus our attention to offering support and compassion, concentrating our efforts on the restoration of these great Australian communities and our neighbours in need.

Pastor Brian Houston
Senior Pastor, Hillsong Church

Maybe everyone else on board ought to be thanking God for at least one praying family? I am sure there were probably more.

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” - James 5:16 (NKJV)

That book has got my entire year’s messages written into it so I hope it has landed in good hands!

Well, isn’t that a public speakers worst nightmare? (To lose your notes). Afterward, various people dared to suggest that I should lose my notes more often! My message was about financial pressure - “Pressured, but not Stressed”.

Because of the world’s current financial crisis, I thought I would put it on podcast this week and I hope it can help some people.

If you would like to download it, you can do so from www.brianandbobbie.com or direct from itunes.

Have an awesome week.

Brian

It was great to host Ed and Lisa Young as our speakers at the Sex, Love and Relationships seminar, we held at Hillsong Church in mid September.

They did such a great job too; and then Ed wrote such a kind blog about their time and experiences in Australia, that I thought I would share it with you.

Thanks Ed and Lisa!

“Lisa and I just got back from a seven day trip to Sydney, Australia where we spoke a total of 10 times in 6 days (yeah, we’re fatigued, but on fire!) As we look back, we reflect on the days and nights we spent at Hillsong Church and are humbled to have been a part of their outstanding, “Love, Sex, and Relationships” conference and the weekend services at both campuses - the Hills Campus and the City Campus.

4500 people packed the Hills Campus on Tuesday and Wednesday nights (yes, 4500 people each night - on weekdays) and about 2000 people packed the City Campus on Thursday and Friday nights for the conference! And the weekend services were just as high energy. Obviously, the passion that the Hillsong team displays is caught and reflected back by those who attend the church.

And once again, the entire Hillsong staff and crew blew us away with their hospitality and enthusiasm for the work of the Lord. Having the chance to hang out with Pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston (name drop) and their family was a blessing. They love the Lord with all of their heart and serve him with nothing but grace and honor. This is evident in their work ethic, their treatment of those they work with and their interaction with their children. They are the real deal (name lift).

Some people may look at Hillsong phenomena from a distance and think it is all about a musical revolution. But we have seen firsthand that it runs much deeper than that. Don’t get me wrong, the music is incredible. But their heart for evangelism, missions and spiritual development rise high above the music. The energy for Christ fuels the entire environment of Hillsong.

Thank you Hillsong Church for pouring into our lives! Thanks to Brian, Bobbie, Ben, Lucille, Laura, and Joel; Chrishan and Danielle; Joel and Julia; and Jason. We look forward to being together again!”

Here are just a few attention grabbing examples:

• John McCain: halts presidential campaign for economy crisis talks
• U.N. Head: “Global Financial Crisis Threatens Fight Against Poverty”
• Bush: “Our entire economy is in danger”
• Warren Buffett: “bail out economy or face meltdown”
• Iran’s Ahmadinejad Addresses United Nations, Declares ‘American Empire’ Reaching ‘End of Road’
• EU Warns Iran Nearing Ability to Arm Nuclear Warhead
• North Korea Removes Seals From Nuke Plant, Bars Inspectors
• Russia arrived with its Navy in Venezuela for exercises today; AND
• Russian President Medvedev announces the large scale production of nuclear vessels to begin immediately

Add to these headlines:

• The terrorist bomb and fire in Pakistan’s Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.
• The recent terrible hurricanes that ravaged the Gulf Coast which give us another example of the raw destructive power of storms and natural disasters. It was declared by many news reporters and government officials that the USA’s, Gulf Coast’s infrastructure cannot take much more of this!
Of course, in Australia, we are facing many of our own deep spiritual, social and economic problems. Many people are hurting.
It is easy to see that we are truly living in perilous times, and isn’t that what Jesus warned? That in the last days, “perilous times will come?”

Without attempting to give answers to all this, or attempting to place blame, I believe it is time for Christians to get serious!
• Serious about our relationship with Jesus and our commitment to put Him first in every aspect of our lives.
• Serious in our prayer for friends and family who do not know the love of Christ.
• Serious in our prayer for our national leaders and for those with influence over world affairs.
• Serious in our commitment to learn from the fallout that ‘the greed of a few’ has produced on Wall Street, and to set our own priorities right.
• Serious in our determination to trust God with our everyday affairs, and in our expectation to see His miraculous power at work in our personal circumstances.

Here is a good Psalm to remember:
“I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the loving kindness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong. Yes, wait for the Lord.”
(Psalm 27:13-14, NLV)

I love the faith adventure! But I am also very mindful of the urgency of the hour.
God bless you as you commit to living your life reliant on His great grace and power.

The best is yet to come!

Michael has confessed to making up the story that he was diagnosed with a rare form of terminal blood cancer and multiple secondary cancers.

This is easily the biggest and most elaborate hoax I have ever personally witnessed. I still am perplexed by it.

I have never felt any reason to question the validity of Michael’s story. I guess you don’t greet such horrific news as cancer with cynicism, and it’s a sad day when we have to do that.

I have known Michael’s parents since we were young people ourselves and they are great and genuine people. When Danny called me in 2006 to tell me of his sons illness I felt absolutely lost for words as he sobbed on the telephone. This family did not deserve such utter pain.

I just didn’t have any reason to doubt his story. There were one or two things that were hard to work out such as how anyone could function with multiple broken bones (I was in agony with one broken elbow, but I just thought I must have been a wimp.)

I saw Michael as an unbelievably gutsy and courageous man who was refusing to just lie down and accept his diagnosis.

I can only ever remember spending any significant length of time with Michael once. Apart from that it was short conversations here and there, and mostly I would hear how he was doing from his dad or from others. If I did get to say hi, I would ask him how he was and he would tell me where he was up to… but after a service one Saturday night when Michael was supposedly in Sydney for “specialized treatment,” I arranged to meet my son Joel outside a tiny apartment in the cities inner west. This is where Michael and his wife were staying. Joel had already been there for a few hours hanging out with Michael, as were one or two others. Michael was apparently in immense pain that night, as the pain killing medication he was taking was wearing off well before the four hours the doctors had instructed it should be, before he take any more.

When I went inside, Michael was sitting on the floor and had… I think… an hour and a half to go before he could take that next dose. The pain was obviously becoming more and more intense as he shook and groaned with sweat-beads clearly breaking out across his brow. Those around him began to gently pray and do what they could to keep him comfortable while Michael himself turned on a recording of his song Healer which he had made in his own bedroom a year or two before.

As the discomfort seemed to be getting worse and worse, I placed my hand on Michael’s head and prayed for healing with all the faith I could muster, whilst inwardly feeling helpless to do anything else but trust God for the miracle that this young man claimed to be SO diligently pursuing.

Eventually Michael could take no more of the pain and said that he was ringing his doctor, which he proceeded to do. (I don’t even know now whether anyone was on the other end of the line or what the pills actually were…but there was nothing to make me doubt it then).

The “doctor” told Michael it would be okay to take another half-dose and that’s what he did. Soon the pain eased again and things became much calmer, though he certainly still looked and acted very sick. A few other friends of Michael’s arrived, pizza was ordered and after about 45 minutes I said my
goodbyes and left.

I drove away that night feeling an overwhelming heaviness for Michael, his wife and his family. I also felt a real sense of pride as I watched those young people rallying around him as indeed they have done all over Australia and in other parts of the world.

That night was the closest I got to seeing first-hand what others witnessed many times. His friends saw him coughing up blood and were there when vomit had to be cleaned up. At other times they dropped him off at the hospital, picking him up hours later as he insisted that he did not want them to come in. There had been a time prior to this, I am told, when Michael’s hair was even falling out in clumps as a result of the “chemotherapy.”

So now we all know that so much of this was not real… but was I personally sucked in?
Yep,100%!!!

It was a two year academy award worthy performance as far as I am concerned.

I never met one person including any doctor, who expressed doubt about Michael’s claims during the two years of this very public farce (or in fact, in the years before that.)

It is amazing how quick some are to comment now… but I guess that is just human nature, as is the premature way in which some lay blame, post blogs or comment in a self serving and self righteous way.

But with Michael’s short confession now readily available, can I say to anyone who doesn’t understand why someone would do so much to hurt and betray so many, that it all makes no sense to me either.

But will it affect my faith in Christ, the power of His Word, and the truth about His heart to save, heal and transform the lives of people?
Absolutely not.

Will it discourage me from believing in people, and desiring to see them flourish? Or will it stop me from giving people opportunities in the future?
No way.

Do I believe the result of this will be catastrophic for the cause of Christ
in our nation?
Definitely Not. I believe that quite the opposite can be true.

Should it cause us all to ‘look honestly at ourselves and endeavour not to
let anything like this happen again?
Yes it should.

Do I feel an empathy with anyone who is feeling angry, confused or betrayed?
Yes I do.

Ultimately only one person really knows what was going on in Michael Guglielmucci’s heart and head… and that is Michael himself.

The scriptures say,
Galatians 6:1 - “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently but watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”

This is a very sad situation but I pray it will spur you to be even more committed to ‘fighting the good fight of faith’ and leading an over comers life.

To live a lifetime in the service of Christ, you will have to make a decision that NO disappointment with an individual or with people generally, can sway you away from that course.

I pray for every person who has been hurt or confused by Michael and I challenge you to… “Having done all, still stand”.

Remember, there are many, many genuine people out there serving God faithfully, and setting an example of faithfulness and tenacity.

I love the opportunity to do what I do. I grew up listening to my Mum and Dad’s mealtime conversations with other church leaders, and I aspired to “one day” be one of them - building a ministry, helping people, preaching, traveling to far away places to share the gospel and growing God’s kingdom.

But the idea of building a church was my biggest dream. I can still remember when Bobbie and I sat in her car (it was nicer than mine) late into the night as a wide-eyed newly engaged couple, thinking of our shared commitment to build our marriage around ministry.

And here we are, more than 30 years on and still “living the dream”. And fresh off the wire… we still have dreams in terms of what we are believing to see God do!

Sometimes my heart for the house is almost bursting!

“…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”
Philippians 1:6

Brian

“Hey Brian and Bobbie, What to say…??! Unbelievable!! Amazing!! Incredible…5 services, over 3000 people, 200+ decisions for Christ!! Exhausted but Celebrating God’s goodness…thank you for entrusting us with this! And how cool to be able to share it together…via technology…WOW!!
Love to all, Phil and Lucinda”

Thank you Jesus!

Brian