30,000 Christians Gather for 21st Hillsong Conference in Australia
Thousands of Christians from 68 nations representing 19 denominations have gathered at the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia to take part in the 5-day annual Hillsong Conference.
by Jennifer Gold
Posted: Tuesday, July 3, 2007, 8:48 (BST)
Thousands of Christians from 68 nations representing 19 denominations have gathered at the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia to take part in the five-day annual Hillsong Conference.
Considered Australia's largest annual conference, each year it attracts pastors, worship leaders, musicians, community workers and individual believers representing hundreds of churches.
"The mandate of the conference is, and has always been, to champion the cause of the local church," Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church, Brian Houston said.
"It is this cause that attracts people from around the world, and it's a message that transcends geography, culture and denominations."
More than 70 per cent of delegates are from Australia, but some delegates travelled from as far as Macau and Kazakhstan, with a significant number coming from the US, South Africa and Singapore.
Some of the most famous church leaders and Christian musicians will join the Hillsong team again this year including Grammy Award winner Steve Curtis-Chapman, and Chris Tomlin, whose song 'How Great is our God' reached number one on the Christian Billboard Charts. Best-selling author John Bevere and the Reverend TD Jakes will join.
Houston said: "We are truly honoured to host this conference. It's difficult to believe that all this started with 150 people in a small hall in Castle Hill two decades ago!"
He added: "We never take for granted the commitment and effort it takes for people to position themselves here. Our aim is to equip, inspire and empower people and churches to make a positive difference in their communities."
The word 'justice' and the responsibility it infers is one of the key messages that will be promoted across the breadth of the conference.
Delegates will hear from Pastor Gary Skinner and the Watoto Choir about the plight of Aids orphans and child soldiers in Africa, and Wes Stafford, CEO of child sponsorship organisation Compassion, will encourage people to change a child's life.
"God tells us that standing against injustice and speaking up for the disenfranchised is the responsibility of every Christian. The conference will help highlight the impact we can make if collectively we decide to take this responsibility seriously."
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Added: Sunday, July 15, 2007, 14:43 (BST)
In a city of 4 million plus people, There's still work to be done and as far as I'm aware, the closest Hillsong Extension service to Sutherland is still the City service in Waterloo and also Brian prays and also considers with the other Senior Pastors in Hillsong decisions to begin new extension services in Sydney and carefully consults with the local Pastors about the opportunity to work together in their local area.
Unless you are referring to Shire Christian Life Centre which is not part of Hillsong Church or it's extension services itself but a independent run church part of the Assemblies of God denomination or movement like Hillsong is.
Also, What are you doing personally yourself to see the local church rise in your community, if nothing, then do something, if you are doing something then you could obviously do some more.
Here's Jesus said about Judging Others - Matthew 7:1-5:
"1 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5 “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye."
Only God can truly Judge, You have a right to your own opinion and thats about it.
Calvin, West Ryde
Added: Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 5:12 (BST)
Champion the cause of the local church? Then why do they plant Hillsong churches across the city to compete with the 'local church' in that place. They must disagree with what is going on, hence not championing their cause, but acting not with compassion, but rather judgementalism
Carlton, Sutherland
