“When I had to match what the receipts were for and why they were spent, I realized the pastors were using the cards to expense their lifestyles,” she said.Īlong with designer clothes and other questionable expenses, Phalon noted that “$600 meals in high-end restaurants” were charged to the church. Echoing previous reporting about the church formerly led by Carl Lentz, she noted that Lentz and all pastors were given prepaid credit cards for church-related expenses. The most detailed documentation of alleged financial misdeeds comes in interviews with former Hillsong East Coast staffer Megan Phalon. In April, Hillsong even shut down its Dallas campus after reports that the pastors had used church donations to fund their lavish lifestyle. The film comes following a year of turmoil for Hillsong, with allegations of sexual and financial misconduct, leading to several pastoral resignations. Houston now is denouncing the film as “grossly exaggerated” and “intentionally skewed,” and says he regrets granting the BBC an interview and so much access to Hillsong staff. Houston, who is based in Sydney, Australia, granted the filmmaker a sit-down interview along with his wife, Bobbie. It’s an exciting place to be, and it’s full.” “I always thought church should be enjoyed, not endured, with plenty of life and spontaneity in it. “Churches are usually old, boring, irrelevant, and empty,” says Hillsong founder and global senior pastor, Brian Houston, in the film. Through interviews, clips of public ministry, and these kinds of behind-the-scenes moments, “God Goes Viral” presents a wide-angle lens focus on Hillsong, which reportedly has over 150,000 people in weekly attendance and $150 million in annual revenue. If you do want to experience Jesus, we know how you can.” The 20-something hipster couture couple seem to embody the Hillsong ethos of confident spirituality, with their stated goal “to engage young people,” eclipsing focus on doctrine or discernment. “We’re the ones that God has empowered,” says Blythe. I’ve got the boots and the skinny (jeans).” Charlie pipes up: “And a beautiful wife on his arm!” “I’m in the full Hillsong starter pack,” he says in an interview alongside his wife Charlie. megachurch, Blythe provides particularly candid remarks in the film. Recruited away this past spring by another U.K. Upon the tattoo artist completing her work, one of the guys jokingly remarks: “It is finished!” They all get matching “70×7” indelible marks, calling it a tribute to the gospel message of forgiveness. In one eye-opening sequence, Hillsong London youth minister Daniel Blythe takes his core team of college-age leaders to a tattoo parlor. This presentation of Hillsong as more glitz than substance continues throughout the film. The film opens with a bang, as Hillsong’s dance production at a 2016 conference features routines akin to Cirque du Soleil and fireworks on stage. It first aired July 21 as part of BBC Four’s Storyville documentary series and includes clips from about a dozen of Hillsong’s 37 churches worldwide, notably in the U.S., U.K., and Australia. The 94-minute film, titled “ Hillsong Church: God Goes Viral,” features footage captured during two years London-based producer Nick Aldridge spent with Hillsong leaders. (REVIEW) A new documentary by the BBC on Hillsong Church reveals new insight into the global evangelical church network’s celebrity culture, sex scandals, and questionable financial dealings.
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