“This conference has never just been about us and looking at how wonderful Hillsong is, it’s always been about us doing everything we can to equip, encourage and inspire others” says Pastor Brian Houston passionately about the No Other Name 2014 conference.
With 67 countries represented at the conference, Hillsong have released 5 special EP language editions of newest album, No Other Name so that other languages and nations can join in and worship in their own language. Calvary, This I Believe (The Creed), Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) and Thank You Jesus are among some of the translated songs available for nations to sing in their own mother tongue.
Cass Langton, Reuben Morgan, Gary Clarke, Taya Smith, Joel Houston and Young and Free youth Pastor Laura Toggs, joined senior Pastors Bobbie and Brian Houston in discussion about the new album, conference and the story behind the rise of Young and Free.
Youth Pastor, Laura Toggs, exemplifies upon how a key part of her mission is to ‘empower the generations’ and discusses how the ever-popular worship song Alive came about: “We didn’t initially set about to create dance music, but I felt really strongly that God spoke to me to create music that would bring joy. People can rise up and be anchors in the kind of joy that Jesus brings,” she says. Laura is confident and passionate about raising up a generation of young people who are secure in Jesus Christ. With the rise of social media, the challenges young people face- especially girls- is tougher than ever.
“Social media tells us how to live, what to wear, how to look,” says Laura, who is enthusiastic about speaking the word of God and creating the type of environment that places value on girls. “We have so many healthy examples of women who are purely confident, getting it from knowing who they are in Jesus Christ,” she adds.
Young and Free’s Wake, sung by Taya Smith, and Alive have impacted and inspired thousands of young people around the world (over 2 million viewed the youth worship song on YouTube). An album that was produced to reflect the joy Jesus brings, intertwines upbeat pop music with empowering biblical lyrics. “We put on a secular pop song from the radio and our young people lost their minds, they just went crazy and we were like ‘why can’t we have that response in our praise and in our worship’, that’s what it should be,” says youth Pastor Laura Toggs. “We wanted to create a type of sound that was for their friends– so our team went away and wrote Alive.”
“This conference is part of our calling,” says Brian Houston, “It was never something we wanted to do once or twice; it was something we wanted to consistently do”. Thousands of people have gathered over three days to worship, refuel their soul and hear the word of God from the likes of Carl Lenz, Craig Groeschel and Robert Madu. The team at Hillsong thrive on speaking life and speaking the word. Whether it’s through their youth ministry or regular inspirational speaking, their ultimate aim is to point people to Jesus. “We want to help the church be all it was called to be- the church has so much potential. Jesus loved his church so much that he gave his life for it”- Brian Houston.
By Lisa & Laura Walden
Check out their blog at lwofficial.blogspot.com
