Hillsong Team Releases New Live Worship Album

Darlene Zschech and the Hillsong team are back with their latest annual live worship album, Saviour King, which is now available on CD and DVD.

The album was recorded on 18 March 2007 at the Acer Arena, Sydney's largest indoor stadium, in front of 13,000 worshippers.

Hillsong say of the new album, "The new songs included on this album are exactly that – songs with life, energy and, ultimately, heartfelt adoration for our Saviour, Jesus Christ. The title track Saviour King has become an anthem in Hillsong Church of late, and was sung at both the opening and the close of the evening. Our prayer is that you would be inspired to worship in spirit and truth as the power of our incredible God is declared through the beautiful songs on this latest Hillsong LIVE album."

In other news, Hillsong United, the youth-centred worship ministry of Hillsong, debuted in the No. 1 slot of America's Billboard's Top Christian & Gospel Albums chart with their eighth career album, All of the Above.

With more than 10,000 discs sold, this is the first time Hillsong United tops the tally in its decade-plus distribution in the United States.

Hillsong was founded by Brian and Bobbie Houston in 1983, and now has over 20,000 worshippers attending any given weekend.

Hillsong United Lyrics-Am I To Believe

Hillsong United Lyrics-Am I To Believe


Am I to believe....
That a God would give his son?
Am I to believe....
That the world was brought with love?
Am I to believe...
That a stranger died for me?
Am I to believe...
That a saviour set me free?

'cause I have felt the could rain...
Run down my face
I've seen the sun rise up...
As the night turns to day
I've heard the laughter...
As the children play
But above all
I juat live to say that...

YEAH,OH YEAH
I believe in the God love
YEAH,OH YEAH
I believe in the risen son

Am I to believe...
That the sick shall overcome?
Am I to believe....
That my freedom has been won?

I blieve in you....

Taking Revival to the World

Step into a Hillsong London service and you walk into the Dominion Theater, which seats 2,000 people. Choose a seat on the balcony or on the ground floor, and when the strobe lights and sophisticated video images begin flashing in the dim theater, you might wonder if you're waiting for We Will Rock You: The Queen Musical!, the show currently running at the Dominion.


Hillsong Church, which recently celebrated its 20th year in Sydney, Australia, is growing its global reach Sunday by Sunday. As the largest church in Australia's history, it regularly attracts 20,000 people to its weekend services. GOD TV, a Christian satellite channel, broadcasts many Hillsong events, boosting its potential audience to 400 million worldwide.

A member of the Assemblies of God denomination, Hillsong has burgeoning church plants in London, Paris, and Kiev, Ukraine. It has also been holding services in Moscow and Berlin. Hillsong's reputation alone is enough to generate huge interest. In London, a Saturday night service and three Sunday services are necessary to accommodate the 7,000 in attendance.

Hillsong is perhaps best known for its music. Its famous worship pastor, Darlene Zschech, wrote the song "Shout to the Lord." It is estimated that 25 million Christians sing that song each week worldwide.

Since the 1990s, Hillsong has released about 50 praise and worship recordings. Hillsong United, its youth ministry and band, has sold recordings by the millions in the American market. Hillsong United began its recent North American tour in Nashville, at the worship service of the Gospel Music Association's music week.

Last fall in London, 3,000 people gathered at the Excel Center for the first-ever Hillsong Conference Europe. On the first night, the crowd hushed and then broke into applause as the lights went off and words appeared on the video screens at the front: "The church is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body in which he speaks and acts and fills everything with his presence."

Applause broke out again as the music began. A lone guitarist stood in the spotlight. Beside the stage, Zschech stood drinking coffee, bouncing up and down in her heels. Hillsong's senior pastor, Brian Houston, stood front and center watching the screens flicker footage of a welcome from Sydney, Australia, to Paris, where a drummer played in front of the Eiffel Tower, to the slums of India to a crusade of thousands in Brazil to a choir in Toronto singing the Hillsong chorus "How Great Is Our God."

This event was a Hillsong-branded depiction of the Great Commission and a moving visual picture of their self-proclaimed mission: "To reach and influence the world by building a large Bible-based church, changing mindsets, and empowering people to lead and impact every sphere of life." And it means "every sphere"—from church growth to politics to revival to social action to personal healing.

Hillsong United Tops Billboard's Chart

Hillsong United, the youth-centred worship ministry of the Sydney-based mega Hillsong Church, debuted in the No. 1 slot of America's Billboard's Top Christian & Gospel Albums chart with their eighth career album, All of the Above.

With more than 10,000 discs sold, this is the first time the group tops the tally in its decade-plus distribution in the United States. Hillsong United is currently in the middle of a world tour in support of the new album, with upcoming stops planned for select U.S. cities plus New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico.

"With the tour and new record, our hope is to stir up a generation both locally and globally to live lives that are sold out for God and His Cause," said Joel Houston, Hillsong United's creative director as well as worship leader, "lives that are committed to being His hands and feet on the planet, and to bringing justice to the hurting and the broken."

Hillsong United has also recently launched a new movement called "The I Heart Revolution." Through it, they hope to unite the world by showing their travels all around the globe, and how God has impacted each of the regions they visited. In the compiled documentary, they will show video from Asia, South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia from over the last 12 months.

"It became so clear that God is doing something significant among young people," said Houston in a statement. "Regardless of language or geography, whenever they worshipped God, something powerful happened."

The international tour is scheduled to last until August 7, ending in Tacoma, Washington.

Hillsong United Lyrics-Amazing Love

Hillsong United Lyrics-Amazing Love



I'm so amazed at how You take my life
And love me more, more than I deserve
I'm blown away by Your power to change this life
Once more, I'm planted in You

Who would know, that I was once
On a road so far away from You
All I know is that I live my life
To show the world Your amazing love
Your amazing love

Your love is pure Your love so divine
Your love transforms my soul my mind
Your love has the power to bring new hope
Amazing love
Amazing love

I'm so amazed at the wonder of all creation
I will live to honour You my Lord
You are the gold, treasure of all life
I will rest in You in praise eternally

Who would know that I was once
On a road so far away from You
All I know is that I live my life
To show the world Your amazing love
Your amazing

Your love is so pure Your love so divine
Your love transforms my soul my mind
Your love has the power to bring new hope
Amazing love
Amazing love
(repeat chorus)

I'm so amazed...

Is Hillsong’s “another gospel”?

As fellow-blogger Teddy informs us, in The surprising face of Hillsong Tony Payne and Gordon Cheng report on the gospel as presided over by Brian Houston, in the end drawing on the work of Nathan Walter including:

Walter started with the assumption that 'core gospel content' must at the very least include some basic truths about:

* sin—that we are rebels against our holy, creator God, and deserve nothing but his wrath and condemnation;
* Jesus—that he is God's perfect obedient Son, who died as a penal substitute for our sins, and rose victorious and vindicated as Lord and Christ;
* our response—that in the gospel God calls on us to turn from sin in repentance, to put our faith entirely in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, and to wait for his return, when he will judge the living and the dead, and bring salvation and eternal life to those who have put their trust in him.

Having looked extensively at Hillsong books and publications, listened to a range of audio and televised sermons (especially those that purported to deal with these subjects), and visited Hillsong church on serveral occasions, Nathan Walter arrived at some unsettling conclusions. These three core subjects are certainly touched upon and discussed, but the content and emphasis is disturbingly different from what we might expect:

* when sin is spoken about, which is not often, it is usually in terms of immorality in the world or else negative thinking and attitudes that destroy God's purpose in our lives, and limit our potential;3 there is no concept that we are under God's wrath or condemnation because of our personal rebellion against him, or that there is a connection between sin, death and judgement;4
* it is asserted that Jesus is God's perfect Son and even that he died 'for us' or 'in our place', but what this means is not explained; not a single example was found expounding Jesus' death as taking the penalty for sin on our behalf so that we might avoid God's wrath on judgement day; instead, Jesus' death and resurrection is usually quoted either as an example (of overcoming difficulty and living with purpose),5 or explained as the source of healing and empowerment for living an abundant and healthy life;6
* our response to the Christian message focuses heavily on the power of choice God has given us, on the need to change mental attitudes and thought patterns so as to live in the blessing God has for us, and on the biblical 'law of cause and effect'— that if we obey Bible principles we will succeed and flourish in life, as God intended.7

Nathan Walter summarized his findings like this:

In their understanding of humanity and sin, Hillsong distorts the diagnosis: it's not so much that we're sinful rebels against God our creator, and therefore objects of his righteous anger and judgement, under the sentence of death; it's more that we have allowed all kinds of bad choices and negative thinking to get in the way of reaching the purpose and potential God has in store for us.

This means that although Hillsong still believes in and proclaims the historical events of Jesus' death and resurrection, they understand these events differently. They do not proclaim Jesus' death as a substitutionary atonement, turning aside God's wrath so that I can receive forgiveness and be saved on the day of judgement—rather, Jesus' death and resurrection function as an undefined entry point into the life of blessing that God has for us, and serve as an example of what a fully devoted life in tune with God's purposes looks like (effectively a 'moral influence' view of the atonement).

And because they have twisted both the problem and the solution in Christ out of shape, their account of how we should respond to the gospel is also badly flawed. It's not about clinging to Christ in faith for forgiveness of sins, and pursuing holiness through the work of the Spirit—it's about choosing to change how you think, and obeying the Bible's principles, so that you can move into a period of success and flourishing in every area of life.

… and concluding

[Hillsong] did not faithfully and clearly teach the gospel of Christ—and this was not through denial or outright heresy, but through distortion, replacement and omission.

For all the hype and hoopla, we were not directed to the narrow gate and the difficult way that leads to salvation. Instead, we found ourselves being beckoned down a broader and far more awesome road; a road paved with promises of blessing and divine purpose; a road with inspiring tour-guides, thousands of warm and enthusiastic fellow-travellers, and a soundtrack to die for.

Homogenous Unit Principle: Time for a Rethink?

I have been rethinking the value of Homogenous Unit Principle (HUP) based mission strategies over the last few months, and particularly over the last few weeks, and think its maybe time I started letting this cat out of the bag.

It has more than a little to do with my shift towards deeper local church involvement.

Here is an article which highlights some of the issues that concern me:

Rethinking HUP thinking: Confessions of a Homogeneous Unit Principle Advocate

Basically I have come to question how transferable the Homogenous Unit Principle is to pluralistic western contexts, particularly given the fluidity of our society. Once upon a time I thought sub-culturally contextualized groups were the way to go; that overseas mission methodologies were fully transferable. But over time I have been forced to concede that our subcultures just aren't homogenous enough. It's extreme diversity all the way down with the most pluralistic of the pluralists. There is no homogenous unit, not even at the level of the individual, not when plurality becomes internalized.

So maybe its time to give up experimenting with homogenous-translocal groups; maybe its time to re-examine the possibilities of hetrogenous-local groups; to shift from demographic focus back to geographic focus. Is that incarnational-mission heresy? Does that smack of a return to one-size-fits-all for some of you? I don't know how you might interpret this to be honest, but that's the way I've been shifting of late. Essentially, I believe we need models that respect multiple diversities, extreme diversities even. That's not sub-culturally contextual church, but its not Christendom church either. It's something else.

Hillsong United Lyrics-Always

Hillsong United Lyrics-Always

Did You rise the sun for me?
Or paint a million stars that I might
Know Your majesty?
Is Your voice upon the wind?
Is everything I've known marked
With my maker's fingerprints?
Breathe on me
Let me see Your face
Ever I will seek You
Chorus:
'Cause all You are, is all I want, always
Draw me close in Your arms
Oh God, I wanna be with You
Can I feel You in the rain?
Abandon all I am to have You
Capture me again
Let the earth resound with praise
Can You hear as all creation lives
To glorify one name?

Hillsong's mental illness link is no surprise to me

When I was deep in the hell of the Year 12 HSC a fellow student at Carlingford High School invited me to a 'HSC Hype' study camp run by the Hillsong Church. I had no idea what I was in for.

But after what I experienced I couldn't possibly be surprised by today's media allegations the Hillsong Church's mental health arm 'Mercy Ministries' is little more than an amateur hour demon-exorcising clinic that leaves vulnerable mentally ill girls worse off than when they started.

Not after what I saw 13 years ago when I ended up with a hundred or so other 17-year-olds at a remote convention centre enduring, between sessions of study, a week of activities with a deep undercurrent of hard core Christianity.

A week that culminated in a late night 'conversion session' on the final evening.

We were all packed into a room and seated cross-legged on the floor. In strode Christine Caine, now a senior pastor at the outfit.

What followed was an exhausting two-hour marathon of fire and brimstone – a textbook example of extreme emotional manipulation.

At the end, when we were all pale and adrenalised, we were told to bow our heads. If we wanted to be saved, all we had to do was raise our hand.

We were told our thumping hearts was God knocking on our souls – a physiological response to stress dressed up as spiritual calling.

As meek hands were raised, we were whipped up further; "There's more, I know it, Jesus may never knock again!" We were kept like that for over ten minutes.

Then those who had raised their hands were removed from the room. The whole disgraceful episode led to the church being banned from advertising such camps at our school.

As you can probably imagine since then I've kept a pretty keen eye on the church and watched its stadium like churches mushroom out of the sprawling estate they own deep in McMansion country in Sydney's north west.

I've watched them spread their tentacles to the depressed suburbs of Waterloo and Redfern.

I've watched this organization, which pays no tax and files no financial documents with the ATO, grow in political influence.

Former PM John Howard opened their new convention centre in 2002, Peter Costello has addressed their conferences and federal politicians Senator Steve Fielding and Louise Markus are from amongst their flock.

I've wondered how much how much of the money they 'tithe' from their followers goes to 'charitable' projects like 'Mercy Ministries' and how much goes to bigger buildings, money making schemes like CD and TV sales around the world, and how much into senior pastors' pockets.

I've wondered how people can buy their steroid enhanced form of worship where talking in tongues, exorcising demons and going into trances of religious ecstasy are the norm.

How people can attend their church services, which more closely resemble rock concerts, and not see they are primarily designed to bamboozle the senses.

And I've wondered how people can tithe 10 percent of their income to a church whose boss, Brian Houston, said last year raked in $50 million.

Where growing the church both in wealth and it numbers matters above all else.

In fact I wondered enough to go to their services to see for myself.

When I arrived a young welcoming committee rep, Rani, met me. Together we watch and sing along to a band, seven attractive young singers and a thirty-person choir.

Those on stage, none of whom were older than 35, have their eyes closed and hands raised in religious rapture as the concert style lights sweep the room and smoke machines puff away.

Two huge screens overlay the song lyrics about "surrendering to Christ" with images of the action on stage and close ups on the audience from multiple camera operators.

One girl two seats down with her eyes closed keeps singing the songs long after they've finished, clearly in a trance.

After the music stopped, an older man hit the stage, telling us he'd just read a book about the leaning tower of Pisa – built in 1173 as the belltower of a nearby church.

He said no one could remember who designed or constructed it – but they could remember who paid for it, an old woman who'd left 60 gold coins for the purpose in her will.

The moral of his story was this woman was remembered 800 years later, and if we gave to Hillsong we could be remembered in 800 years as well.
We were directed to the tithe envelopes on our seats, where we could put the recommended 10 percent of our income. Conveniently, we could pay with cash, cheque or credit card.

We weren't really being asked, we were being told.

Next was a church news video presentation encouraging us to enrol in one of the many conferences, weekend retreats, or 'diplomas' in theology offered at Hillsong's religious school.

At the end there was a conversion session exactly the same as I encountered at the 'HSC Hype' study camp.

Right at the end, people who were sick identified themselves. Others crowded around them placing hands on any available piece of flesh and muttering and mumbling away to themselves, talking in tongues.

On the way out, I saw a large Polynesian man. I was told he was Brian Houston's bodyguard.

Rani informed me his presence was necessary as some people who don't agree with the church's teachings run up on stage during Brian's performances.

I was amazed at the positive energy the feeling of community was great – it's just a pity it costs so much.

I realised it's this rock concert-like show, full of literal smoke and mirrors, together with their other hocus-pocus that gets people in.

And if that's all they did, you could hardly complain, people should be able to believe whatever they want, however kooky.

But they really shouldn't have to pay for it. And the Church shouldn't really be trying to 'cure' mentally ill people with prayer and holy water. And they really shouldn't be targeting public school children to grow their church.

But at least after today's news everyone now knows how these people work. And no one in future, from governments down, can pretend to be surprised.

Hillsong United to Rock Stage at GMA's Sunday Evening of Worship

The traditional Sunday evening of worship at the historic Ryman Auditorium during Gospel Music Association Week this year will feature Hillsong United, along with the dynamic Hillsong Youth Pastor, Phil Dooley.

As Australia's #1 modern worship band, Hillsong United have exploded around the globe with their engaging passionate approach impacting thousands in live events and becoming a favourite source for new worship music.

The Sunday worship night at GMA Week, which will be hosted by Michael W Smith, is one of the first stops for Hillsong United on their North American tour, which will be accompanied by Starfield in Canada.

Hillsong United's Creative Director, Joel Houston, who is also one of United's worship leaders and songwriters, said, "We are really excited about coming back to North America and we're looking forward to taking songs, which have been specifically written to be sung corporately, to young people across the continent."

Over 3,000 gospel musicians and fans will gather in Nashville, Tennessee, in the US for the GMA Music Week 07' - to listen, invent, renew, and connect.

The convention kicks off 21 April, wrapping up on 25 April with the GMA Dove Awards - Christian music's biggest night of the year.

Hillsong United Lyrics-All Things are Possible

Hillsong United Lyrics-All Things are Possible

Almighty God, my Redeemer,
my Hiding Place, my Safe Refugee,
no other name like Jesus,
no power can stand against You.

My feet are planted on this rock,
and I will not be shaken,
my hope it comes from You alone,
my Lord and my Salvation.

Your praise is always on my lips,
Your Word is living in my heart,
and I will praise You with a new song,
my soul will bless You Lord.
You fill my life with greater joy,
Yes, I delight myself in You,
and I will praise You with a new song,
my soul will bless You Lord.

When I am weak You make me strong,
when I'm poor, I know I'm rich,
for in the power of Your name.
All things are possible,
all things are possible,
all things are possible,
all things are possible!

Hillsong United Lyrics- Yours Is The Kingdom

Hillsong United Lyrics- Yours Is The Kingdom

Yours is the Kingdom
And the power
And the glory forever is Yours
Heaven and earth bow down
In the wonder of Your Name
Heaven is open
Death is broken
And the glory forever is Yours
Nothing can overcome
The power of Your Name

King above kings
All the universe will sing
Everlasting God
You are wonderful
You are wonderful

And the shout of the earth
Will be Your praise
God forever
And the light unto all
Will be Your wonderful Name
For the glory Lord is Yours
God forever
All the glory Lord is Yours

Music in Ministry

Some years ago, music was treated with a certain amount of polite respect. It was used in church as a means of praising & worshipping God true, but not in the way it is used today. I was born into a Pentecostal family (praise the Lord). When I went to church as a lad, we'd have some choruses at the start, or rather, just before the start of the meeting proper, where we would clap and play tambourines. Once the meeting started it was hymns! I have no recollection whatsoever of hand raising, and dancing was 'of the devil', as was make up! But more surprisingly, I have no recollection of singing in the spirit, or singing in tongues etc. We had tongues in our church all right, often there would be a 'message' followed by an interpretation, but no singing in the spirit.

Looking back it's not really surprising. There was no such thing as anointing in association with music in those days. It just wasn't part of church thinking. The lady who played the piano would sight read (very well) the music from the hymn book and we'd sing, and at the end of the hymn we'd stop. There was no rolling on a bit as we do now a days. The only possible exception would be if some brave 'lady' would stand and sing the message in tongues instead of speaking it. But I don't think ladies were allowed to do that though, not without a hat anyway!

Things have changed somewhat since then. Now we have very dominant music, and certainly some singing in the spirit. We regard music as a valid ministry that must be anointed, well, praise the Lord I say. It's about time we got back to David's way of doing things, after all, he was chosen by God because of his heart, and David was a 'praiser'. He almost invented it! Well he didn't invent it, but he certainly gave it a higher profile, and made praise and music synonymous.

There is a scripture that says, I will rebuild the fallen tent of David, and it started sometime within the last few decades.

Can I make a point here? We have music in church, and we praise the Lord in church, but only when meetings are on. David wasn't having any of that! He set up praise teams to go at it 24 hours a day. Who cares if the people are there or not? God is worthy to be praised regardless of meeting times. Would we consider doing that today? Not a chance! Why? We don't have the mind set or heart of David (gulp!). And remember, David had a heart after God's heart. Sorry this is a bit in your face, but this is what God is telling me to write. The bible doesn't set any time limits on praising God, quite the opposite in fact, "from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised." Sneaky that, because the sun never really sets or rises. It's there all the time, somewhere.

Another point coming up! We couldn't realistically do what David did anyway, because we have to get up each morning and go to work, well some do. Here is another departure from scripture. In David's day, the musicians & singers were not given any other duties. Their job was to praise God, nothing else. Who paid their wages? The congregation did. Who bought their instruments, the congregation did. There is non of this 'only pay the pastor' rubbish in the Bible. Musicians, priests, and gate keepers were all provided for. They even had rooms in the Temple. That's how far we've come from the Bible. Getting people to give these days has become a work of art, sadly, by necessity. Tithes is one thing, but giving is something far greater.

What has this to do with music in ministry? I'm stating for the record, that the church is not providing the biblical foundation on which to base music as ministry. Whilst there has been an awakening in our thinking to music, there has not been an awakening to the person of the musician. David appointed a whole section of society to the task of ministering to the Lord with various kinds of music and singing. People were appointed to 'prophesy' ON their instruments, some of which were cymbals, (that should cheer up the drummers!). This is all biblical stuff. It's not an invention of the charismatics, or the Americans! It's not a 'cult' or of the devil. It's Bible. This is David's fallen tent. As you can see, there's a way to go before it's totally rebuilt, but a start has been made. Praise God.

Hillsong United Lrics-All The Heaven

Hillsong United Lrics-All The Heaven


Holy holy are You Lord
The whole earth is filled with Your glory
Let the nations rise to give
Honour and praise to Your name
Let Your face shine on us
And the world will know You live
All the heavens shout Your praise
Beautiful is our God
The universe will sing
Hallelujah to You our King

Supernatural: Hillsong Kids

"Supernatural" was recorded live before a crowd of 3,000 kids, and that fact flavors the tone of the whole album. There's a lively energy to it, and it's interesting to hear the way the leaders, kids themselves, urge the audience to "get up and dance now." I'll be honest: there were times when it was difficult for me to imagine kids responding to the deep worship conveyed by the music, but that could say more about my ignorance of kids' worship than it does about the album's fit. I certainly wouldn't put it past the dynamic ministry of Hillsong Church.

The album kicks off with the title track, its tight arrangements perfect to get kids ready to move and groove in the Lord. "Better Than Life" is a hand-clapper, with a powerful spoken-word prayer mid-track, again, setting a sincerely worshipful tone. By the time you reach the quietly prayerful "You're All I Need," you realize these young leaders are quite capable, showing that kids are more than ready to enter into worship on their own. To me, the songs with the simplest lyrics rang most true; a fresh "Jesus Loves Me," with its classic Biblical truths movingly presented, felt both truly kid-oriented and worship-driven. A few other tracks just came across as more adult-oriented to me (the upbeat "For Who You Are" and the slower-tempo, worshipful closing tracks). Again, that may just be my lack of experience in this field. But there are just as many songs that work quite well: the tribal beats of "Not Forgotten," the soulful, anthemic "Get It Started," and the funkified "Everyday." "Supernatural" certainly qualifies as an album that many adults could enjoy just as much as your kids, which is nice if you anticipate hours and hours hitting replay in the family van.

Companion resources include a "Supernatural" Songbook and a DVD that offers performance trax videos with audio options, four song episodes with discussion style monologues, documentaries, and more, all available on February 27.

Hillsong United Lyrics - Your Unfailing Love

Hillsong United Lyrics - Your Unfailing Love

verse 1
when the darkness fills my senses
when my blindness keeps me from your touch,
Jesus come

verse 2
When my burden keeps me doubting
when my memories take the place of you
Jesus come

bridge
And I'll follow you there
to the place where we meet
and I'll lay down my pride
as you search me again

Chorus
Your unfailing love, your unfailing love,
your unfailing love over me again
(repeat chorus)
(repeat the whole song through)

Hillsong United Lyrics-All Praises To The King

Hillsong United Lyrics-All Praises To The King


What a joy I feel to think about forever
I'm a child of God
with blessings from Heaven
By your side, days always brighter
The Holy one
My Master
My Father

I will dwell in your courts
I will sing for you
you're my deepest love
Jesus
I love you

It's a love song I sing
It's an anthem from my heart
All praises to the King

I am not alone
Jesus
You're near me
Washed me clean with hands full of mercy
You're a resting place for all who are weary
A perfect place
and a new beginning

Hillsong United Lyrics- Lift

Hillsong United Lyrics- Lift

Lift Your name up
To the highest place
I will praise You
I will praise You

Giving You
A sacrifice of praise
I will praise You
I will praise You

Right now
Right now
Right now

Lift your hands up
Lift your hands up
Lift your hands up
Everybody

Hillsong Church Emphasizes Justice as 26,000 Attend Annual Conference

Australia's most well known megachurch, Hillsong Church, began its annual five-day Hillsong conference on Monday, drawing together 26,000 Christians from all around the world.
Enlarge this Image
Hillsong Conference
(Photo: Hillsong Church)
The Watoto Children's Choir sings at the annual Hillsong Conference on July 2.

Though the church is most well known for its music ministry, the focus of this year's conference is on justice and what Christians can do to reduce the sufferings that plague the world.

There are 19 different denominations from 68 countries attending the conference, and a major issue to be dealt with by all of them is AIDS and poverty in Africa, according to opening remarks by Gary Skinner, leader of Kampala Pentecostal Church and founder of Watoto Child Care Ministries.

"The world is on an accumulation binge," explained the Ugandan pastor to the large crowd, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. "God is not a grabber; He is a giver."

A main goal for the conference is to also dispel the criticisms that have surrounded the Hillsong Church in regard to humanitarian and social issues. Many leaders have argued that the church is too focused on the prosperity gospel and only personal enlightenment rather than aiding others. They have said that the church's focus is too outward and heavily founded only on music without substance as well.

According to Hillsong pastor Brian Houston, the church has always been concerned for justice and the well-being of everyone.

"God tells us that standing against injustice and speaking up for the disenfranchised is the responsibility of every Christian," said Houston at the event.

As an immediate gesture of action, the Hillsong community awarded a check worth $700,000 to Skinner. With it, he will be able to build a village in Gulu in northern Uganda to aid rescued child soldiers.

Despite the gathering's focus on world issues, the event organizers have shied away from making it political. For the second year, no invitations were sent to political leaders to attend. A scarce few are expected to attend for personal worship.

Typical of Hillsong Church, the night opened with a wave of praise. Hillsong's praise leader, Darlene Zschech, led an orchestra-sized ensemble to move the thousands in the audience at the Acer Arena, the location of this year's conference and a former auditorium built for the 2000 Olympic Games.

The conference is also expecting the attendance of a select few American ministry leaders including megachurch pastors Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter's House in Dallas and Ed Young, Jr of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, just north of Dallas/Forth Worth.

The conference will run until Friday.

Hillsong United Lyrics-All of my days

Hillsong United Lyrics-All of my days


Proclaim Your awesome power
Tell of mighty deeds
Declare Your future kingdom
Of everlasting peace

And my eyes they look unto You always
And I am captured by Your Majesty

All of my days
I will sing of Your greatness
All of my days
I will speak of Your grace
All of my days
I will tell of Your wonderous love
Your love in my life
Your love

All Your works will praise You
Your children bless Your name
We speak of all Your goodness
We walk in fields of grace