Before Frank Houston died in 2004, he met with Sengstock to offer him $10k as compensation. According to Sengstock, Frank told him to contact himself or his son Brian to receive the payment. Sengstock said that he later called Brian after not receiving payment. Senstock said that in that conversation, Brian told him that he would get Sengstock his money, going on to blame Sengstock for “tempting” Frank and bringing the sexual abuse on himself.
Brian Houston denies having said anything to that effect. Sengstock later received payment in the mail.
Sengstock is one of eight men who have reported childhood abuse at the hands of Frank Houston. After growing frustrated that nothing had happened, in 2019, David Shoebridge, Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, brought the issue directly before Parliament.
“I would judge Brian Houston on what he did, not what he said,” said Shoebridge.
Brian Houston was brought up on charges of concealing his father’s sexual abuses in 2021. He has pleaded not guilty.
Brian Houston’s Mission and Legacy
Toward the end of the series, the documentary explored Hillsong Church’s beliefs regarding the “Seven Mountain Mandate,” which sets forth that Christians should conquer seven spheres of life: religion, family, business, media, arts and entertainment, education, and government.
Those who hold to the mandate believe that conquering these seven spheres of influence will bring about the end times. Interviewees went on to suggest that Houston, both because of this belief and a desire for global adulation, was bent not merely on a mission to see Jesus transform lives but rather had a vision for world domination.
Cult interventionist Rachel Berstein characterized Houston as a cult-like figure.
“No matter how much [leaders like Houston] get, it’s not enough. And they want to get bigger and bigger. And they need to acquire more and more,” Bernstein said. “They often are not able to be, ever, really satisfied.”
When asked what she would say if she could speak to Houston directly, one former Hillsong volunteer said, “I would tell Brian Houston that he needs to step down as the global senior pastor.” When asked if she thought that was a possibility, she laughed and replied, “Brian Houston would never leave.”
Houston resigned as global senior pastor of Hillsong Church on March 23 after the board determined that he had “breached the Hillsong Pastor’s Code of Conduct” in behaving inappropriately toward two women.
