The Secrets of Hillsong

I am pretty omnivorous when it comes to film. I like everything from silent movies to new releases. I am fine with foreign language films. But there's one thing that I love most of all - a well crafted documentary. The Secrets of Hillsong is a great example.

It's grounded in facts and interviews. Yet, somehow, the production team managed to keep me on the edge of my seat.

I am not going to reveal any spoilers, but several times, after a major revelation, I'd think, ok, this is obviously the end of this episode- and it never was.

Many of the interviews must have been painful. I applaud those brave souls for finding the inner strength to do them.

If you love great documentaries I suggest that you see this. To me it offers a master class in how to tell a story that is both factual and gripping.

There are two things wrong with this production: there's no focus and they failed to ask Carl en Laura Lentz some quite obvious questions.

About the focus: what is the documentary about? That evangelical organizations tend to be very conservative and have a strong bias towards all people that are 1. White and 2. Male? Thats how 90% of the Christian churches work, especially the pentecostal ones. Of course it's very sad when a young girl of color finds out she never will be a pastor because she isn't 1. White and 2. Male. But, no disrespect intended, she should have read the fine print before joining. Instead, the documentary should have been about a narcissistic opportunist (not Carl) and his buddies (enter: Carl) who see religion as a way of making (heaps of) money.

I can imagine how the production meetings went: a bunch of happy, lefty, intellectual people with no clue what churches are, were in the proces of making the show with the bad-narcissist approach. But then someone noticed "Wow, they are against abortion, gay-marriages, equal rights! Our viewers can't relate to that. Let's interview gay/female/colored people and let them speak out what we all think in this room!" -cheers all around- I imagine one person in the back faintly arguing: "But the majority of the (young) people who go there, share these opinions. Shouldn't we at least interview one or two of them?" Of course not, don't be ridiculous!

And then, just before the meeting was closed, there came this huge announcement. Carl and Laura wanted to be on the show! -more cheers, clapping- "The negotiations were successful. Carl and Laura agreed to tell their story! Of course we won't ask them any uncomfortable questions or verify their stories. -some laughter- "We are producers, not journalists" -more laughter- The faint voice in the back said something about telling the other people interviewed in the documentary that they will be participating in a crying-Carl-I'm-so-sorry-but-'they'-are-to-blame show. But alas the meeting was already over.

And there you have it. Interesting footnote is that Carl joined another mega church with accessory celebrities and controversies. Let's see how this turns out.

I am speaking from personal experience about this Church, I have financially supported with some large gifts and also attended the London Church, whilst watching Hillsongs Sydney throughout the Pandemic and ever since. Of course I used to buy every Hillsong CD back in the day and adored Darlene Zsceck.

I am absolutely horrified about how this organisation has exploited not only the volunteers but also people like me. If I had any idea that my hard earned money was being used to accommodate the lifestyles of Lenz and Houston I would never have given a penny.

The participants were very brave especially the gay gentleman and females who were treated like dirt, as well as the musicians and volunteers.

I was concerned that this documentary would be fabricated and not authentic, but on the contrary, genuine accounts from genuine people who were right in the thick of it.

I have been a practicing Christian for 30 years and I have seen many of the practices mirrored in many Churches that I have attended, I am sad to say.

Only recently I looked into the finances of Elim, as we were tithing 10 percent there each month. I was absolutely disgusted to see how big their salaries and pension contributions are.

Now, I don't go anywhere. I have a simple faith and that's as far as it goes.

So, the cry on cue Lenz has repented and sought forgiveness from all, yet has a personal fortune of £4 million and a massive house worth goodness knows how much, all from Church money which from from US. Lenz should pay it all back. I note that he is in a Leadership position in another Church, if this man had any humility he would not be in any such position. The narcissism is still very evident.

As for Houston, I am hoping that he is locked away in August for many years. To think that I watched his preaches over and over.

Well done the makers of this documentary for exposing such evil in plain sight.

It was extremely painful to watch and I cried at much of it, but it all needed to be shown for what it is.

The whole organisation should now close.

I wonder how many more megachurches are operating like this, Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen etc etc etc.

Be very discerning people.

I listened to the other one megachurched exposed vy Discovery+ and this one is less deep into emotional drama and Vanity Fair has it to add the Razzle Dazzle in their Docu series. I loved it way much better, even that I literally created a account on IMBD just to let everyone (like me) who still reads these comments to say its worth the watch of you like good docu series. I hope they make other ones like this. Not that the discovery+ one is not legitimate, it is! It just had a different direction or path from one another. You should watch it if you're still wondering if you should watch it or not.

This has to be the most engaging, informed, exposed and gritty documentary I've watched. Christians and Non-Christians alike will find more than enough to keep them on the edge of their seats while also being provided with receipts of a broken system throughout. My jaw dropped wide open when Carl Lentz showed up on the screen in the most recent interviews recorded for this, it certainly felt real and all too gripping. Certainly while this is quite the expose' and the intro theme may be oddly & aesthetically pleasing, when they warn you about triggering episodes, please don't look past that... There's a lot of info in the last episode or two to make a weak stomach or a victim of SA and the like feel triggered and mind-boggled. It's a lot to chew on but at the end of the day, no matter what you believe spiritually, finances and scandals shouldn't become the norm, and thats what ultimately brought down this den of wolves I used to see as a legitimate church.