Behind the Hillsong phenomenon

By Jess Daly and Helen Grasswill

This time last year, Treasurer Peter Costello brought religion to the forefront of federal politics when he attended the annual Hillsong Convention.

Mr Costello has since been joined at Hillsong events by Federal Government heavyweights Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Communications Minister Helen Coonan, and outgoing New South Wales Premier Bob Carr among others.

The Treasurer's interest marked the transition of an event that had begun a little over 20 years ago as a gathering of Pentecostal church members into a major new force in the nation's affairs.

But who is the driving strength behind the movement in Australia?
Meet the Houstons

Brian Houston is doing what he says he was born to do. He and wife Bobbie are the founders and senior pastors of Hillsong - a church that has had success in both the traditional material form and in its ability to impact others.

Pastor Brian Houston says he does not see success in simple terms.

"I think too many people make that mistake of judging success, or even when they hear the word success, immediately take it to [mean] material things.

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