What happens when a global worship brand is built over a fault line of secrecy, abuse, and greed? How did Hillsong Church’s meteoric rise—from chart‑topping music to celebrity pews—collide with allegations of child sexual abuse concealment, volunteer exploitation, LGBTQ exclusion, and a leadership implosion that shook the megachurch world?

In this episode, hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco—with guest Host Heather Ford—unpack Scandals of Hillsong: from Brian & Frank Houston to Carl Lentz and Hillsong NYC/Dallas; from the 2014–2015 Royal Commission findings to 2023 parliamentary accusations about lavish spending; and the August 2023 courtroom verdict that capped a decades‑long saga. This is a hard‑hitting true crime podcast deep dive into a megachurch’s rise, reckoning, and fallout.

Tune in to hear:

1983 – Origins & brand power: Brian and Bobbie Houston found Hills Christian Life Centre in Sydney; worship music and a sleek brand fuel global growth—long before hidden scandals erupt.

Late 1999 – Confession, non‑reporting & hush money: Brian confronts father Frank Houston, who admits to historic child sexual abuse; leaders handle it internally, don’t go to police, and arrange a payout—Frank is quietly retired and later dies in 2004 without charges.

2014–2015 – Royal Commission findings: The inquiry concludes Brian failed to report Frank’s offenses and had a conflict of interest; investigators cite multiple victims across Australia and New Zealand, and police later bring concealment charges against Brian.

2015 – LGBTQ controversy: After two male choir members in Hillsong NYC get engaged, leadership states Hillsong “welcomes all people” but “does not affirm all lifestyles,” barring openly gay couples from leadership roles.

2010s – Volunteer exploitation claims: Former members describe grueling unpaid labor and leaders using volunteers for personal errands, stoking backlash over a “cool Christianity” brand built on free work.

Nov 4, 2020 – Carl Lentz fired: Hillsong announces Lentz’s dismissal for “leadership issues,” breaches of trust, and “moral failures”; he admits infidelity as an outside review probes broader misconduct in NYC.

Jan–Feb 2021 – Dallas implosion: Pastors Reed & Jess Bogard abruptly resign and Hillsong Dallas is shuttered amid serious allegations; a leaked report later details a rape accusation tied to earlier NYC years and wider culture concerns.

Feb 2021 → Apr 2022 – NYC report & leaks: An independent investigation delivered to Hillsong’s global board details inappropriate sexual relationships, nepotism, intimidation, wage violations, and explicit images circulating among leaders; a former nanny publicly alleges years of abuse by Lentz.

Jan–Mar 23, 2022 – Leadership crisis: While stepping aside to fight a concealment charge, Brian faces two internal misconduct complaints (inappropriate texts to a staffer; a drunken hotel‑room incident) that breach Hillsong’s code of conduct; he resigns on March 23, 2022.

Spring–Fall 2022 – Disaffiliations: In the wake of Brian’s exit, at least nine of Hillsong’s 16 U.S. campuses break away and rebrand; pastors and leaders worldwide resign as oversight and culture come...

In this episode, we discuss cases related to the popular "Scream" horror movie franchise and its fictional "Ghostface" character.

What you'll hear:

→ Case timeline: From late‑90s California to Belgium, the U.K., Idaho, and New York City.

→ Discussion & debate: Copycats, costumes & culpability - why offenders reach for a mask and what it says about our society & culture. The ethics of horror—creative freedom vs. social responsibility—and the psychology of notoriety, thrill‑seeking, and “scripted” violence.

Debate the News: True Crime Edition is for informational and discussion purposes only. We are not attorneys, law enforcement officers, or forensic experts. While we research each case, the show is recorded live with little to no editing; any factual errors are unintentional. All individuals mentioned who have not been convicted in a court of law are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Listener discretion is advised. Guest and audience views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts.

→ Adrienne Barker — Host

→ Joseph Lobosco — Host

→ Jonathan Howard — Guest Contributor

→ Angie aka Angiesworld — Guest Contributor

→ Leslie — Guest Contributor

Credits:

"Debate The News: True Crime"

Created by: Jonathan Bing, Adrienne Barker and Joseph R. Lobosco

Producers: Adrienne Barker, Joseph R. Lobosco, Danielle Paci, Jonathan Bing

Writers: Adrienne Barker & Joseph R. Lobosco

Editor: Joseph R. Lobosco

Cover Art: Joseph R. Lobosco

Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team

Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/karma

Watch: ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube

🎧 A Debate the News: True Crime Production

📍 Recorded Live on Chatter Social

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What happens when a father sworn to protect his children becomes their killer? How could PTSD, mental illness, and a failed system turn a loving dad into a monster in a 2025 child murder-suicide that shocked Washington State?

In this episode, hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco delve into the Travis Decker triple homicide case – a shocking true crime tragedy in Washington – and debate its most troubling questions. Travis Decker, an Army veteran, murdered his three young daughters before taking his own life, triggering a multi-agency manhunt and raising debates about the veteran mental health crisis and the justice system’s role.

Tune in to hear:

• 2022–2024 – Downward spiral & custody battle: Travis and his wife Whitney separate amid his worsening mental health (PTSD and a borderline personality disorder diagnosis). Whitney voices safety concerns, leading a court to limit Travis’s unsupervised visitation with their daughters.
• May 30–31, 2025 – Disappearance of the Decker sisters: During a scheduled visitation, Travis fails to return 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia to their mother. By late May 30, a frantic Whitney reports the girls missing. An Endangered Missing Person Alert is issued as police learn Travis has been living out of his truck at campgrounds – heightening fears in this Washington State murders case.
• June 2, 2025 – Triple homicide at a campground: Investigators find Travis’s pickup near the remote Rock Island Campground in Chelan County. Nearby, they discover the bodies of all three Decker sisters, suffocated with plastic bags over their heads and their wrists zip-tied. Chilling evidence (bloody handprints on the truck and camping supplies strewn around) suggests Travis planned the murders in advance. Travis himself is missing, turning the incident into a manhunt for the fugitive father.
• June 3–9, 2025 – Nationwide manhunt & revelations: Authorities charge Travis Decker in absentia with first-degree murder and kidnapping as a nationwide search intensifies. Police and federal agents scour the wilderness, noting the ex-soldier’s survival training could help him evade capture. A reported sighting in Idaho is debunked, and court documents reveal Travis scouted the campground days before the murders. Travis’s ex-wife’s attorney speaks out, calling him an “active dad” whom “the system failed” by not providing needed PTSD treatment. By June 9, autopsies confirm the girls were suffocated, intensifying public outrage and grief in this 2025 child murder-suicide case.
• June 24, 2025 – Grieving a community’s loss: Hundreds attend a public memorial service to honor Olivia, Evelyn, and Paityn. Through tears, loved ones share stories of the sisters’ bright personalities. Whitney Decker thanks supporters for their compassion, even as she’s left wondering if more could have been done to save her children.
• September 2025 – Final discovery & case closure: After three months with no sign of Travis, human remains are found in Washington’s rugged wilderness. On September 25, authorities confirm the remains are Travis Decker, who likely died by suicide. The manhunt ends with the sole suspect dead, leaving no trial – only painful questions about how and why this tragedy unfolded.
• Debate & analysis – Premeditation, PTSD, and systemic failure: Our panel debates whether Travis’s heinous act was a calculated plan or the result of a mental break. We examine how his combat PTSD and borderline personality disorder may have influenced...