Hillsong's Brian Houston says he prayed for mercy for executed Bali Nine convicts Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran

Senior pastor of Hillsong Brian Houston sought prayers of mercy for Andrew and Myuran. Instagram / Hillsong

People all over the world, particularly Australians, were saddened this week when reformed drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed in Indonesia.

Pastor Brian Houston of Hillsong Church, for one, said his heart was heavy knowing that the two men had repented of their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

"I do not claim to have all the answers or to dismiss the severity of what they did; nor do I have any desire to politicise the issue of capital punishment," he wrote in the Hillsong website. "However, I am confident in my belief that God is the Author of Life, the giver of mercy and that his ways are far above ours. As Christians, I believe that that our outworking of that doesn't leave room for the barbarism of capital punishment – in any form, anywhere."

Houston had the privilege of speaking to both men in the last few months before they died, and he says he saw for himself how they rehabilitated themselves within the prison system.

Both Chan and Myuran understood that what they did was something to be condemned, Houston says, but the Hillsong pastor said that they should not suffer from "absolute and irreversible consequences."

In particular, Chan's faith and strength in extremely trying times inspired Houston, and he believes that the two have done their best to pay their debts to society.

"In the world, power is understood as a show of authority, irrespective of opposing views – yet, Jesus's model of power was one of humility and grace. God has pardoned us all, he has and continues to extend grace to our wrongdoings. Extending grace is not a sign of weakness, but of believing in life and in people," he said.

Miracles do happen, believes Houston, and even if there was no hope left for Andrew and Myuran, he prayed that the world will continue to be inspired by their lives and testimonies, and that their families will find peace in the midst of hopelessness.

related articles
Brian Houston clears up rumours, says he holds \'traditional\' view on gay marriage
Brian Houston clears up rumours, says he holds 'traditional' view on gay marriage

Brian Houston clears up rumours, says he holds 'traditional' view on gay marriage

Hillsong\'s Brian Houston will interview Mark Driscoll at summer conference
Hillsong's Brian Houston will interview Mark Driscoll at summer conference

Hillsong's Brian Houston will interview Mark Driscoll at summer conference

Indonesia executions: Convicts praised God, sang Christian hymns before death by firing squad
Indonesia executions: Convicts praised God, sang Christian hymns before death by firing squad

Indonesia executions: Convicts praised God, sang Christian hymns before death by firing squad

News
Church leaders call for 'rethink' of school closures in Ramadan
Church leaders call for 'rethink' of school closures in Ramadan

“We urge the governors of the affected states to reconsider this decision and explore alternative arrangements that respect the rights and freedoms of all citizens.”

Bangor celebrates 1,500 years by honouring cathedral
Bangor celebrates 1,500 years by honouring cathedral

Bangor Cathedral's central role in the city's 1,500 year history will be formally recognised

Retired pastor prosecuted under abortion buffer zone laws 
Retired pastor prosecuted under abortion buffer zone laws 

A retired pastor is being prosecuted for an alleged breach of an abortion clinic buffer zone in Northern Ireland. 

Gateway Church founder Robert Morris charged with child sex abuse
Gateway Church founder Robert Morris charged with child sex abuse

Robert Morris, founding pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, was indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child by a multi-county grand jury in Oklahoma on Wednesday. The indictment stems from allegations made by Cindy Clemishire last June that he sexually abused her over multiple years in the 1980s, beginning when she was 12.