Hillsong Church is launching an Atlanta, Georgia campus that will be led by husband and wife Sam and Toni Collier.

According to The Christian Post, the Colliers will be the first Black lead pastors of a Hillsong church. They also have a daughter, Dylan.

Sam Collier, founder of A Greater Story Ministries, told The Christian Post:

“We want to start a movement that not only changes Atlanta, but changes the world,” .
“Just like God did with Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta nearly 60 years ago, there was a model that was built that went on to impact the entire world.
We want to be a model of unity and understanding and bring about revival.”

Hillsong Atlanta will work to “reach and influence the world by building a large Christ-centered, Bible-based church, changing mindsets and empowering people to lead and impact in every sphere of life.”

He added :

“Hillsong Atlanta is the marrying of many different worlds, racially, and even politically, to represent the fullness of God,” . “What better place to launch a church with this vision than in the birthplace of civil rights?”

Collier is the author of A Greater Story and previously worked at Andy Stanley’s Atlanta church, North Point Community Church.

Collier further said:

“When I discussed church planting with Andy, he told me, “Sam, I think you want to build a different type of church, and that’s OK. God does His thing in a lot of different environments,’” .
“He blessed us and freed us, and challenged us to go to seminary. After praying about what we should do next, that’s when I called a friend about Hillsong and said, ‘I think this might be our new home.’”

Hillsong Atlanta is slated to open for in-person services in March 2021. Collier, said in conclusion:

“I think that’s what this pandemic has taught, is that the church has to be about caring for the greatest need of the people right where they are,” .
“If that’s in the church building, or in a hospital suffering from COVID and in need of healing, or on a zoom call getting to know each other, then that’s where we want to be.”