In her book Christians for Jesus, she talks of how Billy Graham, the iconic evangelist famous for his crusades, was one of the first preachers to latch on to radio and television to “spread the word”. Journalist Katelyn Beaty writes about how the cult of celebrity has gradually warped well-meaning evangelical preachers. Was it reflective of human nature, or was it indicative of a larger culture that promoted image over integrity? These spectacular falls from grace from people in prominent positions seemed to be happening with alarming regularity. Mike Guglielmucci, the worship pastor for a similar pentecostal church called Planetshakers, had just revealed that his recent cancer diagnosis – about which he wrote the song Healer – was, in fact, fake. In 2008, one morning during class at C3, we were called out for a special meeting. Every girl (and maybe a few guys) wanted to marry Joel Houston, the son of Hillsong founder Brian Houston. It was like Mariah Carey had just walked in – except that I was the only one who knew who she was. Darlene Zschech, the worship pastor of Hillsong, once came into the coffee shop where I worked.

We knew all the names of the televangelists with their gold watches. There were celebrities, at least within Christian circles.

Hillsong pastor wife