Hillsong, Planetshakers; Running, Hiding from the Mike Guglielmucci Fallout?
But it seems that Planetshakers isn’t the only church hiding from criticism in the wake of the Mike Guglielmucci scandal.
Hillsong and ACC (Assemblies of God in Australia) have been doing the same.
From my original post:
…Planetshakers has removed references to Michael Guglielmucci, crediting his role on these albums, from their web-site.
For example, the online blurb for Planetshakers 2004 album “Always and Forever” previously read:
Produced by lead songwriter Henry Seeley, with songwriting credits and lead vocals to Mike Guglielmucci and Sam Evans, Always and Forever is an album not to be missed.
Now, the blurb on the Planetshakers discography page reads:
Produced by lead songwriter Henry Seeley, with songwriting credits and lead vocals to Sam Evans, Always and Forever is an album not to be missed.
And the blurb for the 2007 album “Never Stop” previously read:
“Featuring Henry Seeley, Mike Guglielmucci and Sam Evans, this studio album is signature Planetshakers praise and worship for a new generation. Includes CD and bonus DVD of Planetshakers live worship and inspiring messages.”
Now:
“Featuring Henry Seeley and Sam Evans, this studio album is signature Planetshakers praise and worship for a new generation. Includes CD and bonus DVD of Planetshakers live worship and inspiring messages.”
(All references to Planetshakers live album “Savior of the World” have also been removed entirely from the Planetshakers Discography page.)
These are conspicuous absenses given Mike Guglielmucci wrote 11 out of 13 of the songs on “Never Stop”, and 7 out of the 10 songs on “Always and Forever”…
Hillsong’s response was to file copyright “take-down” claims on all YouTube videos that contained Mike Guglielmucci and his song “Healer” – I believe that the copyright on some of these videos were under Planetshakers’ (or at least Word Publishing’s) control.
Some of these videos had over 300,000 views.
Is copyright the issue? Is the means of removing these videos the same as the motive for removing them?
Apparently not – Hillsong United, Darlene Zschech and the Hillsong band all still have videos available on YouTube – videos which would obviously violate copyright if Hillsong was concerned about copyright itself.
And ACC?
Speaking to a webmaster of one prominent Christian web-site, I found ACC (Assemblies of God in Australia / Australian Christian Churches) responded by contacting web-sites that ranked prominently in Google for Michael Guglielmucci’s name and have them modify their web-sites to minimize negative publicity.
I wonder to myself… Is this just? Is this fair? Is this honourable?
Is it hiding from an issue, covering up, and “protecting the brand”?
Or is it something more honourable than it might seem on the surface?
Planetshakers Insider 
It is true what you say, ‘Is this just? Is this fair? Is this honourable?’ The thing to realise here is that mike just like the rest of us wanted to do the right thing but kept lying out of fear. I say this because the only other thing outside of love for God and those around us, obedience and truth, is motivation from Satan who operates on fear and dispair. What we can do is not disassociate Mike Gugglielmucci but instead love and pray that he will come humbly before his and our God.
God Bless.
Patrick Flaherty
August 26, 2008 at 10:30 am
Mike Guglielmucci is just a product of Planetshakers.
It seems Mike now wants to be truthful, – that’s why he has been abandoned by Planetshakers and Hill$ong’s leadership, who don’t like being questioned and discourage discernment.
Most Christian Churches today don’t want the real Jesus—they bow down to money/image/power. The disillusioned fake gave the AOG Pentecostal Church what they really crave—a miracle whether it be true or false and the money pours in.
Evie
August 26, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I don’t believe there is any AOG conspiracy here, just the fallout from a lie that Mike G has been living. We now, as his Christian brothers & sisters should offer him all the support he needs as he clearly has not been thinking straight and for whatever reason has been living this lie. I pray for his family at this time who must be devastated for him, for his church and for those people who really have cancer and who clung to the inspirational message he was sharing with the world. ‘Healer’ is and always will be an awesome song, nevertheless we have to pick up the pieces and move on in faith, not letting the enemy use this lie any longer to steal souls from our Lord Jesus.
Simon Holland
August 27, 2008 at 1:37 am
Last year Mike preached at a church I use to attend. God used this man regardless of what was going on in his own personal life. He ministered the Word of God that stirred the atmosphere with unshakeable faith. I had taken my 3 year old grand daughter and God healed her from severe ezcema and asthma. I too came away a totally different person. I was set on fire that Sunday morning and came away with a hunger for God I had never experienced before. One year later, I am still on fire and still hunger after God. I was deeply saddened by the news of Mike and the fear of God hit my heart as I recognise we are all susceptible to temptation that come our way whatever it may be. My heart and my prayers go out to Michael and all his family. His song Healer, is an awesome song – it came from a man whose heart desperately seeks what we all need – wholeness.
Carol
August 27, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I think Mike has had incredible courage to come forward and confess. He was not “found out” – he confessed. That means that he is finally desperate enough to act on what he was singing about – that Jesus is more than enough for him, and all his shame, confusion, anguish, and guilt. I think the song Healer was part of that process for him. I am a worship leader, and I know that sometimes I sing and write songs as spiritual warfare – to work through things God wants to get access to in my life. We take our stand on what we know to be true – not how we feel. That is not hypocrisy – that is faith. I think his lies just spiraled out of control, and he felt compelled to keep lying because he didn’t want to face the shame of it. Thank God that he has finally found the courage to tell the truth!!!! Remember Luke 7 – he who is forgiven much loves much. When he finally comes through all of this, he will be so much more in love with Jesus.
rhymerchick
August 28, 2008 at 2:20 am
I think Hillsongs and the whole bunch has done what is right by Mike by removing videos and such from the web. I don’t think they have abandoned him, rather they have made it slightly more possible for him to actually heal without it becoming a bigger issue than it needs to be.
I agree, we all, as his spiritual family, need to rally around him and his entire family in prayer. Praise the Lord that Mike is finally at a place where Jesus can be his complete healer and he can stop living the lies.
I know we are all praying for him and the family, I encourage to you as well. And we are including Hillsongs and PlanetShakers in that family!
Heather
August 31, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I think the right thing is being done to help protect a wounded soldier. Its so sad that in the church of Jesus Christ we often will jump, scream, dance and sing when someone is doing “good,” but once they get shot and wounded during the battle of life, we drag them out in front of everyone and shoot them. The devil has more love in the church than a fallen Christian; God help you if you’re a fallen preacher. I pray we love and support his restoration and redemption, which we should remember that we all need.
Those of us that think he needs it more than we do, are actually guilty of an equally terrible sin: “and the Pharisee looked at the tax collector and said: I thank you God, that I am not like that man…” The tax collector who openly confessed his position and sinful state was accepted while the “christian” who was doing “good” with God and “knew it” was not. I pray we all become broken for Micheal and look forward to the day when the Healer does heal him of this & he can use his spiritual gifts (which are irrevokable according to Romans) to help the body of Christ grow.
Once you think someone else needs the cross more than you, you don’t know how bad you really need the cross.
Lastly, I pray that “Healer” becomes a song of passion for those wrapped in the lies of pornography and deception…as it certainly will always be tied to the need of deliverance of such sins.
Christopher Leigh
September 3, 2008 at 2:01 am
If I may be frank, could one not assume that the disassociation that is happening a form of damage control?
Sorry for the cynicism but it is sometimes the cure for the ills of believing too much.
LPC
L P Cruz
September 16, 2008 at 8:04 pm
LPC – I agree.
God doesn’t call us to go into “Damage Control”, or “protect the brand”, or hide our associations – he calls us to be honest, confess, accept our failings, be vigilant so that they do not happen again, and grow in Jesus.
A lack of accountability and transparency have caused problems inside large churches like Planetshakers, and I’m told other AOG churches such as Hillsong too.
It’s fair, just and right to allow Mike to heal in privacy and retreat away from the spotlight – however, Planetshakers, Hillsong and Edge Church are still in the spotlight, and were involved in the scandal.
Why hide these facts?
Why not admit them, confess, be open and honest about them – and work to move forwards afterwards?
Planetshakers Insider
September 16, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Okay enough is enough, We need to leave this poor man and his family alone. To tell you the turth, I was shock and upset, but after all that had settle in I have come to relise that this man is sick, not in the phyiscal sense but in the mind. I suffer from this myself and you all need to stop judging and let god be the judge. Mick is a compolive liar and it is a noted mental illness that is all linked to depression and bi pola. He needs not our judgement but our prayers and are support in overcoming this illness that is in his mind. I only have just listened to the song he wrote and I am still standing by what I have said that the is about healing and he needs to be healed as well.
So let us all prayer and let god and mick deal with this in god’s time not outr won
Bec
September 26, 2008 at 12:59 pm
The issue is already done. People commit things but God’s grace is perfect. His strength is perfect. The same measurement of judgment we use to judge our brothers and sisters is the same and exact measurement of judgment that the Father will use to judge us. Don’t judge Mike and Hillsong and Planetshakers.. Why? I said to all of you! Don’t judge the book by it’s cover, don’t judge them because they are not books.. haha.. The Lord hates Hippocrates! “Hippocrates – MEANS people who say you are sinful and the same time they have hidden sins.” I am blessed in what Mike has done.. It’s a public confession… Some of people who said that Mike is wrong has hidden sins. And the are called Hippocrates!
Jay Manzanilla
November 4, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Though it’s about 9 months late I thought I’d put in my two cents worth. Hillsong are probably the innocent party caught up in all this. Obviously from a PR point of view both Hillsong and Planetshakers want to rid themselves of any association with Mike G as soon as possible. The important thing here is that with the power and grace of God Mike G breaks the chains of sin and is finally free.
Kev
June 14, 2009 at 8:00 pm
This man is really sick…he didnt need to say he had cancer in order to sell his song, it was a beautiful song in itself, but because of his lie, i would perfer to never hear it again,and im thankful Hillsong and Plantshakers are doing whatever they can to rid themselves of his name. God is clearly not with this man, God is not the father of all lies, i think we all know who is. . .
not just shocking that someone would do something like this, but irritating..
For everything you do, i beleve there are consequences… Mike dug a whole for everyone to fall into, now he will fall into it himself.
I wish i could be more forgiving, but at the moment, i simply cannot.
pam
July 24, 2009 at 4:34 am
I think a sin is a sin no matter how big it is. The real beauty in it is that when you truly confess your sin before our Father, He’s faithful and just to forgive it all. Simple as that.
Yes, what he did ought to be condemned, but it should remain that way – “ought”. Judge not lest ye be judged.
Regardless of the way the song was used, it’s such a powerful song that speaks of God’s might and victory over sin and death. God uses people regardless whether they’re “good” or “bad”, its just His way of doing things! We can’t understand how God works, because we’re human, and are limited by nature.
Nothing is impossible for God, who holds the world in His hands. In this day of non-absolutes, God is the only absolute, the Rock on which we stand.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
nic
August 1, 2009 at 1:29 am
I think Evie may be more on the money than some people are willing to accept especially those at the big AOG churches such as Planetshakers. To me it seems like they are far too focused on music, image and publicity. I mean since when did the music ministry members of a church start becoming celebrities and start doing tours and do signings?
I’m in the music ministry in my own church but I don’t expect nor would I feel right if I was being asked to sign a cd or pose in a photograph.
I once heard an anecdote about Matt Redman’s church where for two months he stopped all forms of music because the services had become too focussed on the music and not enough on worship. It was intended to make people realize that you can worship God regardless of you ability to sing or to play and that at the end of the day God looks at your heart.
It makes me wonder if Planetshakers has anyone who would be brave enough to do something like this if the music and performance side of things overtook the worship.
Kev
August 12, 2009 at 10:33 pm
i understand your perspective in questioning motives behind the actions taken by planetshakers and hillsong, but the truth is they were taken advantage of just as much as everyone else. we can only hope and pray that mike has received forgiveness for his actions between him and God and as far as the people and organizations are concerned, they had to do what was best for their futures, which did not have to pend around this incident.
brandon
February 28, 2010 at 4:33 pm
some of people who said that Mike is wrong has hidden sins.
lokanath swami
March 29, 2011 at 9:00 pm
No one’s perfect. And I agree with Kev and Evie. Why make this whole thing public for the whole world to know and criticize? Planetshaker, Hillsong or whoevermore is no better than Mike. They keep singing about the cross and God’s love but yet they’re blinded to the true meaning behind it all.
zivah
February 9, 2013 at 8:15 pm
[…] to Guglielmucci from their website that credit his role on several albums. Hillsong has filed copyright “take-down” claims on every YouTube video that contains Mike Guglielmucci and his song […]
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