Hillsong

Hillsong Church, once the gold standard of global megachurches and "cool Christianity," has transitioned from a cultural juggernaut into a case study of institutional crisis. Founded in Sydney in 1983 by Brian Houston, the church gained international fame for its chart-topping worship music and high-profile celebrity congregants, including Justin Bieber and Chris Pratt.

: In the 2010s, the NYC branch—led by the charismatic and fashionable Carl Lentz —became a cultural phenomenon, drawing thousands of young professionals and celebrities to arenas. Hillsong

Starting in 2020, a series of public revelations shattered the church's reputation: False Profits: Hillsong - Apple Podcasts Hillsong Church, once the gold standard of global