Awakening Australia: Thousands of Christians converge in Brisbane

Organisers of rallies in Brisbane which attracted thousands of Christians to the city over the weekend are planning more events across Australia and New Zealand after more than 1000 people were reportedly converted to the faith.

Ben Fitzgerald, of Awakening Australia.

Organisers of rallies in Brisbane which attracted thousands of Christians to the city over the weekend are planning more events across Australia and New Zealand after more than 1000 people were reportedly converted to the faith.

There were incredible scenes at the Brisbane Showgrounds with hundreds of people streaming to the front and getting baptised in the rain in blow up swimming pools.

While Brisbane Lions fans were streaming out ‘Go the Lions’, devotees were screaming out the name of Jesus at the Awakening Australia event.

Ben Fitzgerald, the director of Awakening Australia, was delighted by the success of the event and revealed organisers had covered their huge costs and were looking at plans for other cities including Sydney, Melbourne and in NZ.

“I am blown away by what the Lord has done. I simply don’t have words right now, just a thankful heart that is trying to process everything,’’ Mr Fitzgerald posted on Instagram.

New converts were baptised in the rain during the Awakening Australia rallies at Brisbane Showgrounds.

“ One thing I can say, though is that there is a deep hunger that is evident in the Australian Church, and a huge openness to God in the Australian people.’’

Throughout the weekend, the events, which were live streamed, featured speakers and worship teams from Australia and around the world.

In one of the first sessions on Friday, Mr Fitzgerald called on Christians to get fair dinkum about their faith.

New converts were baptised in the rain during the Awakening Australia rallies at Brisbane Showgrounds.

“God doesn’t want what is happening all over the world,’’ he said.

“You and I are seeing big leaders falling. False prophets, people sexually sinning, embezzling money. It’s a disgrace.

“It’s a mockery to the person of Jesus.’’

He said for too long Christians believed living under ‘grace’ would mean they could continue sinning.

But he said God wanted a church that was ‘pure’ and for its members to stop spending hours on their phones on social media and porn sites.

Mr Fitzgerald said Christ died a horrific death on the cross so people could be free from their sin and not continue to live in it.

Hundreds of Christians bowing at the Awakening Australia event on Friday.

Wearing an Australia Zoo shirt, he said Christians needed to show the same passion for their faith as Steve Irwin did for the animals of the planet.

“When you watched him, you didn’t think he kinda loved animals … He was possessed. He was overtaken.”

“People all around the world loved his passion. People were crying at his funeral … this man was different.’’

“He was given (to the cause).”

Hundreds of Christians bowing at the Awakening Australia event on Friday.

Awakening Australia is a movement which aims to pull churches across denominations together to reach more people with the Christian message.

They aspire to see the return of the massive revival meetings, led by Billy Graham in the 1959, which set a crowd record at the MCG that has never been surpassed by any sporting event.

Some of the crowd at the Awakening Australia event.

More than 130,000 people – some estimate as many as 143,750 – packed the Melbourne Cricket Ground to hear the legendary preacher share the Christian gospel.

In 2018, more than 30,000 Christians from around Australia flooded into Marvel Stadium for an Awakening Australia event.

The huge crowd at a Billy Graham crusade in Brisbane in 1959.

Mr Fitzgerald told those gathered at the showgrounds on Friday that God had challenged him to spend less time on Instagram and watching YouTube documentaries and more time in prayer and reading his Bible.

“I can tell you as a pastor I was partially a slave to my phone.’’

One of the musicians during the opening night of the Awakening Australia event in Brisbane.

“We are addicted to the thoughts and opinion of man,’’ he said of the quest for likes and acknowledgment on social media.

“We have become obsessed with everyone’s thoughts except God’s.’’