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"I was lost," he says. "I was spiritually aware even though my family wasn't religious at all. I was always searching but nothing was fulfilling." Christian says he was attracted to the people at Hillsong. "I had never met such warm, friendly people in all of my life." When he stepped into the Dominion Theater and the service started, he burst into tears. He understood that the things he was afraid to let go of—drugs, women, friends who weren't really friends—were just "chains around my legs." Christian began attending a mid-week study where he could ask questions and get connected. He has since quit his job at the bank to pursue music. "I have an album out that I'm promoting," he says, giving the CT reporter his card, "but back to God. …"

Hillsong Church is taking its music and message out of the church and into the lives of those in need.

No, the Sunday services at the Dominion Theater in London are not Queen's musical, but the people attending might leave singing to the world: "We will rock you."

Cassandra Zinchini is finishing postgraduate work at the University of London and teaching at Geneva College.

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Hillsong Australia's website has a list of the church's ministries and information on the Houstons and the church's music.

Hillsong London, Paris, and Kiev have their own websites.

Christian Music Today reviewed Darlene Zschech and Hillsong's albums.

The Bulletin published an article by Tanya Levin, who wrote an expose of Hillsong.

Australian Idol says there have been no voting irregularities, although there has been debate about whether Hillsong and other Assemblies of God congregations skewed the vote.

Other articles about Pentecostal churches are available in our full coverage section.

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October 2007, Vol. 51, No. 10