“It changes everything in terms of the arsenal that is behind us and the resources available to us.”

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

Hillsong is coming to Ottawa—the Church, not the band…yet.

In a move that has been dreamt about and anticipated since its inception, Ottawa’s myChurch is joining the global Hillsong Church family. Hillsong announced they will be launching two Canadian churches (with the other campus in Toronto) on September 23, 2018.

“Everyone is so excited,” myChurch pastor Caleb Davidson says of his congregation. “They are so jazzed. The day we made the announcement it was a standing ovation for like five minutes of pure screaming. It was primarily Hillsong alumni who helped establish myChurch. We always wanted to go down this route. It just happened that this timing worked out.”

Davidson’s wife, Julie, attended Hillsong International Leadership College. After the couple married they returned to the famous Australian church, where Davidson served as an intern with the church pastors. They launched myChurch together upon their return to Ottawa, planning it as “a carbon copy of Hillsong Australia”.

Hillsong Church is not a denomination. Rather they call themselves one house, with many rooms all over the world.

myChurch’s founding pastors Caleb and Julie Davidson share the stage during a myChurch service. Photo courtesy of myChurch/Hillsong Ottawa.

Asked what this move will mean for myChurch, Davidson responds, “Everything and nothing. We are going to continue to do what we have always done. We will continue to build like we have always built, but it changes everything in terms of the arsenal that is behind us and the resources available to us.”

Most of the changes, Davidson says, will initially be only apparent to the church leadership team. They are gaining access to a lot of behind-the-scenes logistical support for church initiatives and governance.

“To the onlooker, it is probably really boring stuff to talk about, but for anyone who has ever built anything significant, it is priceless. If you imagine the sheer amount of stuff a church would do across a year, a lot of that is undergirded and supported by the [Hillsong] global team.”

Another key element of launching Hillsong Ottawa is strengthening relationships.

“Hillsong Church has always been about relationships,” Davidson states. “We never lost the connection and always felt like family, but [by coming under the Hillsong brand] we are spending a lot more time with the global team, Jules and I. I’ve already been loving the support and the accountability that has been provided, coming under something so amazing. Just think about the sheer amount of experience on Hillsong staff alone. You have all kinds of people to bounce stuff off of.”

“Our hope is to continue to allow the arts to be creative.” Photo courtesy of myChurch/Hillsong Ottawa.

One loss Ottawa believers may feel in the short term is myChurch Music. The church’s band, which gained a significant following with their 2017 single “Hear Your Heart”, will formally close.

“myChurch Music and everything related to myChurch is now over.” But Davidson adds, “We don’t plan on stopping what we have already started—we plan on building on it. Obviously, there are the same individuals now attending Hillsong Church. Our hope is to continue to allow the arts to be creative. So myChurch Music is gladly being a seed in the ground so that we can produce a much greater harvest. It’s really about that.”

Davidson says their leadership team is planning a huge party for the September 23 launch of Hillsong Ottawa.

“We are just one of many great churches in the city, looking to exceedingly shake up the city in the name of Jesus,” he states. “That’s our heart. Let’s have some fun and build some great churches in the city.”

So, will this move mean any differences that are a bit more evident; maybe, for instance, high-profile names and groups coming to Ottawa?

“Bro, you know that’s gonna happen,” says Davidson, emphatically. “I can’t tease anything out right now, but I know Pastor Brian will probably be here in the next year. Get ready.”

Hillsong’s Global Senior Pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston. Photo courtesy of Hillsong.