Sunday, August 17, 2008

List of Hillsong Churches

Hillsong Church London (formerly London Christian Life Centre) is a Pentecostal Christian church, affiliated with the Assemblies of God and is the London-based offshoot of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. The church was planted by Pastor Gerard Keehan, who later moved to Perth, Australia to plant yet another church, Sunset Coast Christian Life Centre.

Venues
Meeting in theatres, cafes, homes and other locations, Hillsong London utilises effects and technology to attract people of all ages. At the end of 2004, they ended their seven services a weekend in the Mermaid Conference and Events Centre in Blackfriars, which seats approximately 600. As of January 2005, the church holds three (sometimes four) services on a Sunday at the Dominion Theatre, which can seat around 2000 people. Over the three services held every Sunday in the Dominion Theatre, the total congregation size is around 6,000 people. In August 2005, Hillsong London also started an extension service in Leatherhead, Surrey (south west of London). In the same year a Friday night service was started in Paris, France. Hillsong London's congregation has doubled in size every year for the past 4 years. Hillsong London is currently led by Pastor Gary Clarke with his wife, Cathy. They have two children.

Music
In 2004, Hillsong London released their first live praise and worship album, entitled Shout God's Fame (which was recorded live at the Mermaid Conference and Events Centre in mid-2003 by the Hillsong London team). English pop singer Natasha Bedingfield, a member of the church, wrote and performed some of the songs on this album. In October 2005 their second album, Jesus Is which was recorded live (in which over 6000 people attended) by the Hillsong London team and Matt Redman and released in May 2006. In December 2006, Hillsong London released a remixed version of their album 'Jesus Is,' called 'Jesus Is: Remix.' Initially only released for sale directly at the Church, this album contains re-mixes of 12 songs from Jesus Is. Many of the re-mixes change the songs from rock music to dance music.

Hillsong Church Kiev
(formerly Kiev Christian Life Centre) is the Kiev-based offshoot of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia.In September 1992, an outreach began in the October Palace in Kiev with team members from Hills Christian Life Centre (now known as Hillsong Church), Australian worship leader David Evans, USA pastor Mike Berry and with former Hills youth pastor Darko Culjak as a part of Hillsong's Nation Builders mission outreach. This particular outreach was also assisted by Pat Robertson's CBN's television outreach into the former Soviet Union under Steve Webber. Hundreds of young people committed their lives to Christ. Out of these initial outreaches Darko Culjak planted the church (then called "Kiev Christian Life Centre") officially on October 4, 1992. Darko Culjak lead the church, raised up a ministry team from among the new converts and oversaw the new church until its indigenious leaders could take over the work and come under the guidance and governance of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. On June 1, 1997, Darko turned the church over to a Ukrainian couple - Yevgeny (Zhenya) and Vera Kasevich, who had been with the church since the day it was planted and have thus become the new Senior Pastors of the church. After their appointment, Pastor Darko left and spent some rest time in the USA until he returned to Australia to pastor the Newcastle City Church. As of 2007, the church holds 6 to 7 services each weekend (the number changes from season to season) with a combined attendance of around 3000. Pastors Zhenya and Vera have since gained an international recognition and are being invited to speak at various churches and Christian conferences around the globe.

Music
Hillsong Kiev, as of August 2007, has recorded 16 various albums, including youth and children's albums. Mainly, the songs on the albums are translations of the songs written at Hillsong Church in Sydney, and recently, Hillsong London, but there are also original songs written mainly by Vera Kasevich, who also serves as the church's worship pastor, and her and Zhenya's son Roman Kasevich. The 17th album, recorded live at Hillsong Conference Kiev in 2006, is planned to be released in Autumn 2007.

Venues
Hillsong Kiev does not yet own a worship centre, renting a public hall in Kiev downtown for its services. It does own two offices, purchased in 2002 and 2007 on credit with instalments from both contributors from the church itself, and supporters abroad.

Hillsong Church Cape Town
is a Pentecostal Christian church affiliated with the Assemblies of God and is the South African offshoot of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. The church is pastored by former Hillsong United pastor Phil Dooley who moved to Cape Town in March 2008. Church services commenced on the 15th of June at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

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