A new documentary promising to expose Hillsong is on the way

Hillsong dominated the news earlier this year when one of its youth camps was caught holding a concert while most of Australia was struggling under COVID-19 restrictions.

Now, a detailed new documentary aims to shine a light on the infamous megachurch. Titled Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed, former members of the church – which reportedly boasts over 150,000 members across the globe – will discuss their experiences in the three-part docuseries.

It will examine how the star-studded megachurch was able to grow into a global brand that attracted high-profile celebrity attendees and unearth the truth behind headlines of recent scandals.

As the press release puts it, the docuseries will “unearth the truth behind headlines of recent scandals and shine a light on the fine line between culture, corporation and cult.” The ex-members of the church will “share harrowing allegations of the trauma, abuse, financial, and labour exploitation that created a culture of chaos within the church.”

Some of the most notable interviewees include Hannah Frishberg, a New York Post reporter who has covered Hillsong’s numerous scandals; Janice Lagata, a former Hillsong student and volunteer who had close working relationships with Hillsong NYC’s leadership; and Ranin Karim, who had a five month affair with former Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz, which ultimately led to Lentz’s termination from the megachurch.

There’s also Ben Kirby, an author with expertise on megachurches responsible for the viral Instagram account PreachersNSneakers which chronicles the expensive wardrobe worn by some pastors.

So if you want to know how Hillsong swiftly rose to become one of the world’s dominant megachurches, this is the docuseries for you. All three episodes will premiere back-to-back on Saturday, April 30th, at 8:30pm (AEST) on ID. For Australian viewers, it will be available on Foxtel and Fetch.

For more on this topic, follow the Film & TV Observer.

Check out the trailer for Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed:

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