Faith on Trial: Hillsong
Hillsong is a multi-million dollar Christian phenomenon. Its founder, Brian Houston, became a religious rockstar. Today, he's sitting in a Sydney courtroom. How did the church get here?
True Crime Australia · [email protected]
Show overview
Faith on Trial: Hillsong has been publishing since 2023, and across the 2 years since has built a catalogue of 11 episodes, alongside 3 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 4 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a roughly quarterly cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 18 min and 30 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language True Crime show.
The catalogue appears to be on hiatus or wound down — the most recent episode landed 1.1 years ago, with no new episodes in over a year. The busiest year was 2023, with 10 episodes published. Published by [email protected].
From the publisher
Subscribe to Crime X+ today. From humble beginnings in a suburban Sydney warehouse to an international pentecostal powerhouse, Hillsong has changed the world around it, counting politicians, business tycoons and A-list celebrities among its true believers. Talking to one of those who has since turned her back on Hillsong, reporter Stephen Drill found himself asking: How did the church get so powerful? And is Hillsong really everything it claims to be? On his journey to find out the truth, Stephen follows the money, exposing disturbing claims of worker exploitation, complicated consensual sexual relationships and a culture where women are allegedly told to physically submit to their husbands. A ground-breaking eight-part investigation, Faith on Trial: Hillsong will leave you asking what you can believe in. Faith on Trial is hosted, written and produced by Stephen Drill and Andrea Thiis-Evensen. The executive producer is Dan Box. Go to faithontrial.com.au for more. Theme song: The Jordan Singers, By His Grace, 2022.
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Ep 9Not Guilty
bonusBrian Houston's day in court arrives on a charge of concealing his father's child sex abuse. Hear the verdict and what Houston and victim Brett Sengstock have to say. To hear the full bonus episode subscribe to Crime X+ on Apple Podcast today, or visit faithontrial.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ep 8The Verdict
Subscribe to Crime X+ today. Inside the courtroom where Brian Houston has pleaded not guilty to a charge of concealing his own father's child sex abuse.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ep 7Submit
Subscribe to Crime X+ today. What Hillsong teaches its young female students about sex.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ep 6The Missing 40 Minutes
Subscribe to Crime X+ today. What really happened in the Pullman Hotel when Brian Houston knocked on the wrong room door. Listen to Faith on Trial early and ad free by subscribing to Crime X+ on Apple Podcasts. New episode released every Wednesday. Go to faithontrial.com.au for more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ep 5The Affairs
Subscribe to Crime X+ today. What happened when a New York pastor met a girl, ruining his own life and rocking the faith of his followers. Listen to Faith on Trial early and ad free by subscribing to Crime X+ on Apple Podcasts. New episode released every Wednesday. Go to faithontrial.com.au for more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ep 4Miracles tonight
Subscribe to Crime X+ today. What it’s like to lose yourself inside a Hillsong service. Go to faithontrial.com.au for more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ep 3First fruits
Subscribe to Crime X+ today. God wants you to be rich, according to Hillsong. He also wants you to give 10 per cent of your money to the church. Go to faithontrial.com.au for more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ep 2Slave Labour-ish
Subscribe to Crime X+ today. Are Hillsong's faithful willing volunteers or simply being exploited? Go to faithontrial.com.au for more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ep 1The Big Eagle
Subscribe to Crime X+ today. Hillsong's rise to global megachurch - or how Hillsong founder Brian Houston took over the world. Go to faithontrial.com.au for more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing - Faith on Trial: Hillsong
trailerFrom humble beginnings in a suburban Sydney warehouse to an international pentecostal powerhouse, Hillsong has changed the world around it, filling stadiums with screaming congregations and counting politicians, business tycoons and A-list celebrities among its true believers. Talking to one of those believers, who's since turned her back on Hillsong, reporter Stephen Drill found himself asking: How did the church get so powerful? And is Hillsong really everything it claims to be? On his journey to find out the truth, Stephen follows the money, exposing disturbing claims of worker exploitation, complicated consensual sexual relationships and a culture where women are allegedly told to physically submit to their husbands. A ground-breaking eight-part investigation, Hillsong: faith on trial will leave you asking what you can believe in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.