False Profits: Hillsong

Introducing: False Profits: Hillsong

False Profits is the inside story of the church that made Christianity cool. And it’s one person’s   search for answers. Hillsong created a sound, a look and a global empire. Its message is simple ”Welcome Home - You Belong”.  Noemi Uribe was part of Hillsong and discovered a different and darker reality beneath the shiny, happy surface. Alongside journalist Elle Hardy, Noemi reveals stories Hillsong never wanted the public to see about money, sex and power. This series traces the rise and fall of Hillsong’s founder, hears from sources inside the church, and asks if Hillsong is part of a wider problem within evangelical churches.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome Home

“How could you fall for that?” Noemi Uribe explains why the Hillsong brand was so seductive. It’s church - but not typical church. Noemi takes us into the world of Hillsong in a Boston night club.  Services have a concert vibe, the sermons are upbeat, it’s not boring or judgmental. Millions loved the Hillsong way of doing God and turned it into a mega church. Journalist and writer Elle Hardy has been studying the rise of Pentecostalism and the Hillsong phenomenon for several years. She breaks down the winning formula that is now replicated across the globe. And Elle and Noemi start to trace where things went wrong at Hillsong, as star preachers and mega egos create a toxic mess. False Profits: Hillsong is produced by Storyglass for iHeartRadioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Culture of Submission

Warning: This episode contains references to rape, sexual and psychological abuse. Someone wants the truth to come out - to shine a spotlight on dark corners Hillsong never wanted the public to see. One day, two reports drop into Elle Hardy’s inbox - anonymously. These reports were commissioned by Hillsong into allegations of abuse at the New York church and they are devastating. The New York campus was Hillsong at its most starry. Celebrity preacher Carl Lentz was hanging out with Justin Bieber. But this was a church out of control. Behind the showbiz image, Elle and Noemi uncover “a culture of submission” and multiple allegations of abuse. How did Hillsong let this happen? Noemi and Elle hear from people who were there. False Profits: Hillsong is produced by Storyglass for iHeartRadioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Follow the Money

You can’t talk about Hillsong without talking about money. The church is a multimillion dollar enterprise. Its followers give a lot of their time and their money. What do they get in return? Noemi shares her experience as a volunteer at Hillsong Boston. It’s a place where the elite was enjoying lavish hospitality in green rooms while volunteers worked exhausting hours. Elle Hardy analyses how volunteer labour became central to the Hillsong model. Noemi and Elle dig into allegations that nannies employed by Hillsong pastors were paid a pittance. Two members of the Hillsong “nannies club” share their stories. And Elle and Noemi call in a financial investigator to find out about Hillsong’s wealth and accountability. False Profits: Hillsong is produced by Storyglass for iHeartRadioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The House of Houston

Meet the man behind this global megachurch. Hillsong started small in a school hall in Australia nearly 40 years ago. In this episode we go back to Hillsong’s roots and the man who built a mega church - Brian Houston - aka ‘The Big Eagle’. For many years Brian Houston, his wife Bobbie and their kids were the Hillsong powerbase. But in March 2022 Brian steps down as leader. As the power structure crumbles, Elle Hardy heads to Sydney to explore the rise and fall of ‘House of Houston’. During the episode a bombshell drops: a whistleblower makes a series of claims about the church finances. Hillsong denies any wrong doing. But Elle finds Hillsong and its followers dealing with wave after wave of scandal. Thanks to Australian Broadcasting Corporation Library Sales for use of ABC news archive. False Profits: Hillsong is produced by Storyglass for iHeartRadioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.