Hillsong UNITED is a Christian worship collective born in 1998 in Sydney, Australia, out of Hillsong Church's youth ministry. Led notably by Joel Houston, the group has written songs performed around the world such as Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) and Scandal of Grace, and has won eleven Dove Awards.
Hillsong UNITED was born in 1998 in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, within the youth ministry of Hillsong Church, then known as Powerhouse Youth. Encouraged by worship pastor Darlene Zschech to record their own songs, the group released its first live album, Everyday, the following year. First led by Reuben Morgan, the collective came under the direction of Joel Houston and Marty Sampson starting in 2002, a turning point that shaped the more rock and cinematic sound that would become its signature.
Across fifteen live albums and six studio albums, Hillsong UNITED has become one of the most listened to worship groups in the world. Its song Oceans (Where Feet May Fail), released on the album Zion in 2013, was certified quadruple platinum in the United States and honored at the Billboard Music Awards. The group has won eleven Dove Awards and continues to tour internationally, with worship conceived as a collective experience rather than a simple concert.
- Origine
- Sydney, Australia
- Style
- Contemporary worship, Christian rock
- Actif depuis
- 1998
- À connaître
- The group grew out of Hillsong Church's youth ministry and was led successively by Reuben Morgan and then by Joel Houston and Marty Sampson.
How did Hillsong UNITED get started?
The group came into being in 1998 within Powerhouse Youth, the youth ministry of Hillsong Church in Sydney. Reuben Morgan first served as musical director, with the support of Darlene Zschech, then the church's worship leader, who pushed the young musicians to record their own compositions rather than simply covering the mother church's repertoire.
In 2002, Joel Houston and Marty Sampson took over and steered the group's sound toward more rock oriented arrangements, inspired by their own musical influences. This transition marked the start of an artistic identity distinct from Hillsong Church, with albums like All of the Above (2007) that established UNITED as a group in its own right rather than a simple offshoot of Sunday worship.
What makes Hillsong UNITED unique?
Hillsong UNITED stands out for an aesthetic that draws on alternative rock and electronic music, far from worship's more classic conventions. The albums Zion (2013) and Empires (2015) embrace synthetic textures and song structures close to stadium rock, while keeping lyrics centered on worship and surrender to God.
Where to start discovering Hillsong UNITED?
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) remains the most obvious entry point: this song about trust amid uncertainty has reached far beyond the Christian audience to touch a much wider public. To continue listening, Scandal of Grace and King of Heaven give a good sense of the live energy that defines the group's albums, often recorded in front of their community rather than in an isolated studio.
songs
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)
The group's best known song, released on the album Zion in 2013. A French adaptation exists, Océans (Quand mes pieds tremblent).
Scandal of Grace
A song about grace, from the album Zion, here in a version captured live at a Team Night in 2013.
King of Heaven
A song from the album Aftermath (2011), captured live in Atlanta.
Discography
- 2022Are We There Yet?
- 2017Wonder
- 2015Empires
- 2013Zion
- 2011Aftermath
- 2007All of the Above
Read also
Frequently asked questions
Who is Hillsong UNITED?
Hillsong UNITED is a Christian worship collective formed in 1998 in Sydney, Australia, out of Hillsong Church's youth ministry. Led notably by Joel Houston, the group writes worship songs performed around the world in evangelical churches and has sold millions of albums worldwide.
What is Hillsong UNITED's most well known song?
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail), released in 2013 on the album Zion, is by far the group's most listened to song. Certified quadruple platinum in the United States, it was also honored at the Billboard Music Awards and remains one of the most performed worship songs in the world.
Is Hillsong UNITED connected to Hillsong Church?
Yes, the group was born out of Hillsong Church's youth ministry in Sydney in 1998. It has kept ties to the church over the years while developing its own musical identity, distinct from Hillsong Worship's more classic repertoire.
Where can you listen to Hillsong UNITED?
The group's albums are available on all streaming platforms like Spotify, Deezer, and Apple Music, as well as on its official YouTube channel, which has several million subscribers and features music videos, live versions, and acoustic demos.
Since when has Hillsong UNITED existed?
The group has existed since 1998. It has gone through several generations of leaders, first under Reuben Morgan, then Joel Houston and Marty Sampson starting in 2002.
Is there a French version of Hillsong UNITED's songs?
Some songs have been adapted into French by collectives like Hillsong en français, notably Océans (Quand mes pieds tremblent), an adaptation of Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) performed in many French speaking churches.