A Note From Brian
Sent from our Hillsong contact:
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Dear Friends,
It has already been a few weeks since Bobbie and I left for our overseas trip, and as always, we are missing home!
We have had a busy, and yet refreshing time (as I described in my last email to you). This time as I write, we are on the Eurostar - the train from Paris to London. It is a sunny day as I look across the countryside of Northern France…now remember, envy is a sin!
On Thursday night we had the joy of taking part in the wedding of our Hillsong Paris pastor, Brendan White, to his beautiful French wife, Camille. Gary Clarke conducted the wedding in an old church beside the Seine River and I also had the chance to speak and pray. This was followed by a reception which was held on a boat on the river. It was so very romantic as we launched off from beneath the Eiffel Tower. Even though it rained a little, it was a fantastic experience and mix of cultures. The French definitely know how to celebrate!
On Friday night I preached at Hillsong Paris and then tonight (Saturday) at Hillsong London’s Surrey service and in the Dominion Theatre on Sunday. It is always a blessing to see what God is doing in this part of the world through our very own, Hillsong Church.
I am very aware that there has been some media activity in the past week aimed at Bobbie and I, and our church. It is never pleasant to be misrepresented, and I know you all share with us in the frustration of knowing that the thousands of true voices for Hillsong are often totally ignored by the media.
The reality is, the idea of a Christ exalting church flourishing in 21st century Sydney will always threaten the agendas of some. But Bobbie and I, and all the leadership team, simply refuse to be intimidated or distracted from what God has called us to do. That is, to build a healthy church that is bringing people hope through Jesus Christ and to be an encouragement to churches everywhere about just what God can do.
The best way you can support Bobbie and I is to do what we will be doing - getting on with fulfilling God’s purpose for your life.
As always, should any member of our church have questions on any matter, please feel free to contact our church leadership anytime for further clarification.
Be assured of our prayers for you. We will be back with you in just a couple of weeks after what will have been a combination of both hard work and a much-needed holiday. In the meantime, all reports I have received are that the Amazing Grace series has been wonderful and that the worship and teaching in church has been great. People are being saved and good things are happening. Don’t miss out on any of it.
God is so good.
Much love as always, your pastors and friends,
Brian (and Bobbie)
Philippians 1:6
August 8th, 2007 at 9:12 am
It is a sunny day as I look across the countryside of Northern France…now remember, envy is a sin!
How is that for rubbing your congregations faces. We are France and you are not.
August 8th, 2007 at 9:32 am
I sent an email in reply to it.
It went like this:
Dear Brian,
In response to your email, you mention:
“The reality is, the idea of a Christ exalting church
flourishing in 21st century Sydney will always threaten the agendas of
some.”
Are you sure that this is the motivation driving people’s speaking out?
For example, when Tim Costello, who runs a Baptist Church in Canberra, calls for Hillsong to be financially accountable, do you think it’s the fact that Hillsong exists that he has issue with, or how it exists?
I am curious as to how you are concerned that you are being misrepresented. One look at Hillsong Church from anyone outside a particular blend of Christian thinking will be immediately struck by a monetary focus. If you know this, and have known this for a long time, and persisted in this, how can you blame others for a misrepresentation when this is how you having knowingly represented yourself?
I know many church leaders have asked you to change your focus and your presentation. If you refuse to listen, I’m not sure it’s fair to blame other people when you persist in presenting the church in a certain light. You do this by placing a great emphasis on giving during every service and during Connect groups. This is a practice shared by few churches.
Please be careful about misrepresenting your critics (ie. “The reality is, the idea of a Christ exalting church flourishing in 21st century Sydney will always threaten the agendas of some”) when many of them, such as Tim Costello, have a wonderful heart for God and his church.
If you misrepresent your critics in this light, when I suspect many are driven by genuine and what they perceive as godly concerns, you drive a greater wedge into church unity. Surely, you should seek reconciliation with them.
God bless you Brian….
-Steve West
August 8th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Good balanced and excellent email steve/emblazoned/you there
August 8th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Great letter Steve, only…
Tim’s definitely not running a church in Canberra.
August 8th, 2007 at 10:20 am
Seriously?
I thought he was…
Where is his church?
Oops that makes me look dumb…
August 8th, 2007 at 10:20 am
yeah, Tim is the ceo of world vision australia
rev
August 8th, 2007 at 10:21 am
no I’m fairly sure he was running asmall congregation…i thought it was in Canberra…mind you that was seven years ago…
August 8th, 2007 at 10:22 am
as well as world vision..that is
August 8th, 2007 at 10:34 am
emblazoned - I live in Canberra, and I know Tim. He’s not here…as far as I know, he’s never been here. For the last 20 years I think he’s only worked in churches in Melbourne.
August 8th, 2007 at 10:36 am
ahh
oops.
my bad
August 8th, 2007 at 10:39 am
He was at Collins st Baptist in Melbourne but he left in 2004
August 8th, 2007 at 11:10 am
And emblazoned, just so that you know, Brian knows Tim - they used to talk a bit (I don’t know whether they still do). I remember Brian coming to Collins St to meet with him a few times.
August 8th, 2007 at 11:36 am
still a good balanced and excellent email steve/emblazoned/you there, forget the naysayers - your email had the smell of truthiness about it
August 8th, 2007 at 11:49 am
Just be careful Emby, remember you’re fragile right now - i’m totally behind everything you say but i’m worried you’re courting too much rain to come down your head.
You are a righteousd crusader & exposer of truths- but burn-out depression in the face of constant opposition can be a bitch. I’ve been there when i was approx your age & it left me a mess.
Looking forward to seeing you at lunch Sunday.
Love & God’s Blessings for the Soldier of Truth,
Reve.
August 8th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Just be careful Emby, remember you’re fragile right now - i’m totally behind everything you say but i’m worried you’re courting too much rain to come down on your head.
You are a righteous crusader & exposer of truths- but burn-out depression in the face of constant opposition can be a bitch. I’ve been there when i was approx your age & it left me a mess.
Looking forward to seeing you at lunch Sunday.
Love & God’s Blessings for the Idealistic Soldier of Truth,
Reve.
August 8th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Oops! a double blessing!
August 8th, 2007 at 11:53 am
just be careful emby? Oh reve - i’ts time to sign up for the greg the explorer yellow belt school of mucho talking stuff. For example - one cold call steve emby oooor you could just say - Hey you ya flamin mongrel - see how eaasy it is - now you have a go
August 8th, 2007 at 11:55 am
oops a double blessing—No more reve, no more hers how you say it in GTEYBSOSS - Oh shit…said too much
August 8th, 2007 at 11:56 am
GTEYBSOMSS
August 8th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Emblazoned,
On Tim Costello’s relationship with Brian Houston, and their already documented interaction over this very issue, and Brian’s positive response, see the other thread ‘Hat-Trick’ at 187.
August 8th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Ok Greg , i’ll give it a go
Errmmmm……
G’day Steve ya bludger! Chin up mate, go root ya’ boot!
CobberDiggerBlueyBarbecuey!
How’d i go?
Oooooh i think i need a congratulatory showtune & a sherbert. Run me an aromatic bath, Greggsie!
August 8th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
FaceLift - yeah, I saw that post. I didn’t comment at the time, but I do want to point out that Tim wasn’t the only person in Brian’s ear - there would have been others (probably lots of others) too! Individuals can talk without listening to each other.
August 8th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Jensen has publically called Hillsong - albiet not Brian in person, as far as i’m aware - to account.
And Reve…
…that was weird.
August 8th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
What was? The butch version? The camp version? or the whole thing?
August 8th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
consider it run reve me old mate - ya did yaself proud - now go and slap a mate on the back and tell him his missus is a winner
August 8th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
The sunny day in Northern France. The beautiful French wife. All these things can be yours one day wazza if you just follow me…
Hmmm. Sounds pretty good. Wait.. Get thee behind me Brian!!!
August 8th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
I always find these little peppy letters illuminating - there are a plethora of insights into the Houston and Hillsong mindset in the “ordinary” stuff like this.
The mention of envy, the most interesting (IMHO) choice of an “old church” beside the Seine river by the Hillsong couple, the “experience”…the “chance” to speak and pray. The mention of negative press about the Houstons and “our church”. The best way to support “Bobbie and I”…
Gosh such material is an analyst’s dream.
And yes, years ago I saw Van Morrison and band play at the Dominion, and to know that Hillsong London uses that space every weekend is like, sacrilege.
August 8th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Eb .. where has Jensen called Houston to account?
August 8th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
As i say…he doesnt refer to Houston but to Hillsong. it’s an old article on the Syd Anglican site.
Does anyone know where it is?
August 8th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Who cares what Jensen thinks about Hillsong? - i’d be more interested in who will call Jensen to account? There a plenty of us out here who would consider Sydney Anglicans a far greater concern.
At least Hillsong pretends to shy away from extreme, rigid, outdated beliefs in it’s efforts to engage contemporary culture.
Every single Syd Anglican i’ve ever met has some kind of personality deficit or disorder - they’re a strange lot. The more consevative type of Baptists are almost as bad.
Point being - i don’t know whether there is much point in finding out how the pot is calling the kettle a different shade of black.