You gotta have faith

Pentecostalism is growing so fast it could become the dominant Christian faith in Australia, and in Scott Morrison we’ve elected our first Pentecostal PM. Beverley Hadgraft discovers what’s firing the passion for this effusive Christianity.

- Beverley Hadgraft

It’s Sunday evening. In a massive auditorium in a shopping mall-style complex, hundreds of chattering youngsters make their way to their armchair-plush seats as a rock band blasts out music, the musicians’ images projected onto huge screens. A dry ice machine blows smoke on stage as a pastor in black jeans and boots describes his wife as “a fox”, refers to Jesus as “Dude” and asks us to give lots of money – credit cards accepted. Later he promises to cure anyone with a migraine and sufferers flock forward as the congregation shouts, sings, dances and lifts hands in the air as if to ask God: ‘Pick me!’.

This is a service in one of Australia’s largest Pentecostal Churches. It’s packed – as it is most Sundays. Unlike other churchgoers, Pentecostalists turn up most weeks.

According to the last census, one in 100 Australians now identifies as Pentecostal, whether as a member of one of the mega neo-Pentecostal churches (such as Hillsong, C3, CitiPointe or Planetshakers ) or the 1000 Pentecostal churches which come under the umbrella of Australian Christian Churches (ACC), formerly Assemblies of God (AOG).

Since 1991, while mainstream Christian Churches have declined, according to Australia’s National Church Life Survey (NCLS), Pentecostal movements have doubled. C3 alone has grown from 12 people in a Sydney surf club in 1980 to a staggering 100,000-strong congregation worshipping at 579 churches all over the world. If Pentecostalism continues that growth, says the Rev Jacqui Grey, who is responsible for the theological training of ACC pastors, it could one day become the dominant Christian faith in this country.