Hillsong Ukraine: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 50°26′53.25″N 30°30′48.23″E / 50.4481250°N 30.5133972°E / 50.4481250; 30.5133972
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add more detail and citations re Sydney church, and Brian Houston's role
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| denomination = [[Hillsong Church]]
| denomination = [[Hillsong Church]]
| founded date = October 1992
| founded date = October 1992
| seniorpastor = [[Brian Houston (pastor)|Brian]] and [[Bobbie Houston]]
| seniorpastor = Phil and Lucinda Dooley (global pastors)
| pastor = Yuriy Ravnushkin and Tanya Ravnushkin
| pastor = Yuriy Ravnushkin and Tanya Ravnushkin
| country = Ukraine
| country = Ukraine
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==History==
==History==
[[Image:Hillsongkievconference2006.jpg|thumb|Praise and worship during the opening night of Hillsong Conference in Kyiv, 2006]]
[[Image:Hillsongkievconference2006.jpg|thumb|Praise and worship during the opening night of Hillsong Conference in Kyiv, 2006]]
In September 1992, an outreach began in the [[October Palace, Kyiv]] with team members from [[Hills Christian Life Centre]] in [[Baulkham Hills]], [[New South Wales]], Australia (now known as Hillsong Church). Australian worship leader David Evans, US pastor Mike Berry and former Hillsong youth pastor Darko Culjak officially began the church in a 700-seat movie theatre in downtown Kyiv. The establishment of the church was aided by [[Pat Robertson]]'s [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] operating in the [[former Soviet Union]]. Darko Culjak became the first senior minister and established the Kiev Christian Life Centre officially on 4 October 1992.{{cn|date=March 2022}} Hillsong Kiev was thus established a year after [[Ukraine]] obtained its independence from Russia.<ref name=eternitynews2015>{{cite web| title=A church under siege in Kiev | website=[[Eternity News]] | date=2 January 2015 | url=https://www.eternitynews.com.au/archive/church-siege-kiev/ | access-date=1 March 2022}}</ref>
[[Hills Christian Life Centre]] was founded by [[Brian Houston]] in 1983 in [[Baulkham Hills]] (an outer suburb of [[Sydney]]), [[New South Wales]], Australia, later (2001) renamed as Hillsong Church.<ref name="hey2011">{{Cite thesis |last=Hey |first=Sam |title=God in the Suburbs and Beyond: The Emergence of an Australian Megachurch and Denomination |date=2011 |degree=PhD |publisher=[[Griffith University]] |url=https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/handle/10072/365629 |doi=10.25904/1912/3059 |access-date=2 February 2022}} [https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/bitstream/handle/10072/365629/Hey_2011_02Thesis.pdf?sequence=1 PDF]</ref><ref name="palgrave">{{Cite book |last=Riches |first=Tanya |title=The Hillsong Movement Examined: You Call Me Out Upon the Waters |last2=Wagner |first2=Tom |date=2 November 2017 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-59656-3}}</ref> In September 1992, an outreach began in the [[October Palace, Kyiv]] with team members from the Sydney church.{{cn}} Australian worship leader David Evans, US pastor Mike Berry and former Hillsong youth pastor Darko Culjak officially began the church in a 700-seat movie theatre in downtown Kyiv. The establishment of the church was aided by [[Pat Robertson]]'s [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] operating in the [[former Soviet Union]]. Darko Culjak became the first senior minister and established the Kiev Christian Life Centre officially on 4 October 1992.{{cn|date=March 2022}} Hillsong Kiev was thus established a year after [[Ukraine]] obtained its independence from Russia.<ref name=eternitynews2015>{{cite web| title=A church under siege in Kiev | website=[[Eternity News]] | date=2 January 2015 | url=https://www.eternitynews.com.au/archive/church-siege-kiev/ | access-date=1 March 2022}}</ref>


Culjak led the church until locally-educated leaders could take over the work. On 1 June 1997, Ievgenii (Zhenya) and Vera Kasevich became become the new pastors of the church.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}
Culjak led the church until locally-educated leaders could take over the work. On 1 June 1997, Ievgenii (Zhenya) and Vera Kasevich became become the new pastors of the church.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}
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In January 2015 Yuri and Tanya Ravnushkin were lead pastors of the church. The church was/is located on the outskirts of the city.<ref name=eternitynews2015/>
In January 2015 Yuri and Tanya Ravnushkin were lead pastors of the church. The church was/is located on the outskirts of the city.<ref name=eternitynews2015/>

In March 2022, Brian Houston resigned from the board of Hillsong Church Sydney and from his role as global senior pastor as a result of breaching the moral code of the church in his behaviour with two women, and Phil and Lucinda Dooley took over both roles.<ref name=knowlesnguyen2022>{{cite web | last1=Knowles | first1=Lorna| first2= Kevin|last2= Nguyen | title=Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston resigns after internal misconduct investigation | website=ABC News| publisher= [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date=23 March 2022 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-23/hillsong-church-founder-brian-houston-resigns/100932318 | access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref><ref name=alexander2022>{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Harriet |date=2022-03-23 |title=Brian Houston resigns as Hillsong pastor |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/brian-houston-resigns-as-hillsong-pastor-20220323-p5a76y.html |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=knowles2022>{{cite web | last=Knowles | first=Lorna | title=How Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston's fall from grace played out over five days |website=ABC News| publisher= [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date=24 March 2022 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-24/hillsong-church-founder-brian-houston-fall-from-grace/100934680 | access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref>


==Ministries==
==Ministries==

Revision as of 04:40, 24 March 2022

Hillsong Kiev
Hillsong Church Kyiv
Map
CountryUkraine
DenominationHillsong Church
Websitehillsong.com.ua
History
FoundedOctober 1992
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)Phil and Lucinda Dooley (global pastors)
Pastor(s)Yuriy Ravnushkin and Tanya Ravnushkin

Hillsong Kiev, also known as Hillsong Church Kiev or Hillsong Church Kyiv (formerly Kiev Christian Life Centre) is an offshoot of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia, based in Kyiv, Ukraine.

History

Praise and worship during the opening night of Hillsong Conference in Kyiv, 2006

Hills Christian Life Centre was founded by Brian Houston in 1983 in Baulkham Hills (an outer suburb of Sydney), New South Wales, Australia, later (2001) renamed as Hillsong Church.[1][2] In September 1992, an outreach began in the October Palace, Kyiv with team members from the Sydney church.[citation needed] Australian worship leader David Evans, US pastor Mike Berry and former Hillsong youth pastor Darko Culjak officially began the church in a 700-seat movie theatre in downtown Kyiv. The establishment of the church was aided by Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network operating in the former Soviet Union. Darko Culjak became the first senior minister and established the Kiev Christian Life Centre officially on 4 October 1992.[citation needed] Hillsong Kiev was thus established a year after Ukraine obtained its independence from Russia.[3]

Culjak led the church until locally-educated leaders could take over the work. On 1 June 1997, Ievgenii (Zhenya) and Vera Kasevich became become the new pastors of the church.[citation needed]

As of 2007, the church held six to seven services each weekend with a combined attendance of around 3000. Pastor Zhenya and Vera wereinvited to speak at various churches and Christian conferences around the globe.[4] In February 2014, Zhenya and Vera announced their resignation.[citation needed]

In January 2015 Yuri and Tanya Ravnushkin were lead pastors of the church. The church was/is located on the outskirts of the city.[3]

In March 2022, Brian Houston resigned from the board of Hillsong Church Sydney and from his role as global senior pastor as a result of breaching the moral code of the church in his behaviour with two women, and Phil and Lucinda Dooley took over both roles.[5][6][7]

Ministries

Hillsong Kiev aligned its structure with that of Sydney Hillsong. As of 2007 there were three-part courses for new believers, named "Discovery". "Connect groups" and sometimes special services were held for people of various ages and with various interests, such as youth, or "people over 40", or those who like fishing or computers.[8] Hillsong Kiev is characterised by a high level of involvement of its members in serving at the church and in 2017 was assessed by researchers as having the best level of the organisation of ministry among all Protestant churches in Europe.[9][10]

Conferences

As both Hillsong Church in Sydney and London, Hillsong Kiev holds three yearly conferences: the Hillsong Conference, the Colour Your World conference for women, and a men's conference. The Hillsong Conference, meant to equip other churches with both Biblical teaching and practical advice on organising the life of a church, gathered about 3000 delegates from more than 250 churches from 12 countries, mainly representing the former Soviet bloc, in 2006.[citation needed]

The Colour conference was cancelled in 2014 owing to conflict in Ukraine. In July 2014, at Hillsong's major conference in Sydney, Kiev lead pastor Yuriy Ravnushkin spoke about the difficulties of keeping the church going during those times.[3]

Social work

The church has a history of helping orphanages in Kyiv and nearby, supporting sick people in hospitals treating cancer, reaching out to homeless children and inmates in correctional centres.[11]

In 2015 Tanya Ravnushkin reported that they had "started to do a whole lot more outside our doors", andrefugee children had been accepted into the church and into the homes of members.[3]

Bible college

The church has a Bible college offering a 1- to 3-year studies plan, meant mainly for those who wish to serve in the church. Students from Protestant churches of other cities of Ukraine as well as other former Soviet-bloc countries also come for training.[citation needed]

Music

Hillsong Kiev has recorded many albums, including youth and children's albums. The songs were initially translations of the songs written at Hillsong Church in Sydney Hillsong London, but there are also original songs written mainly by Vera Kasevich, who served as the church's worship pastor, and her and Zhenya's son Roman Kasevich.[citation needed]

Venues

Hillsong Kiev did not initially own a worship centre, renting an exhibition marquee in industrial outskirts of Kyiv for its services, but purchased two offices in 2002 and 2007 on credit.[12]

Criticism

The criticism of the Hillsong Church Kiev is similar to the criticism expressed with regard to the mother church in Australia and reflects the general disapproval of certain aspects of what Pentecostals/charismatics believe in, often from the more traditional Protestant denominations. In particular, the teaching on prosperity is the target of attacks. However, according to Pastor Yevgeny Kasevich, he would not "go to the extremes" when teaching prosperity believing that "we are blessed (only) to be a blessing to others".[13]

Hillsong Moscow

In early 2007,[14] after three years of preparation, Hillsong Kiev launched its first service in Moscow,[10] with subsequent large services, attended both by interested Christians from other churches and new people, held in April and May.[14] From summer 2007 Hillsong Moscow held services in the Stas Namin Theatre, in the city centre near Gorky Park.[10]

In June 2007, the church successfully completed the registration process. The church plant was cooperatively supported by the Moscow-based Good News Church pastored by Rick Renner.[9][15]

The church in Moscow was initially pastored by Kyiv pastors Zhenya and Vera Kasevich.[citation needed] As of 2015, Hillsong Moscow was led by Vadim Feshchenko, and the two churches were on friendly terms, despite the conflict between the two countries.[3]

References

  1. ^ Hey, Sam (2011). God in the Suburbs and Beyond: The Emergence of an Australian Megachurch and Denomination (PhD thesis). Griffith University. doi:10.25904/1912/3059. Retrieved 2 February 2022. PDF
  2. ^ Riches, Tanya; Wagner, Tom (2 November 2017). The Hillsong Movement Examined: You Call Me Out Upon the Waters. Springer. ISBN 978-3-319-59656-3.
  3. ^ a b c d e "A church under siege in Kiev". Eternity News. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  4. ^ "YC Alberta 2006: TELL THE WORLD". Ycgeneration.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  5. ^ Knowles, Lorna; Nguyen, Kevin (23 March 2022). "Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston resigns after internal misconduct investigation". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  6. ^ Alexander, Harriet (23 March 2022). "Brian Houston resigns as Hillsong pastor". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  7. ^ Knowles, Lorna (24 March 2022). "How Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston's fall from grace played out over five days". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 August 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ a b "Христианские новости. - Твоя Библия". Bible.com.ua. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  10. ^ a b c "Kyiv Evangelicals Open Hillsong Moscow Church". Religious Information Service of Ukraine. 24 July 2007. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012.
  11. ^ "Easter for everybody". Archived from the original on 11 August 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  12. ^ "Помещения". Archived from the original on 15 September 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
  13. ^ "Web Conference with Yevgeny and Vera Kasevich". News.invictory.org. 23 February 2007. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2007. (in Russian)
  14. ^ a b "Киевские протестанты открыли в Москве новую церковь – «Хиллсонг»". www.risu.org.ua (in Russian). Archived from the original on 22 December 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Киевский «Хиллсонг» успешно открылся в Москве". Archived from the original on 7 September 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2007.

External links

50°26′53.25″N 30°30′48.23″E / 50.4481250°N 30.5133972°E / 50.4481250; 30.5133972