Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston is speaking out again - and this time, he has plenty to say about the battles surrounding him, the rise of Hillsong and what he believes happened behind the scenes when an important ministry partnership fell apart.
Appearing alongside his wife, Bobbie Houston, in a new JesusFollowers.TV message titled "My Spirit, My Responsibility - Part 1," Houston made the eye-catching claim that the couple is currently facing "attacks" from the Australian government.
"We've got attacks coming against us in Australia from the government," Houston said near the beginning of the broadcast, without elaborating on precisely what government action he was referring to. He added that he was believing "by God's grace" that what was coming against them would ultimately come to nothing.
The comment came during what otherwise began as an upbeat update from Brian and Bobbie about family, ministry and the future of JesusFollowers.TV. Houston thanked supporters who have financially backed their ministry and said the couple has "plans in our heart for future ministry" and for JesusFollowers.TV.
But later in the message, Houston turned nostalgic - and considerably more revealing - as he looked back on the relationships that helped turn a small Australian church into the global Hillsong phenomenon.
Houston recalled the early days of what was then Hills Christian Life Centre and the development of its worship ministry. Speaking about one early partnership, Houston said it was "anointed," "graced" and blessed by God before adding a provocative explanation for its eventual breakdown.
"The devil attacked it," Houston said, describing the partnership as ultimately becoming "dislocated."
"Without laying blame or making excuses, let me just say this," he continued. "The devil hate[s] the power of partnership."
Houston then revisited one of Hillsong's most famous chapters: the emergence of Darlene Zschech.
He remembered Zschech initially being a backing singer before stepping forward as a worship leader, noting that women leading worship was still considered "kind of radical in some circles" at the time. Then came "Shout to the Lord" - and, as Houston put it, "the rest is history."
Houston also acknowledged the potential impact of Zschech eventually moving on.
"How could you lose someone like that and not lose ground?" he asked.
His answer was Hillsong United. Houston portrayed the succession of Hillsong Worship, Hillsong United and later Young & Free as interconnected partnerships that shared in the same spiritual blessing rather than competing ministries.
There was also an unusually self-deprecating moment as Houston reflected on status and recognition. He recalled arriving at Hillsong's early warehouse building and discovering that he had been given his own reserved parking space bearing his name. After going home for lunch, he returned to discover the sign had fallen from the wall and was lying face down.
Houston interpreted the incident as a divine reality check.
"That's what God thinks about titles and position," he said. "That's not what motivates God at all."
For Houston, the larger message was about maintaining what he called a "right spirit" through obedience, humility and partnership. But for longtime Hillsong watchers, his comments also offered another glimpse into how the controversial church founder now interprets his extraordinary rise, the relationships that helped build Hillsong - and the battles that followed.
And with Houston openly saying he and Bobbie have plans for "future ministry," it appears the former Hillsong global senior pastor has no intention of quietly disappearing from the ministry world anytime soon.
