Other former students characterized their decision to attend Hillsong College as a “calling from God.” However, they described their experience at the school as rife with hardship.
One former student explained that she attended the school on a grant, the total payment of which was rendered directly to Hillsong College. The school was supposed to reimburse the remainder of the payment to the student, a sum that was set aside for living expenses. However, she did not receive the reimbursement and struggled to even find money for food. The school explained to her that “everyone goes through hardships,” and that God would see her through, but did not rectify the situation.
Students were also required to go through a screening process wherein they were asked if they had consumed alcohol, done drugs, or had sex within the last year. If they had, they were given extra course work and limited in their serving opportunities. One student recounted her fear of disclosing a sexual assault she had previously survived, thinking that it would limit her opportunities. She did not yet have a full understanding that what she had experienced was a sexual assault.
After she described the incident in detail to the school, the person screening her reassured her that she had “repented” and the school wasn’t going to “red light” her from any opportunities. The woman screening her did not express concern or give any indication that the teenage girl sitting before her had been sexually assaulted. She told the student that she “did a bad thing but was forgiven.”
Students were also required to sign non-disclosure agreements before entering the school year and to log an incredible number of volunteer hours as a part of their program, from running church operations to cleaning facilities.
A Closer Look at Hillsong’s Finances
Barry Bowen, private investigator for the Trinity Foundation, said that Hillsong Church exhibits a number of “red flags” when it comes to their financial dealings. While most churches are non-profit organizations whose finances are governed by a board of elders, Hillsong is organized around the incorporation of limited liability companies, which run like for-profit corporations. The church has 44 LLCs in the United States alone. Bowen said that this allows the church to minimize risk if sued.
In 2021, Hillsong was accused of misusing donations to fund the lavish lives of high level staff members. Houston has characterized these accusations as a media attack on “Christian values.”
Volunteers described feelings of overwhelm and burnout as things to be celebrated within the Hillsong leadership culture. “Can you believe we get to do this,” was a common refrain.
The Sins of the Father
Hillsong Church is characterized as abusive throughout the series, and the documentary seeks to connect a culture of abuse back to the church’s origins, namely Brian Houston’s father, Frank Houston.
In 2014, an anonymous victim brought forth a statement to the Australian Royal Commission detailing his abuse at the hands of the elder Houston. After 40 years of anonymity, the survivor revealed his name is Brett Sengstock and appeared on a 60 Minutes program to be interviewed. For years, Sengstock did not pursue legal action at the behest of his mother, who didn’t want him to be responsible for hurting the church.
