Name: Hosanna Excelsis

Denomination/religion: Christian

Location: 278 South Tce, Adelaide, SA

Service time: Friday, 7:30pm

Evidence of family values/capitalistic enterprise: Part of the church building included a bridal gown store.

The best thing: Singing in tongues

The worst thing: Seeing the child who had supposedly been Healed of her sickness earlier in the evening, later go on to vomit everywhere

Overall rating: ✞ ✞

First off, a disclaimer: I was lead to this church on the suggestion of a friend, who is a previous member. He is firmly of the opinion that the place is a cult, and from what he has said of his experiences, it does sound rather cultish. Unsurprisingly though, my one visit did not indicate any positive evidence of this*. I was not required to cut contact with my nearest and dearest; I was not emotionally abused by a charismatic leader; there was no Kool-Aid in sight. Actually, everyone was unfailingly welcoming (cf. Scientologists). Yet something about the evening felt amiss. I shall let you be the judge of whether my edginess was caused by the fact that I thought I was in the midst of the lion den, or whether lions there were in fact.

My friend Lily and I were shown to the children’s room, where the adult service (‘Beloved in Christ’) would be taking place that night. Of the eight other people in the room, around four were pastors. Decentralising power, I can get behind that. Our introduction went something like this:

Pastor: So what made you come to Hosanna? Me: Oh, I live nearby and saw it while I was walking past one day and thought I’d come along. Lily: And she brought me with her! Pastor: That’s good, to have someone with you. I wouldn’t be brave enough to go on my own – especially not to somewhere like this! [general laughter]

An undoubtedly innocent joke, and at their own expense. Self-deprecation, I can get behind that. But… not really what you want to hear when your anxious and over-active imagination is already taking note of exits and devising escape plans.

Hosanna Excelsis found its origins in the festive state of South Australia, under the leadership of the “True Prophet”, Apostle Pastor Lorraine Isbister, who was Healed** of terminal cancer in 1971. Much of what seems to distinguish Hosanna from other Christian denominations is the emphasis they place on these Healings, and of the agency they believe God has in their lives. When I asked a couple of the people there why they chose Hosanna, one said, in reference to her experiences in with Anglicanism, that “the church is dead”; the other agreed, saying that she didn’t see the point in going to a church for one hour a week, then forgetting about it the rest of the time. (Fair enough!) From what I heard of the testimonials offered that night, worshipping at Hosanna means that God is very much alive in people’s lives, on a very personal level. It was a veritable Facebook feed of positivity – nothing good happened without its being attributed to God (and nothing with an unhappy ending was mentioned). One lady was thankful that God helped her to find a new couch, while another was glad that the Lord lead her to buy a car that had a large boot, since her father’s new walking frame is able to fit inside.

Aside from testimonials there was singing, and this was a group that really liked to sing. There was modest swaying and rhythmic clapping that made a fine substitute for the traditional piano or organ. Though the music was hard to follow at times (the lyrics were projected onto a board with no accompanying notes, and sections were repeated with no notice), and at times far too high-pitched for my sick, phlegmy throat to attempt, there was enjoyment be had from being surrounded by a group of such enthusiastic vocalists. But more excitement was to come. One song came to an end, but everyone kept going, in a language I had never heard before… Could it be? Yes! Singing in tongues! After a little while the group hushed and one of the pastors continued on in what, from the tone, sounded like a prayer. Of course I could not know, and I was fascinated to wonder whether she couldn’t either.

Though bearing witness to the Healing testimonials and the speaking in tongues were the most rousing parts of the evening, it was the sermon that was most revealing. If Healings were so important, why not join the Christian Scientists? What made this church unique – what was the underlying doctrine? Through listening to the sermon, which was based around a reading from Philippians, I did my best to fit the pieces together. The pastor spoke of how he once spent a lot of time reading and trying to figure it all out – but came to the realisation that it was all for naught. He bemoaned those people who put so much of their efforts into various works in order to be more “godlike”. The key was to be “born again”, to learn to “yield” to God (there was also mention of being predetermined, though I’m not sure if this referred to everyone or just a select few). Only then, could you experience God’s miracles. So, to undoubtedly grossly oversimplify things:

Stop trying to be godlike -> Yield to the Lord -> Experience miracles

No mention was made of how one was supposed to yield, or the kind of life one should lead once this was done, but I suppose you can’t get all the answers in one night (and, perhaps, according to this pastor, you shouldn’t try?).

The meeting came to an end, and we were invited to join in in that tradition that all Christians, mainstream or side-stream, can get behind: tea and coffee and assorted sweet carbohydrates. I had a nice conversation with a lady who told me of the divinely inspired journey that brought her from Zimbabwe, to England, then finally to Australia and Hosanna. She spoke of once feeling as though there was something missing in her life, and of now feeling content. She certainly seemed to radiate contentment.

The night should have ended there. Unfortunately, it didn’t.

Earlier in the meeting, one lady told of a Healing: that evening, her daughter had been feeling sick, so asked her mother to pray for her. She vomited and then felt better enough to request dinner. Everyone clapped and chuckled at the spunk of the young. That very girl was walking past the adult tea-and-biscuit circle, when I saw her bend over and vomit. She took a couple of steps, then vomited again. Was this evidence that God had really Healed her this time? Or that she should have just been home in bed? I didn’t stick around long enough to find out.

– Erin D

*Though, lack of evidence is not evidence of a lack…

**Capital-h “Healing” will refer to prayer/faith-based healing