Ministry Monday: Hillsong United

Hillsong United took over Lakewood Church Sunday night, July 15, 2007. They led worship for an overflow crowd in the arena size venue. Thousands of youth groups descended upon the Houston church from around the region to hear the wildly popular Christian worship band from Hillsong Church Australia.

There was a very enthusiastic crowd and an enthusiastic band with one message and that message was unapologetically Jesus Christ.

When I hear the name Hillsong I think of Darlene Zschech. It was my 18 year old son who reoriented me to the music of Hillsong United. They are a rock band and definitely much louder than Darlene; very high energy. We enjoyed their sound in the car on our road trip to the Houston area this weekend. Our adventure ended at the concert which was a great ending.

In concert, Hillsong United holds nothing back, not in their sound, their dance, the energy nor the message. In the introduction videos that played on the big screen before the band came on, Joel Houston (vocalist and spokesperson) let us know he sees each concert as a privilege. He is given an amazing opportunity to reach a vast audience. He had one chance last night, for a brief time, to try to impact a generation.

In Joel’s words and then later in song and a sermon message, Hillsong declared that every generation needs a revolution. This revolution needs every one of the kids that filled the church last night to be sold out for Jesus Christ. Unafraid to speak his name outside the church. It was a call to step out of the safe places we hide our faith and let the world know in word and deed how great our God is. The youth were challenged to let God use them to glorify and magnify Himself.

As I looked around at the sea of youth before me last night and listened to their worship, I saw the message was received. The name of Jesus was lifted up, God was magnified.

How you can help Hillsong Ministries?

• Pray for this new generation of youth to be sold out for Jesus Christ.


• Speak the name of Jesus Christ boldly outside the church.


• Give your life over to God by placing your life in His hands.


• Read and study the Bible.


• Visit the Hillsong United websites to find out what they are about, where they will be playing next. http://www.hillsong.com/united/
  and Hillsong United MySpace http://www.myspace.com/hillsongunited

Written by Ruth Eshbaugh. Ruth is the webmaster for Good New Now (http://www.goodnewsnow.com/) and writes about ministry for Lifted Magazine.