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Brian Houston, control, Damage control, Hillsong Church, houston, letter, Royal Commission, scandal
Since the 2014 Royal Commission which was looking into Hillsong’s handling of the Frank Houston scandal, we have obtained a letter written by Brian Houston to “encourage” his church to “rise above” increasing “opposition”.
“I swear by almighty God that the evidence I shall give in this Royal Commission shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” – Brian Houston, Royal Commission.
The below letter offers a glimpse into the modus operandi of Brian Houston and Hillsong’s leadership between 1998-2004. It is interesting comparing this to the information disclosed at the Royal Commission in 2014.
Brian Houston mailed the following letter to Hillsong members back in 2003.
28 January, 2003
Dear Friends,
As you may be aware, our church has recently received further press coverage. The article contains many inaccuracies and misrepresents Bobbie and Hillsong Church.
I am writing this letter to encourage you. With the increasing profile of our church, there will always be opposition. We have to learn to rise above this and keep our focus on the reason why we are here – to build His Kingdom.
Our church has always operated on an open book policy regarding our finances. If, at any time, a member of our church has concerns and wished to discuss these, they can make an appointment with George Aghajanian, our General Manager.
Let me also remind you that the issues relating to my father, Frank Houston, happened over 30 years ago while he was a pastor in New Zealand. They are in no way related to Hillsong Church.
Bobbie and I wish to thank you for your continued support and love.
God bless,
Brian Houston
Senior Pastor
P.S Don’t forget Vision Sunday on 9 February, 2003.
Source: Read below.
Hillsong Church Watch 
” If, at any time, a member of our church has concerns and wished to discuss these, they can make an appointment with George Aghajanian, our General Manager.”
That means….you will no longer be a part of hillsong Incorporated, if you dare ask.
“Let me also remind you that the issues relating to my father, Frank Houston, happened over 30 years ago while he was a pastor in New Zealand.”
“P.S Don’t forget Vision Sunday on 9 February, 2003.”
In other words..30 years ago is like 3000 years ago, me and bobbie had no idea, I was a church window cleaner at the time..[ yes..that was what brian was ‘qualified ‘ for..] so let’s forget the victims and raise our hands vision sunday…woo-hoo!
brian and bobbie need some serious intervention help.
“Our church has always operated on an open book policy regarding our finances.”
Well, that sounds like too good an offer to refuse – let’s see these “open books” cut and pasted on the Hillsong home page by say, next week shall we?
and…
“Let me also remind you that the issues relating to my father, Frank Houston, happened over 30 years ago while he was a pastor in New Zealand…”
Well, that’s not exactly true, now, is it? Was Frank Houston hidden (harboured) at a Hawkesbury River property for some 2 years or more, before the truth about his gross sexual misdeeds finally came to light (either before or after those revelations – it makes no difference?) And how many victims were/are there here in Australia who may not have yet come to light in the wake of the Royal Commission?
Please don’t accuse me of mere speculation – it is a well known fact that when a cult leader has unbridled power over his/her victims, there’s usually a lot of them – victims… and those victims are usually silenced and/or gotten rid of – quite often on trumped up charges.
And was that particular ‘property’ on the Hawkesbury River the same one that Brian and Bobbie now call their ‘weekender’? Their home away from home when the tithe money and international tours pile up and become all too much for them to cope with? The one that still attracts “tax free” status because it is involved in “the work of the Lord”???
I agree Brother!
Sadly @Anna Glen, the Royal Commission seems to have caused more questions to be asked than it has answered to date – but Hill$ong is determined not to answer any of them. Brian Houston should offer compensation to the victims of his father’s sexual sins, whether he feels there is a legal reason to do so or not.
To fail in that recourse now, will only open Hillsong up to potential class action lawsuits at a later date, and when Brian takes the stand at such hearings, he will be compelled to “tell all” while under a civil oath.
Better to fess up and deal with it now and minimise any financial ‘pain’ that Hillsong’s coffers may feel in the short term, rather than make it a rather long and drawn out affair of multiple denials, then finally being forced by sheer weight of numbers, into admitting that it was the right thing to do all along…
I’m sure that any honest and above board legal team would advise him to do the same – ASAP…
as for the questions over the Hawkesbury River property – a search done by computer at the offices of the NSW Valuer General would reveal a whole history of property ownership going back to year dot…
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
The proper punishment of a Priest for offending a child by molestation is a public drowning , not a transfer to another parish to reoffend and a cover up by the hierarchy (2 Kings 23:7).
Interesting that brian houston would re-tweet “Andrew Chan & Myuran Sukumaran” petition to keep them alive. Does brian actually realise what damage heroin dealers have done to families and relatives? Those who have died using their ‘product’?
No…just another chance to be political.
Why don’t you go over there brian? and plead their case?
To be fair, in this type of case it is unrealistic to expect Hillsong representatives to intervene in *person* unless that person was an ex-Hillsong attendee/ member (?).
Hi Thinker, it was more of a dare for brian.
It is interesting that brian houston would re-tweet the petition and dip his toes into the murky waters of Indonesian politics.
I wonder if brian HAS signed his name to the petition, or is simply asking others to do something he hasn’t. Will we ever know?
Incredible to think that brian would do that, yet ignore frank houston’s sexual abuse victims.
Ok, misinterpreted what you typed there.
It’s a lot easier to *type* sympathy than to *show* sympathy. Typing is free, compensating his father’s victims would be VERY expensive…