Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed
| Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Original release | |
| Network | Discovery+ |
| Release | March 24 – December 29, 2022 |
Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed is a 2022 docuseries about the Hillsong Church originally released on Discovery+.
Background[edit]
Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed is a four-part docuseries by Discovery+.[1] The show released its fourth episode under the TLC network.[2] The episode was called "Hillsong: The Newest Revelations".[3] The trailer for the show was released on February 16, 2022.[4] The series discusses the friendship between Justin Bieber and Carl Lentz.[5] The series claims that Hillsong exploited volunteer labor and became rich from donations.[6] The show also contains claims of sexual abuse in the church.[7] The series includes interviews with Ranin Karim.[8] The show also includes interviews with Hannah Frishberg, Jaclyn Hayes, Janice Lagata, and Ben Kirby.[9] The show had a companion podcast called Hillsong: A Megachurch Shattered.[10] The first episode of the show outlines the "Hillsong formula".[11] Phil Dooley, the pastor of Hillsong Cape Town, commented on the documentary saying that it "is far removed from ... the truth".[12]
Episodes[edit]
| No. | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Welcome Home" | March 24, 2022 | |
|
The first episode covers the origins of Hillsong Church, featuring interviews with former members, journalists and experts including Ella Hardy, Bruce Herwig and Kelsey McKinney. Following in the footsteps of his pastor father Frank Houston, Brian Houston establishes Hills Christian Centre in north-western Sydney. Influenced by American televangelists including Casey Treat, Jim Bakker and Benny Hinn, Houston decides to use marketing techniques to promote his Christian faith, which is premised around treating members and converts as consumers. The episode also covers the establishment of Hillsong's record label Hillsong Music as a vehicle for church growth and revenue generation, leading to the establishment of numerous satellite churches across Australia during the 1990s and 2000s. As Hillsong expands, it diversifies into other ventures including concert, music, a leadership college, cinema, conferences, publishing and branded clothing. In the 2010s, Hillsong expands overseas including the United States. The episode also covers the rise of Carl Lentz as the pastor of Hillsong NYC, who uses his celebrity image and social media to boost membership. | |||
| 2 | "Critical Mass" | March 24, 2022 | |
| 3 | "Revelations" | March 24, 2022 | |
| 4 | "Hillsong: The Newest Revelations" | December 29, 2022 | |
Release[edit]
In New Zealand, the series was released on Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand's ThreeNow streaming platform.[13]
References[edit]
- ^ Aurthur, Kate (February 16, 2022). "'Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed' Docuseries Gets Release Date, Trailer From Discovery Plus (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Major, Michael. "Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed Docu-Series to Air on TLC". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Urbina, Rafael (December 29, 2022). "How to Watch Hillsong: The Newest Revelations: Stream Live, TV Channel". Sports Illustrated. Authentic Brands Group. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Take a Closer Look at the Hillsong Church's Scandals in New Docuseries". eonline.com. February 16, 2022. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Sex Scandals, Celebrities and the Business of Christianity: Inside Hillsong Church's Rise and Fall". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Perspective | 'Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed' reveals something more sinister than hypocrisy". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Catch 'Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed' Only on Discovery+". Decider. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "'Downfall' of Hillsong Church Will Be Explored in New Discovery+ Doc Series". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Stephanie (April 7, 2022). "A Doco Promising to Expose Hillsong Is Coming — Here's Where to Watch It in Australia". The Latch. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Aurthur, Kate (December 5, 2022). "'Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed' Docuseries to Air New Fourth Episode on TLC, Reveals First Look (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Campbell, Mel (May 26, 2022). "Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed review – 'rotting from the head down'". ScreenHub Australia. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Africa, Keshia (March 23, 2022). "The Hillsong Doccie Drops Tomorrow and Here's What We Know". Independent Online. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed". Flicks. 2022. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
