A song in Anaheim

The famous Christian music group Hillsong United will be playing at Encounter Friday the 21st (tonight) and Saturday the 22nd in Anaheim, CA at the Anaheim Convention Center. The idea of this event is “to encounter our God”. The heart of Hillsong seems evident in the fact that they play their music for the Lord and wish to help others achieve a level of worship and commitment to the Lord through their songs as well as their attitudes.

This event is designed specifically to pastors, youth leaders, musicians, and worship leaders, as well as students committed to leading their church through personal example. This conference is designed to equip and train-up leaders in the church despite their age. There will be teaching from scripture, incredible worship times, as well as a general sense of growth toward becoming more involved in your local church.

The Hillsong United group, originally from Australian based Hillsong Chruch, has been producing CD’s since 1992 and has been putting on conferences since 1986. They are a lively rock style, worship group that have had their songs played in churches across the United States as well as other countries. Their commitment to solid, Christian lyrics as well as catchy and easily sung melodies has also helped the spread of their music. A few popular songs by Hillsong you may recognize are Hosanna, From The Inside Out, and Mighty To Save.

Though it may be too late for you to attend this wonderful conference, it is definitely something to look for in the future! The Anaheim Conference center hosts many Christian events and if you catch them in time you can great deals on pre-sale tickets! Check back here for more great suggestions on future conferences as well as concerts as they come near us.

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Hillsong gives up on Sydney mega church site

A battle between the Hillsong Church and a South Sydney resident group over a controversial $78 million mega church appears to be over, with the Evangelical group putting the site of the proposed church on the market this week.

Hillsong has listed the Rosthschild Avenue, Rosebery site, which it paid $28 million for in 2006, with property agents CB Richard Ellis and is seeking Expressions of Interest for the site.

Both Hillsong and CB Richard Ellis refused to comment on the proposed sale.

The decision to sell follows ongoing controversy surrounding the proposal which involved building a 2700 seat stadium, underground parking for more than 600 cars and a seven storey office block at the site.

Locals had vehemently opposed the construction of the mega church, on the grounds that the area would be overwhelmed by Hillsong members and traffic on weekends and weeknights. Hillsong currently attracts about 20,000 worshippers to its Baulkham Hills and Waterloo churches on weekends.

Following an independent report which recommended the proposal be rejected, the church withdrew its development application from the Central Sydney Planning Committee last year, one day before the body was to meet and decide on the mega church’s future.

The move to sell the site is a complete reversal by Hillsong, which had been adamant it would build a mega church in Rosebery.

The proposal has been dogged with controversy, with locals accusing Hillsong of dirty tricks including fraudulent petitions, secret meetings with politicians, and flawed traffic assessments in a bid to gain approval for its proposal.

A public meeting about the proposed church held early last year attracted almost 1000 people to the Wesley Centre in Sydney. Residents opposed to the church proposal later claimed many of these people were bussed in by Hillsong from the Hills district and its Waterloo church.

Hillsong has denied these claims.

Rosebery residents Action Group spokesman Graeme Grace said residents were pleased to see Hillsong was looking to sell the site.

“They have obviously thought deeply and realised it’s just not the right place for it,” he said.

“Yes it’s a relief, but we are not going to count chickens before they hatch. We are going to wait till it’s sold then relax.”

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