Geelong Revival Centre church leader Noel Hollins receiving medical treatment as leadership change looms

Leadership changes loom at a shadowy, ultra-conservative Geelong church as former members hit out at the contradictory behaviour of its long-serving pastor.

The Geelong Revival Centre is located on Thompson Rd, Norlane.

A controversial Pentecostal Geelong church described by some as a “cult” is facing a forced leadership change, with its 93-year-old founder and long-term leader gravely ill, according to multiple sources.

Former members of the ultra-conservative Norlane-based Geelong Revival Centre (GRC) have revealed pastor Noel Hollins is being cared for at Bupa’s Bellarine Lakes aged care facility.

He is understood to be “morphined up to his eyeballs”, those with knowledge of the situation said.

At his request, Mr Hollins’ room is being guarded by two church members due to a paranoid belief that people are trying to kill him.

A Bupa spokeswoman said she could not comment.

Mr Hollins’ treatment at the facility contradicts the church’s preachings over many decades that medicine should be shunned in favour of prayer.

Geelong Revival Centre pastor Noel Hollins. Picture: Supplied.

“This guy (Mr Hollins) has watched people die a miserable death,” one former member said.

“He persuaded people not to take any (medication) … it flies in the face of everything he’s preached.”

Another key belief of the church is the world will end soon, with only members set to be saved.

Sex before marriage is forbidden, with members who break the rule kicked out of the church for two years, and women who break the rule not allowed to wear white on any future wedding day.

The church has around 30 Australian and global offshoots, including in South America, the Pacific, and Europe.

It is understood the GRC consists of two entities: Geelong Revival Centre Pty Ltd and the Revival Trust.

Mr Hollins is the sole director, secretary and shareholder of the GRC, according to documents filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

The Revival Trust has Mr Hollins as trustee alongside Gary Peel and Peter Morgan.

“Training of young people to be law-abiding citizens, free of drugs and riotous behaviour,” its summary of activities states.

“Training toward being successful and responsible marriage partners.”

Mr Hollins’s likely successor is Brian Griggs, sources said.

Brian Griggs has been touted as the next leader of the Geelong Revival Centre. Picture: Supplied.

Originally from Geelong, Mr Griggs has been conducting most of the GRC services in the absence of Mr Hollins.

Mr Griggs has most recently been pastor at the GRC-affiliated Bible Truth Fellowship (BTF) church in Toowoomba.

He also spent time in Newcastle.

The federal government’s charity register shows BTF was established in 1996 and lists Mr Griggs as “president”.

“Richard Long, the pastor in Colombia, was supposed to take over, but Griggs has somehow gone to the top,” a former member said.

“Griggs has got a lot of family, a lot of family who are pastors, and he seems to have taken the ground in the last year.

“By the looks of it, he’d take over everything … whoever heads Geelong, heads up everything because Geelong is the base.”

The same source recalled an instance where Mr Griggs supposedly expelled a long-term church member because his daughter – an “outsider” – visited him on his death bed.

“He told everyone he would go to hell,” the source said.

Attempts to contact Mr Griggs were unsuccessful.

Attendance numbers at the church have dropped in recent years, sources said.

The impending leadership change comes as Shine Lawyers’ Amy Olver said the firm continued to investigate potential civil damages claims on behalf of dozens of GRC “survivors”.

“Their stories are harrowing, and I am in awe of the bravery shown by those who have come forward,” she said.

“We have heard disturbing allegations of abuse at the hands of church employees, and I would implore anybody with information to please get in contact and assist our investigation.”

It is not suggested that Mr Hollins or Mr Griggs have committed any wrongdoing.

Last year, former GRC member Lauren revealed the ongoing suffering from her childhood with the “cult”.

She said the church’s beliefs dictated children should be “seen and not heard”.

“Growing up, it was isolating, you weren’t encouraged to make friends with other children (outside of the church),” she said.

“You were taught they were the devil (and) the world’s a scary, scary place, and we’re all safe in this little bubble.”

She made the decision to leave the church at the age of 18 and was told to immediately leave the family home.

Lauren is one of those working with Shine Lawyers.

Originally published as Geelong Revival Centre church leader Noel Hollins receiving medical treatment as leadership change looms