Business booming as Knox churches CityLife and Hillsong flag grand expansion plans
BUSINESS is booming for churches in Melbourne’s outer east — and it’s likely to get bigger with two “mega-churches” on the move to larger digs.
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RELIGION is booming in Knox with people flocking to weekend services and the city’s biggest churches looking at major expansion plans to cope with demand.
Knox’s CityLife Church is creating a new $11 million centre in Wantirna South — paid for by its congregation — that will offer services to support people in need, including counselling rooms and a food pantry, plus a new foyer, cafe, and children’s rooms.
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Senior minister Andrew Hill said more than 5000 people attended services on Saturday nights and Sundays each week.
It even has “Chinese Church” — congregations specifically for people who speak Mandarin or Cantonese.
The church, believed to be the biggest in Knox and one of the biggest in Melbourne, has a 2000-seat auditorium and a strong focus on contemporary music in its services, some of which are streamed live online.
“I think for people to attend church these days they have got to feel it is relevant,” Mr Hill said.
“I think there are perceptions of church being maybe a bit boring or irrelevant, but certainly we don’t find that is the case.”
Meanwhile, evangelical church Hillsong is proving so popular it is set to move to Knoxfield after outgrowing its Bayswater home.
Its plans for a church for up to 900 people at 557 Burwood Highway, Knoxfield, hit a hurdle after being knocked back by VicRoads and Knox Council last year due to parking and traffic concerns.
But last week, Hillsong said “the parties have now reached agreement on the terms of the consent”.
Council city development director Angelo Kourambas said no permit had yet been issued and the council was waiting on a consent order from VCAT.
The proposal has been amended to include two stages — the first limits it to 481 people and then increasing to 600 people as more carparking is provided.
VicRoads acting metro east regional director Savoula Lidis said the original proposal did not have enough information on traffic impacts on Burwood Highway, but modified plans show the development “will not cause problems”.
The Knox Multicultural Directory 2016 shows just over a quarter of residents (37,897 people) are Catholics, which is the area’s the most popular religion.
CHURCH JUST A WAY A LIFE
FOR Lysterfield man Brendan Garrett, being part of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church is a huge part of his life.
Mr Garrett, 28, was born into the religion, also known as the Exclusive Brethren, and attends bible teachings each weeknight at the church’s hall in Ferntree Gully.
“We will go over certain scriptures in the Bible and discuss them between each other and sing a hymn as well, which I really enjoy,” Mr Garrett said.
People who belong to the church believe the Holy Bible is the true Word of God and they are each called upon to live a life in accordance with its instructions.
“I govern my life on the Bible, I believe in the Lord Jesus,” Mr Garrett said.
“My whole life is based around what is said in the Bible.”
Mr Garrett is one of about 200 members of the church in Knox, which also has three halls in Boronia and plans to open another in Lysterfield.
He said on Sunday mornings the church held a “Lord’s Supper” to remember the Lord, and sing and pray.
Mr Garrett said he had heard some misconceptions about the church over the years, including that members only mix with other church members.
“As people we are all very friendly … we’re not just narrowed down to mixing with people from our own community, we go to doctors, shops and use other community facilities,” he said.
“Anyone that would know us would say we are a hard-working community and we are very much a family-orientated community.”
Mr Garrett said Brethren women wore headscarves when praying, and the church believed that marriage should be between a man and a woman.
BOOMING CHURCH IS ON SONG
AT a time when some churches are struggling to attract members, Knox’s CityLife Church is thriving.
About 10,000 people across Melbourne call the church their spiritual home, with bases in Manningham, Whittlesea, Casey and Knox, plus the church’s head office at Wantirna South.
At the Knox church in Wantirna South, new senior minister Andrew Hill said more than 5000 people attended its services each week, including a mix of ages and nationalities.
They have a 2000-seat auditorium and a strong focus on using contemporary music in their services.
“Music is a huge part (of services) and obviously contemporary music rather than old hymns, which is much more relevant for today’s culture and society,” Mr Hill said.
“I think for people to attend church these days they have got to feel it is relevant.
“I think there are perceptions of church being maybe a bit boring or irrelevant, but certainly we don’t find that is the case.”
The church, believed to be the biggest in Knox and one of the biggest in Melbourne, is getting even bigger.
Mr Hill hopes to have a new $11 million building at their Wantirna South site open by December, offering services to support people in need, including counselling rooms and a food pantry, new foyer, cafe, and children’s rooms.
He said people who attended the church believed in Jesus, who was put to death on a cross 2000 years ago.
“And we believe he rose again to take away people’s sins, and he is still alive and living today.
“We’re certainly passionate followers of Jesus who want to make a positive difference in our world.
“We’re one of the largest community groups in Knox ... and if there is anyway we can serve the community we want to know, we’re really interested in how we can help people.”
When asked about the chuch’s position on same-sex marriage, Mr Hill said as a Christian church they followed the position of the bible and only conducted marriages between men and women.
When asked its view on homosexuality, Mr Hill said all people were welcome at CityLife.
“No matter what your sexual orientation is, or what you’re going through in life, people are really welcome at CityLife.”
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