Hillsong United: The Billboard Shoot
The singers of Hillsong United photog...
The singers of Hillsong United photographed on May 9, 2015 at Central Park in New York City. Clockwise from far left: Jonathan Douglass, Taya Smith, Jad Gillies, Matt Crocker, and Joel Houston.
Read More From Billboard: 'Jesus Is the Ultimate Crossover': Christian Act Hillsong United on Why Their Message Is for Everybody (Including Justin Bieber)
"Jesus is the ultimate crossover guy ...
"Jesus is the ultimate crossover guy -- literally," quips Houston.
Read More From Billboard: 'Jesus Is the Ultimate Crossover': Christian Act Hillsong United on Why Their Message Is for Everybody (Including Justin Bieber)
"Church goin' up -- on a Saturday!" y...
"Church goin' up -- on a Saturday!" yells Carl Lentz, the toned, tattoo-covered co-pastor of the New York outpost of Hillsong Church. It's a timely reference to rapper-singer ILoveMakonnen's hit "Tuesday," and one that the 5,000 diverse, mostly young attendees of the first of two Saturday services at Central Park's Rumsey Playfield on a cloudy May afternoon knowingly laugh at.
Read More From Billboard: 'Jesus Is the Ultimate Crossover': Christian Act Hillsong United on Why Their Message Is for Everybody (Including Justin Bieber)
"Our thing is to never be 'religious,...
"Our thing is to never be 'religious,' " says Hillsong pastor (and spiritual adviser to Justin Bieber) Carl Lentz, who helps Houston lead services in New York but isn't in the band. "I don't like religion. What we're offering is a relationship with God, and out of that comes your faith."
Read More From Billboard: 'Jesus Is the Ultimate Crossover': Christian Act Hillsong United on Why Their Message Is for Everybody (Including Justin Bieber)
"People connect to the music and the ...
"People connect to the music and the message," explains Houston in an interview the day before the show. "We take away a lot of the things that people think of when they think about church, and instead try to present something that's as real and honest as possible."
Read More From Billboard: 'Jesus Is the Ultimate Crossover': Christian Act Hillsong United on Why Their Message Is for Everybody (Including Justin Bieber)
Houston's parents, Brian and Bobbie, ...
Houston's parents, Brian and Bobbie, co-founded Hillsong Church with his grandfather Frank. As a member of the youth ministry, the Sydney-born singer-songwriter embraced his self-described "rebellious side" and joined with like-minded members to play worship songs that would appeal to their generation.
Read More From Billboard: 'Jesus Is the Ultimate Crossover': Christian Act Hillsong United on Why Their Message Is for Everybody (Including Justin Bieber)
Hillsong United singer Jad Gillies ta...
Hillsong United singer Jad Gillies takes a break. "Jesus came," says Houston, "and said, 'This whole God thing? It's not just for your genre, it's cross-genre.' Our message is for everybody."
Read More From Billboard: 'Jesus Is the Ultimate Crossover': Christian Act Hillsong United on Why Their Message Is for Everybody (Including Justin Bieber)
Hillsong United is both a powerful fo...
Hillsong United is both a powerful form of outreach for Hillsong Church -- which is based in Sydney but has 100,000 members in branches across 11 countries -- and arguably the most important act in Christian music today.
Read More From Billboard: 'Jesus Is the Ultimate Crossover': Christian Act Hillsong United on Why Their Message Is for Everybody (Including Justin Bieber)
"If I dive, would you catch me?" Lent...
"If I dive, would you catch me?" Lentz asks, perched at the edge of the stage and clutching a Bible brandishing an "Occupy All Streets" sticker.
Read More From Billboard: 'Jesus Is the Ultimate Crossover': Christian Act Hillsong United on Why Their Message Is for Everybody (Including Justin Bieber)