Christianity on the wane in Australia, but Pentecostal church bucks trend
Census shows while secularism is growing faster than any religion, young people are behind boost in membership of Pentecostal church
As the number of Australians who identify as Christian has declined since 2011, one church has notably bucked the trend.
Members of the Pentecostal church increased from nearly 220,000 in 2006 and 238,000 in 2011 to 260,500 last year, according to the 2016 census results released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday.
It has grown particularly among young people, with increases in the 0-14 (the largest share of affiliates), 15-24 and 25-34 age profiles recorded in each census from 2006.
Associate professor Ann Evans of the Australian National University’s school of demography, said the rise, while not huge, was notable.
“Modern Pentecostal churches are actually very appealing to a wide demographic of young people – they have a very strong social element, and very dynamic and engaging services,” she said. “They’re like going to a concert for young people.”
Among the 0-14 age group would be the children of Pentecostal church members, she said.
One of the best-known Pentecostal churches in the world is Australia’s “megachurch” Hillsong, which has expanded to 69 services in 27 locations across the country and several international offshoots since it was founded in New South Wales in 1983.
In its 2016 annual report, released in February, Hillsong said weekly church attendance grew to 37,384 people last year. Revenue grew by 16% to nearly $131m, up from about $113m in 2015; more than half came from donations.
Pop star Justin Bieber is one of its highest-profile acolytes, with the mohawked “rock star preacher” Carl Lentz – who spoke of bringing Bieber to salvation in GQ in December 2015 – shadowing him on his tour of Australia in March.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
