In August 2022, former employee Natalie Moses sued Hillsong, alleging it misled donors and evaded taxes. That case heads to court in early 2023. Hillsong denies the claims but rearranged its board structure after the financial improprieties came to light.
Also in August, Brian Houston traveled throughout the United States on an independent speaking tour. His court case in Australia, regarding alleged abuse committed by his father, resumes in June 2023.
In September, Carl Lentz resurfaced on Instagram, noting that despite challenges, his family remained together. Stone predicts he’ll attempt to revive his ministry career. “Evangelicals love nothing more than a comeback story,” she says. “The road to redemption for a fallen pastor is a well-traveled one, and I think Carl Lentz is preparing to travel it.”
Blair views the Hillsong saga as a “reckoning” and hopes it doesn’t give people the impression that Christianity is “all bad.” A key lesson, says the investigative reporter, is that “you can’t have healing unless the truth is being told.”
Former Hillsong Associates Feel Validated
In episode four of “Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed,” several people who had been associated with Hillsong gathered to debrief. Sharing their stories, they say, has been comforting and validating.
Joyce Santini, a former Hillsong College student, says her time at the church left scars, but they’re no longer “open wounds.” She calls Hillsong a cult, pointing out parallels between its leadership and that of the Children of God, a cult her father left.
Josiah Sanders, another former student, calls out this irony: While Hillsong claimed that the Discovery+ docuseries was trying to hurt the church, its own leaders were “destroying” it from within, he says. Unfortunately, “many people no longer have a relationship with Jesus” because of their Hillsong experiences, adds Sanders.
Dan Johnstone, executive producer of “Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed,” says Carl Lentz hasn’t responded to any of his requests for comment—including a handwritten letter.
