Lessons from Hillsong: Reflections on Its Rise, Influence, and What We Can Still Learn
At the tender age of 19, I boarded my first ever flight – London to Sydney. My destination wasn’t a holiday or a gap year adventure, but Hillsong International Leadership College.
Friends and leaders at home in Cambridge were puzzled. “Why would you go to the other side of the world when there are plenty of Bible Colleges in the UK?”
The honest answer is that it was both spiritual conviction and something more practical. Two years earlier, I had felt called to study at a Bible College, but I didn’t really know what options were out there. It was the early days of Google, and most UK colleges hadn’t yet discovered the power of a strong online presence. My search results threw up only a couple of British options, but three international ones. Of those, Hillsong College immediately stood out.
Why Hillsong stood out to me
Three things drew me to Hillsong:
- The vision felt alive. They came across as passionate about equipping people for lives of significance and leadership. Their “brand” was sharp and modern. I instinctively knew this was the kind of church and Christianity I wanted to be part of.
- The curriculum was practical. Alongside the core biblical classes, there were subjects on leadership, worship and creative arts, apologetics, and weekly placements where you served in the life of the church. It was “Bible college without the boring bits.”
- It demanded commitment. This wasn’t a place for spiritual tourists who wanted to surf in the mornings and sip lattes in the afternoons. The course was tough, and that appealed to me. I wanted to be around people who were serious about their calling.
Back then, I had no idea Hillsong was already world-famous. My friends were shocked I’d never heard of them. Only later did I discover that many of the songs we sang in my home church were written there.
I still remember walking into my local Christian bookstore (back when they still existed!) and buying a couple of Hillsong DVDs. In 2004, that was cutting-edge technology. I watched them over and over again – thousands of people singing modern worship songs in what looked like a stadium concert rather than the traditional services I’d grown up with.
And yet it wasn’t just about the lights and the music. It felt like a vision of church that people could be genuinely drawn into. A glimpse of what the future of church might look like.
Who wouldn’t be drawn in by that? But it went beyond the production—it was about creating a church that people actually wanted to be part of.
Go on then, why is Hillsong so successful?
The Question from My Pastor
After a year, I came home for Christmas. I sat in the office of my Senior Pastor in Cambridge, ready to share all I had experienced in Sydney. He leaned back in his chair, looked me in the eye, and asked a simple but loaded question:
“Go on then, why is Hillsong so successful?”
I froze. If I could have downloaded all my feelings and memories into a single file and handed it to him, I would have. Instead, I stumbled my way through an answer.
The first thing I said was about leadership. Hillsong’s leaders were humble, committed, and focused on vision. Leadership development wasn’t optional – it was built into the DNA of the church at every level.
The second thing I explained was that Hillsong was far more than just its famous music. From the outside, people saw only the albums. On the inside, you found excellent teaching, diverse ministries, and a culture that drew people in.
Finally, I added that what struck me most was God’s presence. Even when services didn’t go smoothly, there was still a sense that the Holy Spirit would “turn up.” There was no special level of holiness Hillsong had achieved – it was more about expectation.
Was I talking nonsense? Perhaps a little. But in that moment, it was my best attempt to put words around something that felt larger than me. Looking back, I don’t think my answers were especially profound, but they were honest.
A Mixed Legacy
Today, that same question – “Why is Hillsong so successful?” – is far more complicated.
Is Hillsong still successful? Or was it?
In recent years, controversies have battered the church’s reputation and its global influence has waned. Friends of mine have been directly hurt by those failures. Before writing this article, I reached out to reconnect with some of them. With incredible grace, they encouraged me to keep writing and reflecting.
Even so, there is no denying Hillsong’s impact. They resonated with millennials like few churches have. Their music reshaped worship music across the world. Thousands of church leaders were trained there and returned home to build their own communities. Their conferences drew pastors by the thousands, all eager to “catch” something of Hillsong’s heart and energy.
The story is complex – both inspiring and deeply flawed. But that doesn’t mean we should ignore it. Instead, it prompts a better question: What can we learn from both Hillsong’s strengths and its struggles?
Healthy culture doesn’t come from slogans, but from example.
Six Lessons for Churches Today
- The Gospel is Central
Hillsong never skipped the basics. Every sermon, every service, circled back to the core gospel message. In the UK, I’ve too often sat in services where that clarity was missing. If our churches aren’t growing, perhaps we’ve made the message too complicated.
- Don’t Get Stuck in the Past
What in your church can never change? If the answer is the seating layout, paint colour, or style of music, we’ve missed the point. Hillsong constantly asked, “What connects with people?” and had the courage to adapt.
- Joy, Excitement, and Expectation Matter
Hillsong built anticipation. People genuinely looked forward to services and events. I had a friend who attended all four Sunday services on our campus – not because she had to, but because she feared missing out. Do our churches generate that same sense of expectancy?
- Prioritise Young People
Hillsong consistently reinvented itself for each new generation. Too often, churches are shaped by the loudest older voices. But if young people never see themselves reflected in leadership, they assume church isn’t for them. When was the last time someone under 25 spoke at your church?
- Discipleship is Relational
Hillsong had programmes and pathways, but discipleship was also deeply personal. Leaders gave time, mentoring, and encouragement. In the UK, we often prefer courses – but people need relationships, not just resources.
- Leadership Shapes Culture
At Hillsong, everything – good and bad – flowed from leadership. Healthy culture doesn’t come from slogans, but from example. Leaders define the atmosphere of a church. Always.
The Challenge for Today
Hillsong’s story is complicated. It inspired millions, trained thousands, and reshaped what church could look like in a modern world. It also failed, sometimes painfully. Both realities are true.
But to dismiss its lessons entirely would be a mistake. Hillsong showed us that people aren’t disinterested in church – they’re simply waiting for a church that feels alive, relevant, and worth belonging to.
The question for us isn’t whether to copy churches like Hillsong, but whether we’re willing to look honestly at our own context.
- What needs to change?
- What needs to stay?
- And what would it take for our churches to become places of clarity, joy, expectation, and genuine discipleship?