Bethel Church Expands to Australia, Partnering with Hillsong’s Backyard
In a bold move signaling an ambitious global reach, Bethel Church in Redding, California, has officially planted a new church in Sydney, Australia. The announcement was made on November 3, 2024, during a worship service where Bethel leaders Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton commissioned Matt and Elisabeth King to lead Bethel Sydney. This marks Bethel’s first foray into Australia, placing them near the well-known Hillsong Church. Bethel’s latest expansion underscores its growing international presence, bringing its total associated churches to eight, with five established within the last 15 years.
The decision to establish Bethel Sydney was not part of a grand strategic plan, according to Vallotton, who reflected, “We’ve often said we don’t plant churches, yet here we are having planted three in just the past five years.” With Bethel’s last church planted in New York, this expansion to Sydney is a significant move. Matt King, now leading Bethel Sydney with Elisabeth, expressed a vision rooted in spiritual revival, saying, “We believe this will be a place where people experience God directly. Australia is on the cusp of something extraordinary, with a hunger for authentic encounters with the Holy Spirit.”
Bethel Sydney’s launch aligns with what Bethel leaders describe as a “prophetic moment” for Australia, an opportunity they feel divinely led to embrace. Dave Harvey, director of Bethel Leaders Network, noted a prophetic word from Vallotton that spoke of a spiritual era dawning in Australia. Reflecting on this, Bethel posted on social media, declaring, “God is moving in Australia. Prophecies from our leaders have pointed to a revival along the eastern coast, signaling a new era for the nation.” With Bethel Sydney as a new spiritual outpost, Bethel leaders are hopeful that the movement they envision will ignite Australia and contribute to the revival they see on the horizon.
