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A personal journey into the heart of a global megachurch. Noemi Uribe was looking for a church where everyone is welcome and she thought she’d found it in Hillsong. But that was ‘the most expensive mistake I ever made’. Noemi’s story turned into one of rejection, despair, and a fight for justice. Hillsong used to be home, now for Noemi ‘it’s a dumpster fire’ False Profits dives into the Hillsong experience - from Christian rock music, to celebrity pastors and famous fans - tracing its journe ...
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In the final episode of False Profits, Noemi asks “has Hillsong changed?” And is it ready to talk to people like Noemi and listen to their stories? We put our questions to the church. And Noemi enlists the advice of a leading lawyer specialising in abuse. Campaigner Ashley Easter gives advice on how to advocate for victims. And cult survivor Dr Ste…
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Meet the rebels: Noemi organises a renuion for ex Hillsongers. Janice Lagata, Tiffany Perez and Noemi meet up in New York - where a culture of exploitation and abuse went unchecked. Noemi, Janice and Tiffany explore the bond that has formed among people who’ve left the church and they jump into the issue of race. They say it’s women of colour who a…
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Warning: This episode contains accounts of mental distress and suicide ideation. This episode takes us into the darkest time in Noemi’s Hillsong story. Increasingly isolated from the church, Noemi’s mental health reaches crisis point. One night, suicidal thoughts and torment become too much. Noemi turns to a Hillsong leader for help and exposes som…
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Warning: This episode contains descriptions of homophobia and mental distress. Noemi’s personal story unfolds. Remember Hillsong’s ‘Welcome Home - You Belong’ message? Noemi thought that meant everyone. But it turned out “terms and conditions applied”. Hillsong Boston where Noemi was worshipping felt cool, it felt liberal and it seemed to be inclus…
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Meet the man behind this global megachurch. Hillsong started small in a school hall in Australia nearly 40 years ago. In this episode we go back to Hillsong’s roots and the man who built a mega church - Brian Houston - aka ‘The Big Eagle’. For many years Brian Houston, his wife Bobbie and their kids were the Hillsong powerbase. But in March 2022 Br…
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You can’t talk about Hillsong without talking about money. The church is a multimillion dollar enterprise. Its followers give a lot of their time and their money. What do they get in return? Noemi shares her experience as a volunteer at Hillsong Boston. It’s a place where the elite was enjoying lavish hospitality in green rooms while volunteers wor…
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Warning: This episode contains references to rape, sexual and psychological abuse. Someone wants the truth to come out - to shine a spotlight on dark corners Hillsong never wanted the public to see. One day, two reports drop into Elle Hardy’s inbox - anonymously. These reports were commissioned by Hillsong into allegations of abuse at the New York …
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“How could you fall for that?” Noemi Uribe explains why the Hillsong brand was so seductive. It’s church - but not typical church. Noemi takes us into the world of Hillsong in a Boston night club. Services have a concert vibe, the sermons are upbeat, it’s not boring or judgmental. Millions loved the Hillsong way of doing God and turned it into a me…
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False Profits is the inside story of the church that made Christianity cool. And it’s one person’s search for answers. Hillsong created a sound, a look and a global empire. Its message is simple ”Welcome Home - You Belong”. Noemi Uribe was part of Hillsong and discovered a different and darker reality beneath the shiny, happy surface. Alongside jou…
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