Hillsong's Brian Houston Hopeful of the Future Despite Waiting for the Verdict on His Criminal Trial

Hillsong Church's founding pastor Brian Houston is hopeful about the future despite awaiting the verdict on a criminal charge that he concealed his father's sexual abuse of a young boy. Houston says he will focus on "building for the future" until June 2023 when the verdict will be announced.
"The last three weeks have been rigorous to say the least but we have felt the prayers of so many," Houston wrote on Instagram Thursday, days after he told the Downing Centre Local Court in Australia that his father, Frank, was a "serial pedophile."
Houston was formally charged last August with failing to report his father's abuse of a young boy after a two-year investigation by the New South Wales Police. Authorities charge that Houston, 68, "knew information relating to the sexual abuse of a young male in the 1970s and failed to bring that information to the attention of police."
Brett Sengstock was sexually assaulted by Frank Houston, who was at the time a travelling preacher based in New Zealand, inside his family's Coogee home in January 1970.
Brian Houston, 68, vehemently denies the claims and says his decision to not go to police when he learnt of his father's offending in October 1999 did not amount to a cover up. Houston claims that he respected the wishes of his father's victim, Sengstock, by not reporting the allegation to authorities. Frank Houston died in 2004.
"Obviously I can't comment on my court case but there's to be two more days of submissions in June 2023," he wrote on Instagram. "The delay is frustrating but it is what it is and Bobbie and I will be using the time committed to building for the future."
Tags : Brian Houston Hillsong hillsong church Frank Houston Brian Houston trial Brian Houston sex scandal Brian Houston sex offence cover-up
Hot Trends
-
American Idol's Breanna Nix’s Debut Single “Higher” Soars to No. 1
-
12th Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards: The Winners & How You Can Watch It
-
7 Things You May Not Know About American Idol's Breanna Nix
-
Newsboys Cancel Canadian Dates for 2025 Revival Nights Tour Following Lineup Change
-
Nicole C. Mullen Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of "Freedom" with New Remix
-
CeCe Winans Extends Her Sold Out Tour
-
Pastor Mike Jr. Makes History with Seventh Consecutive No. 1 with “Amen”
-
Leanna Crawford Releases "Still Waters (Psalm 23);" New Album Out July 19
-
Wanda Bell Launches LadyBellRadio.com 24/7 Gospel Music Platform
-
American Idol Winner Jamal Roberts Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs Chart
-
Sanctus Real to Headline Revised Canadian Tour Following Newsboys Cancellation
-
Dante Bowe Rejoins Maverick City Music After "Accidentally" Posting Nude Selfie 3 Years Ago
-
David and Tamela Mann's "The Live Breathe Fight" Tour Cancelled
-
Here Are the Lyrics to Passion's "I've Witnessed It"
-
The Life of Katharine Barnwell, the Mother of Bible Translation, Comes Alive with Jordan K. Monson's New Book
Most Popular
-
American Idol's Breanna Nix’s Debut Single “Higher” Soars to No. 1
-
12th Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards: The Winners & How You Can Watch It
-
7 Things You May Not Know About American Idol's Breanna Nix
-
Newsboys Cancel Canadian Dates for 2025 Revival Nights Tour Following Lineup Change
-
Nicole C. Mullen Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of "Freedom" with New Remix
-
CeCe Winans Extends Her Sold Out Tour
-
Pastor Mike Jr. Makes History with Seventh Consecutive No. 1 with “Amen”
-
Leanna Crawford Releases "Still Waters (Psalm 23);" New Album Out July 19
-
Wanda Bell Launches LadyBellRadio.com 24/7 Gospel Music Platform
-
American Idol Winner Jamal Roberts Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs Chart
-
Sanctus Real to Headline Revised Canadian Tour Following Newsboys Cancellation
-
Dante Bowe Rejoins Maverick City Music After "Accidentally" Posting Nude Selfie 3 Years Ago
-
David and Tamela Mann's "The Live Breathe Fight" Tour Cancelled
-
Here Are the Lyrics to Passion's "I've Witnessed It"
-
The Life of Katharine Barnwell, the Mother of Bible Translation, Comes Alive with Jordan K. Monson's New Book