After a string of legal problems, mysterious accusations and the shocking ouster from his own church in Sydney, Australia, Brian Houston, founder of global megachurch Hillsong, along with his wife, Bobbie, is in the comeback process. In July, he launched a new online church called JesusFollowers.TV.
Is Houston simply misunderstood? Did he make some errors in judgment while under immense stress over the burgeoning allegations related to his father’s tenure? Can he be trusted in ministry leadership again? Despite the exercise of his faith and best intentions, will Houston’s past define his future in ministry?
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“Don’t ever write off a comeback. God is good at those,” Houston posted earlier this year on X, soon after announcing his plan to launch the new online ministry.
Season of Scandal and Cleansing
The return of Brian Houston to ministry comes at an interesting time. Within the past several months, several high-profile Christian ministers have fallen into scandals that ended with their departures from their churches. The list includes Mike Bickle, followed by Tony Evans and Robert Morris, this latter few located in Dallas, Texas, in what used to be known as the “Bible Belt.” The age of the celebrity pastor may be over, especially as people—Christians and non-Christians alike—are skeptical of pastors who are more interested in their own celebrity, brand building and social media followers in the hundreds of thousands than in ministering Jesus to people and living righteously before the Lord.
However, Houston may fit well in this blossoming post-celebrity pastor era because he has consistently focused his ministry on Jesus, and he has a track record of approaching challenges as a leader rather than an influencer seeking fame. He doesn’t seem to be trying to build Hillsong 2.0. God is doing a new thing.
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