Scott Morrison gives a rare insight into his devout Christian faith in the controversial Pentecostal church and details how he has prayed on his knees every day since he was 12 - but insists he doesn't speak in tongues
Scott Morrison has offered rare insight into his devout Christian faith and revealed he 'gave his life to the Lord' at a Boys' Brigade camp when he was 12.
Mr Morrison made history by becoming Australia's first Pentecostal Prime Minister when he took the top job in August 2018.
Now, three years on, the nation's leader has opened up about his religious rituals and involvement with his church in an interview with the Weekend Australian.
The prime minister said he prays almost every day - on his knees when possible - and reads the bible from his phone, lately perusing through the Old Testament.
Although his religious journey started in childhood, it was not until his adult years that he would become a member of the Pentecostal faith - which has controversial customs, such as speaking in tongues and claims to heal by the laying of hands.
Scott Morrison has offered a rare glimpse into his Pentecostal faith, revealing he tries to pray every day and reads the bible from his phone. Pictured: The prime minister and his wife sing during an Easter Sunday service at the Horizon Church in Sutherland
Growing up Christian, Mr Morrison attended the Presbyterian church at Waverley, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, with his family as a child.
But it wasn't until Year 7 that he would make the decision to commit himself to becoming an active Christian for the rest of his life.
While attending a Christian youth organisation camp in Melbourne, Mr Morrison felt compelled to make a promise to forever serve Jesus.
'On that camp I gave my life to the Lord, on January 11, 1981. I was 12. I massively felt it that day,' he told The Australian.
'It is a confession of repentance. I felt that movement, to get to my feet. I spent the rest of the day sitting with the chaplain.'
Mr Morrison said his choice was entirely personal, with his religious parents urging him to wait until he was ready to take the step.
A few years later, his brother, Alan, who had also dedicated himself to God, baptised him at their family church.
Mr Morrison (pictured around age five) grew up religious, regularly attending a Presbyterian church in Waverley with his parents
Mr Morrison (pictured alongside his wife Jenny, daughters Lily and Abbey, and mother Marion) has been a member of the Horizon Church, in Sydney's south, for more than a decade
Mr Morrison went on to meet his wife Jenny through the Christian Brethren Assembly youth group at Waverley Gospel, and the pair began dating in Year 12, later marrying in 1990.
A decade later, the Morrisons' faith would evolve from their Presbyterian roots into Pentecostalism.
During a work trip to New Zealand, the couple attended a service at the Christchurch Brethren Assembly and developed a taste for the church's dynamic style of worship, which includes shouting, clapping, singing and dancing.
'When we came back to Australia in July 2000 we really appreciated that style of church and we started going to Hillsong church in Waterloo in inner . It’s a bit different from the one in the Hills,' he said.
'It suited us, it was big, we made a lot of friends. Later we went to ShireLive. It’s now called Horizon Church. I’ve never been that fussed about denominations. I just like a community, Bible-based church.'
Mr Morrison and his family have been members of the Sutherland Shire's Horizon Church, in Sydney's south, for more than a decade.
He said he doesn't participate in the church's custom of 'speaking in tongues', a practice that involves uttering speech-like sounds, which is thought to be the Holy Spirit enabling them to pray - but he insists it isn't as strange as it sounds.
Mr Morrison has previously said he and wife Jenny (pictured together) were called upon to do 'God's work' by leading the country
However, the prime minister says his private relationship with God includes 'trying to pray every day', an gesture he describes as an 'important act of submission', and he regularly reads from a bible on his phone.
Although religion is central to his life and he 'couldn't function without his faith', Mr Morrison also insists it does not dictate his policies and he thinks it is unfair that people suggest his faith is linked to his decisions in office.
The disclosure comes just months after Mr Morrison revealed he has engaged in the Pentecostal act of offering 'spiritual healings' during his time in office.
In April, the prime minister attended the Australian Christian Churches conference in the Gold Coast where he told cheering fellow parishioners he and Jenny were 'called to do God's work' by leading the country.
He and said he often prayed at work and engaged in the evangelical tradition of 'laying on of hands', which is used to confer a spiritual blessing, having done so during a visit to the cyclone hit Pilbara region in Western Australia earlier this year.
'I've been in evacuation centres where people thought I was just giving someone a hug and I was praying, and putting my hands on people… laying hands on them and praying in various situations,' he said.
The prime minister admitted to giving 'spiritual healings' while in office during a speech at the Australian Christian Churches conference on the Gold Coast in April
'God has, I believe, been using us in those moments to be able to provide some relief and comfort and just some reassurance.'
However, Mr Morrison told the Australian he has only prayed for people at their request and with their permission.
During the speech, Mr Morrison also labelled social media the work of the 'devil' called on believers to 'raise their spiritual weapons' and use prayer to combat its 'corrosive effect on society'.
He also revealed he had looked for signs from God while he was on the 2019 election campaign trail, finding one during a trip to art gallery on the NSW central coast.
'And there right in front of me was the biggest picture of a soaring eagle … but the message I got that day was, Scott you've got to run to not grow weary, you've got to walk to not grow faint, you've got to spread your wings like an eagle to soar like an eagle,' he said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Prime Minister's office for comment.