In a recent announcement on X (formerly known as Twitter), Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston, 69, revealed his plans to launch a new weekly online ministry and church in 2024. Houston, along with his wife Bobbie, expressed excitement about building a new community through this venture.
Bobbie and I are starting a weekly online ministry and church in 2024. I’m excited about building this new community.
— Brian Houston (@BrianCHouston) November 29, 2023
The news comes almost two years after Houston resigned as global senior pastor of the Hillsong megachurch network, following allegations of misconduct by two women. The criminal charges against him, related to concealing sex abuse committed by his father, were dropped in August 2022.
In January 2022, Houston stepped down from his role at the church’s helm for the entire year. He maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, and the court ultimately found him not guilty.
In a separate incident, Houston was arrested in February 2022 for driving under the influence of alcohol. He initially pled not guilty but later reversed his plea. The court sentenced him to three years probation, a $140 fine and other penalties.
Despite these setbacks, Houston remains committed to starting a new chapter in his ministry. The details of the new online ministry and church are yet to be revealed.
Meanwhile, Houston’s daughter, Laura Toganivalu, and her husband, Peter, who resigned from their roles at Hillsong Young & Free earlier this year, have also announced the launch of a new church.
As Christians, it is important to remember that redemption, forgiveness and mercy are central to our faith. The Bible teaches us that God is the forgiving God, and we are called to forgive others as He has forgiven us (Col. 3:13). We are also reminded that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Rom. 3:23), but through Christ, we can receive redemption and the promise of eternal life (Rom. 6:23).
Moving forward in our faith, it is essential to extend mercy to those who have stumbled and to support them in their journey toward redemption. In doing so, we can create a stronger and more united Christian community that reflects the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
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James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.
Abby Trivett 
Don Colbert, MD 
Shane Idleman 
