Platinum-certified worship band Hillsong United recently released the expanded edition of their new album Are we already thereamid what Jonathan “JD” Douglass has described as a protracted and “challenging” season that has made her music truer than ever.
Douglass has called Hillsong Church his home church since he was 4 years old. In a recent video interview with The Christian Post, he candidly shared how he’s been doing following numerous scandals that have rocked Hillsong’s global church network.
“We’ve definitely been through a lot,” Douglass told CP. “I have a feeling the rest of the world does too, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say last year was one of the most challenging years for us. But the good thing is, I feel like we’ve experienced God in such a new and fresh way, and all the things we write and sing about have never been truer, even to us.”
Hillsong has been embroiled in rumors and allegations, and some church leaders have been accused of various misdeeds. Last year, Hillsong was the focus of documentaries that rehashed allegations and cases of wrongdoing by former church leaders that have come to light in recent years.
“There have been challenges and pains, but at the end of the day, as we reached the end of last year, I can honestly say I feel like my faith and trust and experiencing God’s goodness have never been better,” he said he testifies, “I love the word of God, and I believe that, as the psalmist writes in Psalm 119, it is ‘a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path.'”
“I’ve experienced this my entire life, but for me personally it’s never been more true,” Douglass continued. “I just love the goodness and grace of God that is available to all of us. So the good news is that I’m grateful and experiencing it more than ever.”
Are We There Yet (Extended Edition) was released earlier this year and the worshiper said the group’s lyrics to God never touched him again.
“We can rightly focus so much on finding out, ‘Are we there yet?’ because ultimately the goal is what matters most. And for us, that is the promise of heaven and eternity with Jesus,” said Douglass. “Yes, the destination is important, but God works so much through the journey, and I think that if we’re not careful we can miss what God wants to do in the middle, and the promise of God being with us, while we are on the journey.”
The album is filled with hopeful songs and Hillsong United continues to focus on the hope in Jesus. However, Douglass added that he knows life won’t be easy.
“Again, the Word of God, spoiler alert, does not promise that we will have problem-free lives,” he said. But to all these challenges we are promised an answer. We are promised joy. When we look to God and His Word and His ways, then we can really experience the goodness of God, or at least have the hope that we will eventually, so that’s what the album is addressing.”
As of February 5th, Hillsong Church is under new leadership, led by Phil and Lucinda Dooley, who have been appointed as the new Global Senior Pastors of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Brian Houston, who co-founded Hillsong in 1983, resigned as world leader in March after it was revealed he had been accused of misconduct by two women in the past 10 years. His resignation also followed a series of misconduct allegations involving other Hillsong Church leaders in the US and Australia.
Douglass told CP he was happy to have the Dooleys as his new leaders.
“Actually, my wife and I are campus pastors, we minister at one of our churches in downtown Sydney,” he said, describing the Dooleys as “amazing.”
“They were our youth pastors; They were actually part of the formation of Hillsong United as they were over 20 years ago when we were in ministry. He was the one who said, ‘He didn’t say start a band. He [Phil] I would just speak to all youth ministry about it, ‘Why don’t you do your best to build up God’s kingdom and serve the church?’ Part of his leadership was a big part of why we started this. So yes he is a good man and we look forward to the future!”
Hillsong United recently ended the Tomlin United Tour, which was the band’s first time touring together since 2020.
“There are seasons when we have the mountain top and those seasons in the valley. … We were in a valley season. We met just before this last tour and we talked about it: ‘There’s a lot going on. There’s a lot of stuff out there that just isn’t true, but such is life. And we were like, ‘What should we do?’” he said.
Douglass said Hillsong United “always had a great deal of consensus” and they all agreed that they should go on the tour. United formed when they were all in high school and the core of the band is still a part of the worship group.
“We had never taken the stage before we got together and basically walked, like Moses, prayed this prayer where he literally said, ‘If you don’t go ahead of us, I’m not going.’ That has always been our heart,” added Douglass.
“The reality of these songs and worship isn’t reserved for people who have it all together or when you’re at the mountain top. I actually think these songs are most effective when people are in their darkest days or in their deepest valleys.” Douglass said of United’s new music: “These songs aren’t just cool tunes and good ideas. They’re all grounded on the Word of God.”
Are We There Yet (Extended Edition) is now available to stream anywhere music is sold.
Jeannie Ortega Law is a reporter for The Christian Post. You can reach her at: jeannie.law@christianpost.com She is also the author of the book, What is happening with me? How to defeat your invisible enemy Follow her on Twitter: @jlawcp Facebook: JeannieOMusic
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