 By
Upcast | Published
09 May 2007 | interviews
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 Our very own Jim Hurley got to sit down with Joel Houston and JD of Hillsong United.
Just minutes before he was introduced to them we found Joel up on stage behind his guitar and all the while JD was bouncing around the stage with some of his "Unique" dance moves.
Lets start out with the basics…Who plays What?
JD (Jonathon Douglas) sings along with Holly, Marty (Sampson) Plays Acoustic and Leads Worship. We’ve got Jad (Gillies) that plays electric and sings, You’ve got Matty who plays the bass, Pete James on the keys and Gabe Kelly on the drums. Oh And myself (Joel Houston) who plays acoustic lead.
So what’s in your IPOD?
What’s in the ipod at the moment.. I’ve been listening to a lot of Delirious to be honest… the newish album “Mission bell”. For me to be honest to list them would be endless because I pretty much like everything. I try to look for something in every song that makes it “The Song”.
On this trip I’ve been listening to Sigur Ross, David Gray, Death cab for cutie and a bunch, I’ve got play lists of 1200 songs.
We were talking to Paul Colman and he mentioned this… Do you ever watch cartoon corner?
No we grew up watching cartoon connection… Paul’s a little bit older than us maybe he grew up watching cartoon corner (laugh).
Reader Question: What do you think of our New Jersey Accents?
It’s Unique… Unique New York.
The funny thing about America is everywhere you go the accent seems to change a little bit, it’s a little bit the same in Australia but here its CRAZY!
Do you guys ever have a plan for a studio album instead of a live album?
Yeah we’ve talked about it a lot, it would be an easier way of doing some things in many respect but the fact is what we’re doing is corporate worship. There are some great studio albums that way but we’re like “the most important element is the live aspect” and songs that are being sung by a congregation. We also because we represent a youth ministry we want to include them and what’s happening so. We could take all the musicians and have a great and actually probably more creative album in the studio but for us it’s important that all the young people feel that they’re as much of a part of it as us.
Can you tell us a little bit about the United Ministry?
United is just a name of a youth ministry but what it kind of stands for is a whole group of young people united. The name basically came together because we have a few different programs based on ages of Jr. High and Senior High. We would have nights where we would come together and just worship God. We didn’t have a name for them and then we started to call them “United Nights” and that’s frankly where it came from. But then in that came you know who we are, we’re united together as young people who love God, united in faith and passion and then you know our love for people.
Who are some of your personal heroes of the faith and how do they inspire you?
We’ve got a lot of heroes just in our church… our pastors.
I think one of the real strengths is the fact that in our church we’ve had one senior pastor for the whole time, Phil has been our pastor since we were really really really young. He’s been our youth pastor now for 10 years and before that he was pasturing the high schools and the jr. high. So that relationship and being able to have someone like him in our lives has been incredible, in the same Darlene Zcech and Reuben Morgan’s been a big mentor to all of us and a great friend. Those guys really influenced us and really inspired us to chase after God and to really see our worship as a great tool and a great way to use that gift.
 How did you guys come to join the hillsong ministry?
(Joel Houston) Oh I was born into it, my parents are the senior pastors there so I was there from day one, but at the same time they never ever pressured me about anything. I just fell in love with Jesus when I was in High school fortunately, I just love him. (JD) I was kind of the same, myself when I was about 4 years old because my parents were in the church but you know when I was around 10, 11 or 12; I remembered kind of really feeling God for myself and making that decision.
How did you come to realize Gods call on your life?
(Joel)I don’t think that there was ever a moment where it ever became clear.
For me in my life you know when I was young, all I wanted to do was serve God and I loved music. I had plans in my head how I thought that it would look and you know we were going to be in a rock band and change the world, but Gods got his own plans and I love the verse in proverbs that says “In a Mans heart he plans his cause but the Lord determines his steps”. Its how I’ve come to find that God had a different plan, it’s incredible because here we are with the same group of guys that we talked about doing stuff when we were 15 years old and now we get the opportunity to come to places like New Jersey and just worship God. I think it’s the highest and greatest privilege; it’s the greatest way to use our gifts. It freaks us out every single night and day!
(JD) Its similar to Joel in a way… it wasn’t like one direct night. I just know from literally a really young age I can just remember feeling God in prayer meetings and worship times and just always wanting to do all that I could for Him. I’ve had certain dreams but I’ve never had a clear, my dream was never to be a worship leader or a song writer to that kind of stuff. It was always to just serve God wherever the need was and I think its by just seeking Him daily and sure I’ve got different dreams that I want to head in certain directions but more than that I just wanna seek God and just kind of you know one of my life scriptures would be in Isaiah 6 where God really spoke to Isaiah and generations and Isaiah just pretty much prayed “Send Me I’ll Go” cause Gods just looking for people that are willing, people that are available more than people that are talented because I reckon sometimes peoples talents will get in the way of what God wants to do. I just always pray that I’m available for God to use me. Hopefully He is.
 What motivates your song writing?
I reckon um.. I’ve been thinking a lot that it’s just a personal relationship with God and spending that time with Him and other revelations or just stuff that you’d meditate on but it’s a massive thing as well as seeing that it touches a lot of people, especially pretty much our senior high, kind of cruised near home. You know watching the songs being written and see how much that gives so many people a voice to give God praise and lift Him up in their circumstances when sometimes they don’t know how to themselves. I think when I see what it does in young people’s lives and I really can imagine that sometimes if this can help or whatever, that’s pretty much it for me.
(JD) We just want to write songs that connect young people to God. The incredible thing is as we do that young people are connecting in the same way because it’s the same God and I love that. I mean when I’m writing songs a lot of it just comes out of conversations that I’m having with Christian friends about life and living the Christian life and then you get a revelation that starts coming out when you put the pen to paper with a guitar in your hands.
 Anything else you want to add?
It’s awesome to be up here in the northeast because we’ve never been up here and it’s incredible just traveling around seeing what Gods doing throughout America but it’s actually different because I think culturally there are different influences and things going on. |
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| by sara @ 06 Jun 2007 02:21 am |
| cool interview. i really enjoyed it. i'd like to see more like it. |
| by pelu @ 08 Jun 2007 03:34 pm |
| oo ellos son unos genios de verdad benditos sean mas aun y saludos y en especial a joel q lo amo jjajajaja |
| by stela @ 12 Jun 2007 03:47 am |
| hola que DIOS LE BENDIGA MUCHO. me gusta su forma de producir esta musica se ve el amor y la pasion haci DIOS sigan asi........por que EL esta con ustedes |
| by stela @ 12 Jun 2007 03:48 am |
hola que DIOS LE BENDIGA MUCHO. me gusta su forma de producir esta musica se ve el amor y la pasion haci DIOS sigan asi........por que EL esta con ustedes  |
| by carol @ 13 Jun 2007 12:46 pm |
DEUS ABENCOE VCS...
VLW BRASIL!!!!!!!! |
| by lightinthedark_92@hotmail.com @ 17 Jun 2007 02:04 pm |
WEEE!! K DIOS LOS BENDIGAA MUXISIMOO, ME ENCANTA VUESTRA MUSICA! SIEMPRE EN MI CORAZON! BY: MELISSA(ESPAÑA)  |
| by anonymous @ 18 Jun 2007 02:12 am |
i am so in love with JD!!!!!  |
| by veronica @ 25 Jun 2007 09:59 pm |
| this is a blessing from heaven with what God is doing with hillsing united. i listen to them everyday, almost all day...hillsong united is the best!!!! THEY ROCK...<3 |
| by ivana @ 09 Sep 2007 09:16 pm |
Hola me llamo ivana pero muis amigos me dicen ivishh.
les quiero decir que me encantan sus canciones y que me puse muy contentos en verlo en persona cuando vinieron a la argentina. Gracias por traer toda su buena onda a la argentina...
espero q vegan otra es a la argentina que Dios lo re bendiga muchisimas bendiciones... el grupo free way les mandan uchos asaludos y le queremos decir que los amamos mucho en el amor del sdañor...... |
| by mari @ 13 Sep 2007 01:53 pm |
me encanta la musica la escucho todo el tiempo!!
me encanto que vengan a la argentina porque tenia muchas ganas de escucharlos en persona...:) espero que vuelvan prontooo!!!
los quiero
Dios lo super bendiga  |
| by augustus @ 13 Sep 2007 03:20 pm |
| i love hillsong united! Praise the LORD forever and ever!!! Amen.... |
| by keila @ 14 Sep 2007 01:47 pm |
| hola me gusta su forma ranovadora del evangelio , yo tambien estoy en un grupo de alabanza y espero algun dia tocar junto con ustedes , que Dios los siga llenando de bendiciones ,keila. |
| by Melissa @ 21 Sep 2007 06:53 pm |
amoooo a Jesus ..y me encanta que este grupo tan bendecido produsca musik tan pero tan buena...
PorFAVOOOORR VENGAN A COLOMBIA !!losesperamosss
muchas bendiciones |
| by vanny @ 03 Oct 2007 11:26 am |
oooooh vecci siete grandi continuate cosi siete da fogo!!!!!!!
guys your great keep it up....you really rock!!!1bacio |
| by vanny @ 03 Oct 2007 11:27 am |
oooooh vecci siete grandi continuate cosi siete da fogo!!!!!!!
guys your great keep it up....you really rock!!!1bacio |
| by vanny @ 03 Oct 2007 11:29 am |
| beh k fighi k siete.... |
| by Jake @ 24 Oct 2007 07:02 pm |
| You guys are Awesome. It's great to see that all of us are in this together, coming in unity before his presence, And being led by you guys, It really means alot to us, because we are called the God-Less generation, But you guys and other worship leaders all around the world are voiding that misconception. Thanks, and keep doing what matters most in life, and continue to share it with us youth. Peace!!! |
| by melbel @ 19 Nov 2007 07:04 pm |
| cool man |
| by Priscila @ 07 Dec 2007 03:39 pm |
| Que bueno q vinieron a Mexico ojala y vuelvan a venir el proximo año, q el Señor siga bendiciendo grandemente sus vidas y siga usandolos para su obra, tienen un super talente, Dios les bendiga |
| by susan @ 18 Dec 2007 09:23 am |
| i really lov their songs they r so touching......God bless them!!! |
| by layza @ 21 Jan 2008 10:16 am |
I LOVE HILLSONG UNITED!!!!!!!!!
EU AMO MUITÍSSIMO ESSA BANDA! AGRADEÇO À DEUS; POIS ESSA BANDA É UNGIDA E TEM FEITO UM GRANDE TRABALHO INCRÍVEL NO MUNDO TODO, HILLSONG UNITED INSPIRA OS JOVENS À ADORAR À DEUS COM TODO O SEU CORAÇÃO, E NÃO SÓ OS JOVENS, MAS À TODOS; CRIANÇAS, IDOSOS, ADULTOS...
EU NÃO CONHEÇO OUTRA BANDA QUE ADORA, LOUVA, TOCA, CANTA IGUAL À ELES! O ESTILO DELES, AS VOSES, O JEITO DE CADA UM, ELES SÃO D++++++! TODA A MINHA FAMÍLIA AMA ESSA BANDA!!! QUE DEUS CONTINUE ABENÇOANDO HILLSONG UNITED E QUE ELES CONTINUEM LOUVANDO PELO MUNDO E RESGATANDO ALMAS PARA O REINO DEUS!!!
I LOVE HILLSONG UNITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LAYZA. |
| by Debora @ 06 Feb 2008 05:53 pm |
| I am the Debora have twelve years and love voces very... I love... voces exactly I am very pretty and... I did not want to ask who I am that blond guitarist q I have a hair all I lease... kisses... |
| by brenda @ 08 Feb 2008 08:55 am |
| I LOVE HILLSONG UNITED AND I LOVE JESUS QUE BUENO EXISTE ESTE GRUPO NETA LOS AMO XIAO BLESS YOU¡¡¡¡¡¡!!!!!!!! |
| by Francisca @ 13 Feb 2008 07:25 pm |
WOW amazing!!
i hope someday Hillsong came to Chile!
God Bless this band...bye! |
| by GABY DOUGLASS @ 15 Feb 2008 08:08 pm |
| HI I LOVE JESUS, AND JONATHON DOUGLASS, I LOVE YOU, MY FRIEND KATLHEEN LOVE JOEL JAJAJAJA I LOVE YOU JESUS IS THE BEST |
| by Josyanne @ 18 Apr 2008 06:45 pm |
Hillsong United na Veia
eieieieieie
Amo³ ♥ |
| by Anna @ 25 Apr 2008 01:41 pm |
holaa amoo a hillsong quisiera que volvieran a Mexico porque esta vez no tuve oportunidad de ir  Rolf es lo maximo! Dios los Bendice! |
| by Jose Varela @ 18 May 2008 03:11 pm |
| hey you guys, i wanted to ask you if youcoul come to my church one of these days its in miami, fl 7800 sw 56 st. God Bless you guys, and may your ministry keep on growing |
| by Débora @ 26 Jun 2008 08:39 pm |
| Amoo as musiicas do Uniited |
| by Débora @ 26 Jun 2008 08:41 pm |
| quando o United vaii viir de novo aquii no Brasiil ? |
| by Carol @ 24 Jul 2008 12:47 pm |
Caramba...Eu gosto muiTo de Hillsong !
Quando vocês vão vir aqui no Brasil de novo ? |
| by Débora Calheirana @ 11 Nov 2008 03:27 pm |
| Só Deus pra fazer tanto na minha vida através desse grupo.Adimiro muito o trabalho de voceis.Que Deus possa a cada dia encher voceis com muitas musicas,pois estou sendo muito abençoada com elas. |
| by STEFANI @ 28 Mar 2009 02:17 pm |
| ¡HILLSONG ROCK and I AM UR NUMBER 1 FAN! |
| by jose @ 30 Mar 2009 02:20 pm |
| Hola mi nombre es jose bustillo soy un lider de jovenes. Le doy gracias a dios por su grupo no se si se toman el tiempo para leer esto. pero que dios les siga bendiciendo conforme su alma prospera a si tambien sus almas. amen y amen |
| by jose @ 30 Mar 2009 02:21 pm |
| Hola mi nombre es jose bustillo soy un lider de jovenes. Le doy gracias a dios por su grupo no se si se toman el tiempo para leer esto. pero que dios les siga bendiciendo conforme su alma prospera a si tambien sus vienes y musica. amen y amen |
| by deborah @ 26 Jul 2009 06:44 am |
| I love Hillsong United!!! God bless you Joel... and so do you JD . Keep praising Jesus!!! One Way,Jesus!! |
| by christian @ 21 Aug 2009 02:43 am |
| wow..very nice interview..its my greatest dream to be a part of hillsong someday..xD |
| by ricah @ 25 Sep 2009 02:44 am |
use your talent
for
God's pleasure
God bless everyone |
| by cristian @ 09 Jan 2010 03:43 am |
stoy enamorado de la musica hoy hice 10 temas del cd fith+hope+love .no reason to hide.the god one and only .esos son unos del los temas Q hice, tengo una mapex las marcas dellos platillos son .ride PAISTE 20".medium crash HARPY 17".hit_hat PAISTE 14".Y uso un plato que es de hit hat para crash la banqueta esta rota ayuda por fa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!vivo en argentina rosario mi direccion de casa es margis 4522 mi namber phone es 153067935 me llamo cristian escuchandolos a ustedes aprendi a tocar si das dios te da el doble que dios los rrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeccccccccccooooooooonnnnnn
tttttttttttrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaa BENJDIGA LOS ESPERO |
| by cristian @ 09 Jan 2010 03:47 am |
 soy yo otra vez tengo un grupo musical cristiano obvio una meta del gr`po es tocar con ustedes |
| by Natu (amigo de Cristian) @ 09 Jan 2010 09:59 pm |
| HOLA AMIGOOS!... YO SOY UN CANTANTE Y UNO DE LOS COMPOSITORES EN EL GRUPO DE CRISTIAN "FILADELFIA"... QUEREMOS QUE SEPAN QUE USTEDES FUERON DE MUCHISIMA INFLUENCIA PARA NOSOTROS... TENEMOS MUCHAS GANAS DE RECIBIR LO QUE USTEDES TIENEN.... POR ESO CREEMOS QUE DIOS ESTA BUSCANDO HIJOS QUE LE ADOREN DE VERDAD Y CON EL ESPIRITU!!!... SIGAN ADELANTE QUE DIOS TIENE COSAS HERMOSAS CON TODOS USTEDES YA QUE POR EL VIVIMOS Y PARA EL VIVIMOS!!!... LOS AMAMOS!!! UN ABRAZOO!!!.... GRUPO FILADELFIA!!... |
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