16 Facts About Frank Houston

William Francis "Frank" Houston was a Pentecostal Christian pastor in the Assemblies of God in New Zealand and Australia.

Frank Houston founded Sydney Christian Life Centre, which would eventually come under the leadership of his son Pastor Brian Houston before merging into Hillsong Church.

Frank Houston commenced ministry training as a Salvation Army officer shortly after turning 18.

Frank Houston married Hazel and they had five children, including Brian.

Frank Houston initially attended the Ellerslie Assembly in 1960, but later transferred to the Lower Hutt Assemblies of God, and served as the superintendent of the Assemblies of God in New Zealand from 1965 to 1971.

In 1977, Frank Houston moved to Sydney, Australia, and founded the Sydney Christian Life Centre in "Sherbrooke Hall" in Double Bay, which was not affiliated with any denomination in its first decade, but then became an Assemblies of God church.

Frank Houston was known by those close to him in the church as "the Bishop", not as an official title but as a humorous reference to mainstream churches.

Frank Houston was involved in over twenty Christian Life Centres being opened throughout New South Wales and overseas.

Frank Houston served as pastor at his church for more than two decades, and in senior positions within the Assemblies of God in Australia.

Frank Houston made a payment of 10,000 to his victim.

Brian Frank Houston further expressed regret at not having reported his father to the police when he learned of the abuse in 1999, but noted that other senior members of the church had known and did nothing.

In 2015, the royal commission examined allegations that accused Brian Frank Houston of concealing his father's crimes and censured him for failing to report his father to the police.

The matter was referred to the New South Wales Police Force, which confirmed that Brian Frank Houston was under criminal investigation for failing to report a serious crime.

Brian Frank Houston was in the United States at the time of being charged.

On 5 October 2021, Brian Frank Houston's lawyer said her client intended to plead not guilty.

Frank Houston died in Sydney on 8 November 2004, aged 82 years.