3,000 turn out for launch of Hillsong Cape Town

Hillsong Church Cape Town celebrated its first church services last weekend with an impressive turnout of more than 3,000 people.

"Unbelievable. Amazing. Incredible," were the words of pastors Phil and Lucinda Dooley, who moved from Hillsong Church in Sydney to establish the fourth major Hillsong Church in Cape Town, South Africa.

The launch on Sunday saw over 200 decisions for Christ as a team of over 200 South African volunteers worked tirelessly from 5am to 12am to ensure the five-service launch was a success.

"Exhausted but celebrating God's goodness..," wrote Phil Dooley as news of the launch spread to the rest of the Hillsong family.

The first two morning services in Cape Town coincided with the last two services in Sydney and a live video link between the churches made the opening a very special experience for those involved.

Founding pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston encouraged the church as congregants from both continents waved and cheered enthusiastically. At the end of the services in Sydney the live video link was activated once again for Sydney congregants to "eaves drop" on Phil Dooley's salvation altar call in Cape Town.

"Many in our crowd were crying as it was such a moving and historic moment," said pastor Brian Houston.

The launch was attended by Senior Pastor of Hillsong London, Gary Clarke, as well as pastors Joel and Julia A'Bell from Hillsong Sydney and featured video welcomes from all the Hillsong churches.

The service focused on the vision and mandate of Hillsong Church internationally as well as a short Bible message by Phil from Philippians 3:12-14. Time was taken to pray for the city, churches of Cape Town and the nation of South Africa. More than 150 children were registered for the kids programme and people of all ages and racial backgrounds enjoyed the services.