Hillsong Church Expands Locations at Home and Abroad
Hillsong Church has been expanding its locations at home and abroad. The Australian-based megachurch recently announced a new extension site for one of its main campuses and began holding gatherings for its first church location in the United States.
The Pentecostal church has four main campuses across Sydney and international branches in London, Kiev, Cape Town, Stockholm, Paris, Moscow, and now New York City.
Hillsong NYC launched last month and the response has been overwhelming. The church has already expanded to three services due to the growing number of attendees.
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On their homeland, Hillsong will be taking over Noosa Life Church on Nov. 29, according to an announcement on the departing church's website.
Hillsong spokeswoman Karalee Fielding told The Courier Mail that the congregation will become an extension of Hillsong's Brisbane campus, which opened its doors last May. Hillsong pastors Bevan and Tam Russell will relocate from the London campus to lead the congregation, the paper reported.
Noosa Life pastor Michael Skewes and his wife said they had considered partnering with Hillsong Church during a conversation with founder Brian Houston in July.
"We believe this is a 'God idea' and there is a great buzz of expectation across the church," said the Skewes on the church website. "We are excited to see what the Lord will do through the visionary leadership of Pastors Brian & Bobbie Houston."
The Noosa site would be the 14th Hillsong extension campus. The surrounding region is known as a popular tourist destination in Australia.
Hillsong also recently announced the departure of Mark and Darlene Zschech after 25 years at the church. Darlene Zschech, known for writing popular worship songs including "Shout to the Lord," and her husband will leave to serve as senior pastors of Church Unlimited beginning Jan. 23, 2011.
On his blog, Pastor Brian called the move a "good and timely step" for the couple.
"Mark and Darlene have been an enormous blessing to Hillsong Church and they will move into this new role with the complete support of both the Hillsong Church leadership and Bobbie and I personally," he said.
