(Photo: Facebook)
Bryan and Bobbie Houston
Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros. announced plans to produce a film about the beginnings and growth of Hillsong mega-church, entitled “Hillsong – Let Hope Rise”. They plan to release this film in April 2015.
It is reported that the mega-church has given companies permission to begin planning and producing the project, but Brian Houston, the founder and pastor of Hillsong Church in Australia, stated that it would take a lot of thought and prayer before going the manufacture approved of the film.
“We are not naive enough to believe that everything will be a ‘walk in the park’, but we believe that opening up our lives and depicting the journey with authenticity can only point people to who we live for and long to glorify – Jesus, “said Houston on his blog.
Jonathan Bock, one of the producers, expressed in a statement how moved and inspired he was by Hillsong’s growth and current reputation both inside and outside the Christian community. He said, “Despite the fame and worship, they are still a simple worship band trying to do what tens of thousands of other worship groups try each week – to glorify God through their music. How they make up for this is a fascinating and surprising story. “
Pastor Houston shared how Hillsong United caught Hollywood producer Matthew Weaver of MediaWeaver Entertainment in Los Angeles. The filmmaker spoke at one of his worship concerts at the Hollywood Bowl about his experiences with the impact and influence he had on his audience. Houston expressed that Weaver’s encounter with the worship band was special: “He’s not a Christian and like a school kid he went to the front and crept into the front rows to stand right in front of the band. He I knew Jesus Not at all, but basically God touched him and influenced him in powerful ways. “
The pastor noted that Weaver is still trying to figure out what exactly has to do with the worship performance that moved him. At the same time, however, Houston stated that the producer wants people everywhere to have the same experience. The pastor described the meeting with Weaver as “an encounter with the Holy Spirit”.
Over the past 30 years, Hillsong has grown into a ministry with around 100,000 participants per week. Her better-known Hillsong United Worship Band has sold more than 16 million albums since their debut.