The music and message of Hillsong United has pretty much swept around the globe but it is my understanding that southern Ontario is kind of like "Australia North" for these guys - to say that they are popular here is an understatement. At a time when NOBODY comes up on here on tours because they can't sell tickets (Newsboys, Jars of Clay, Third Day, etc etc regularly have shows booked, promoted and then cancelled) the guys from Hillsong United are able to fill 3,000 seat venues twice in one night. It is a pretty amazing thing.
Last summer there were somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 people gathered for a Hillsong United concert. (The debate of concert vs. worship experience will be a never-ending one but I think it was promoted as a concert so I have no problem calling it that.) Those are huge numbers in any market but these guys have really struck a chord with students here and they are not missing the opportunity.
Later this summer Hillsong United will be running their youth conference in Toronto. The Facebook group is already alive and kicking! :) I'm excited that this is happening close to us - not because United is my favourite band or that I love a ton of their songs but I think that this will have a positive impact on the church culture and arts culture in our region. Hillsong will be able to gather thousands of students from Canada and parts of the US who will come together to worship (God, hopefully!) and who will be inspired to return home as worshippers.
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