Hillsong Worship's Jad Gillies reflects on church's fall, God's grace as band releases new music

After years of scandal, leadership upheaval and public scrutiny that rocked one of the world's most influential megachurches, Hillsong Worship's Jad Gillies says the ministry is embracing a redemptive new chapter birthed from a painful but necessary season of reflection.

In an interview with The Christian Post ahead of Hillsong Worship's Oct. 23 release of three new songs and a full album arriving Feb. 19, 2027, Gillies, a longtime member of Hillsong United and Hillsong Worship, reflected on the church's tumultuous recent history, the resilience of its congregation and God's grace amid human failure.

"The season that we've been through, and upheaval, and there's been some disappointments in there," the New Zealand native told CP. "What I think this new season represents is a real opportunity to kind of reset."

"I feel like even for us at Hillsong, it was ... a bit of a gift, as painful as it was, and as painful as it is, and the impact on relationships and things like that," he added.

For Gillies, who has spent 24 years serving in the Australian-born church, the upheaval prompted difficult questions about whether Hillsong Worship should continue making music at all. Last year, the group behind hits like "What a Beautiful Name," “Oceans” and “Shout to the Lord” recorded an EP, its first live recording since 2018, without publicly announcing the project.

"It was really just: Are we still supposed to be doing this? Are we supposed to? Is this something we should still do?" he said, adding that the team ultimately felt called to continue making music, but this time, with an emphasis on the character of God. 

"We get to reset and say what's important to us, who are we, who does God want us to be, and if this is who God wants us to be, then this is how we must behave," Gillies said.

Announced under the hashtag "Holy Is The Name," the project emphasizes the holiness and unchanging character of God, drawing inspiration from 1 Peter 1:16: "Be holy, because I am holy."

"What does God really want His church to sing?" Gillies recalled asking. "Let's sing the He is songs. Let's sing the You Are songs. Let's make it so that ... we're just helping people to put their attention on God, but also we're helping people to remember who He is, and remember what He said, and remember what He did, and remember whose we are."

"What I believed our church needed to be singing in this season was the 'He is' or the 'You Are' songs, songs that make a real ... proclamation or declaration of who He is," Gillies said.

Founded in Sydney, Australia, in 1983 by Brian and Bobbie Houston, Hillsong rapidly grew into an international movement known for its celebrity attendees like Justin Bieber, large-scale worship services and music that shaped contemporary Christian worship around the world.

Its global influence, however, was severely damaged by a series of scandals that raised questions about pastoral accountability and the culture surrounding its high-profile leadership.

In 2020, Hillsong fired Carl Lentz, the former pastor of its New York City congregation, following leadership problems, breaches of trust and moral failures. Lentz subsequently acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife.

The controversy deepened in March 2022 when Brian Houston resigned as global senior pastor after an internal investigation into inappropriate conduct involving two women. Houston also faced a criminal charge in Australia over allegations that he concealed his late father's sexual abuse of a child. He was found not guilty in August 2023.

The controversies led to a leadership overhaul, the departure of several churches from the Hillsong network, and several documentaries covering the scandals and a reckoning over the ministry's future. Phil and Lucinda Dooley subsequently assumed global leadership of the church, tasked with guiding the ministry through a period of rebuilding.

For Gillies, the scandals prompted a deeply personal examination of his place within the church.

"I had to really grab onto the things that I felt like ... mattered," he said. "Is there a reason I should leave? Is there a reason I should stay?"

He recalled standing backstage at a Hillsong service in Sydney during the height of the turmoil, watching congregants enter the building. Some had struggled to get their children ready for church, he said, while others appeared hesitant until they spotted a familiar face.

"I just watched a bunch of that unfold one morning, and it was right in the midst of everything that was going on," he said. "Our church is made up of these people that just love God and they're doing their best for their family. … [I thought], ‘Well, we can serve our church in this season.’”

Despite acknowledging the failures that brought Hillsong under intense scrutiny, Gillies expressed gratitude for both the church's current leadership and its founders.

"Our senior pastors right now, Phil and Lucinda, they're super gracious and have had to navigate ... a tough season," he said. "But also, I'm so grateful for our senior pastors, Brian and Bobby, and ... just the courage and ... determination it took to build a church like Hillsong over ... more than three decades."

"Did we get everything right? No, we didn't," he continued. "But I'm not ashamed of what I'm a part of, and I'm not ashamed of ... what God did through our church and through our teams."

Gillies said the experience has reinforced his belief in the resilience of the broader Church and the importance of spiritual leadership during tough seasons.

"Things happen and it can be really painful," he said. "But ... I just see a real opportunity to even just show people how to trust God."

And since Hillsong has announced new music, Gillies said fellow worship leaders and members of the Christian music community have been overwhelmingly supportive.

"People have been very kind," he said. "There's other worship teams which ... you run into all around the world for the last 20 years, and they're just really gracious and kind. … I've experienced nothing but ... gracious kindness, I think, and encouragement.”

Gillies said the theme of the group’s new songs emerged from conversations about what the Church needs to be singing during a time of uncertainty and spiritual disillusionment. Worship centered on God's character, he emphasized, can strengthen believers even when their circumstances remain difficult.

"They glorify Him, they magnify Him, but at the same time, they remind us of who He is," he said. "And that's something that can really stir confidence and faith in God, despite whatever you're ... preoccupied or distracted with."

Looking toward the future, Gillies said he believes worship music has an important role to play in reaching younger generations, particularly as many wrestle with questions about organized religion and authentic faith.

"People are searching for what's real and what's true," he reflected. "This is an amazing opportunity right now to be like, this is real. God is real, His word is true, His promises are faithful, and this is somewhere that is for you.”

"And God will not let you down. There are many things that will let you down. There are many people that will let you down, but God will never let you down, and that is the truth."

That message, he stressed, remains central to Hillsong Worship's mission as the group seeks to rebuild trust and find its place in a changing Christian music landscape.

"That's a message worth really highlighting and clinging onto as not just a worship team, but as a church and as the Church."

Hillsong Worship’s “Holy is the Name EP” releases Oct. 23, with a full album following in 2027. Watch the trailer here.