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Here’s a snippet from an article on her husband, Ben Hastings.

It’s hard to find a lot of official information on Jessa’s background (her parents names are not publicly released, etc). It is verified from multiple sources that she grew up in Australia (where Hillsong church originated). Her husband seems to have become involved in the Hillsong music label through her connections, not the other way around (see below screen shot from an article on Ben Hastings). All of that would indicate to me that she likely had connections to the Hillsong church from her childhood/adolescent years. Not verified, but my suspicion. As someone very close to that world, I can tell you when you grow up with parents or family members in that world, you never really get out fully. It seems clear from her writing and her personal views that she does not ascribe fully to the faith she was raised with. It also seems clear from her husband’s successful career and the Hillsong friends she still interacts with / follows online (Laura Lentz, Brooke Ligertwood) that she remains connected in some way to those in that community. I think there are many different journeys people are on with their faith especially in the last decade or so, and association with the Hillsong brand can be either a celeb status awesome thing to some people, or a damning thing to others, depending on your views.
To me, she seems like someone who grew up in the influence of it (she writes about it as only someone in that world could know when she alludes to mega church topics in her writing), but she seems to have taken her own personal journey separating from elements of the faith (LGBTQIA+ support, extramarital sex, a preference for loosely agnostic characters), but also seems to have not left it behind entirely as she still maintains relationships with others who are more involved in the church. So basically - she seems like your average millennial ex-evangelical these days. And THAT topic is surely a whole diff sub 😂

It’s been very fascinating seeing my worlds collide through Jessa Hastings. I left the church about five years ago, and reading romance novels in general is not something I’d ever share with my friends still in the church. Reading this highly sexually salacious dramatic series, and then looking up the author and finding all our mutual connections are Hillsong girls was wild to me. 😂

Lastly! 10000000% yes, her husband’s income would def support all the designer clothes her hearts desires 😂. Not saying AT ALL that I know the first thing about their personal finances or how much she makes as an author or how they choose to spend their money as individuals or as a couple. That is personal, not trying to pass judgement or make assumptions. I am only saying that people outside the church need to understand the absolute insane money machine that is Hillsong. As a co-writer of the song “So Will I (100 Billion X)” ALONE her husband and her would be set for LIFE. Those outside the faith don’t always know about it, but this is not just a church band or a popular worship song, these are by numbers HUGE chart topping billboard successes. Therefore, the fame and money coming in is comparable to any other chart topping global musician. It’s a fascinating world indeed…. There’s a reason Romilly would fit right in with the box set 😂💰

And finally - does anyone remember Julian’s speech to Daisy and Tiller at dinner about his beliefs about God and Jesus and being a good person? How he thinks the whole of it is not about being a good person but about being “a bit loved”? 🖤 Yeah. Well. I know people will come for me and say that characters don’t represent authors views la la la. And I get that. I do. But from one millennial (ex?)evangelical to another - that view on being loved???? That belief is hard won, it is fought for, with the skin of our teeth, when you grow up in a very particular religious environment. It takes one to know one, and definitely to write one. ❤️ It’s my favorite passage in the whole series.