Pop star Justin Bieber flew into Sydney from LA last week to attend Australia's largest annual conference of any kind, Hillsong Conference.
Then, just minutes before the conference ended, Justin was seen exiting the building. It was assumed his unexpected, ever-so-slightly-early departure was for the purpose of avoiding traffic, as 25,000 other conference attendees were yet to leave the premises.
Throughout the five days Bieber was in Sydney, numerous news articles journalled his every move, regaling followers with interesting details such as the fact that he ate Indian food for dinner one night. On another occasion, he was seen climbing a tree. He did all of these things while simultaneously wearing a hat. His ownership of multiple types of hats served to showcase his tremendous versatility as an artist.
Fellow LA resident and musician Daniel Mathew also flew into Sydney for the standout conference, which attracts delegates from around the world.
"I actually had the idea to come to Hillsong Conference before him," Daniel said of Bieber, who had made the last-minute decision to attend the conference following an invitation from a friend.
"My friends were also pretty excited that I was coming, but no one has really written any news articles about it." Mathew paused to reflect, before continuing. "Justin Bieber does have slightly more Instagram followers than me." (You can follow Daniel on Instagram at @danieljmathew and read about his struggles with social media here).
Despite the flurry of media attention surrounding the Biebs, conference attendees were eventually reminded that they were Believers before Beliebers.
"I suppose Jesus does deserve more attention, being the saviour of the world," admitted one delegate. "Although He comes to Hillsong Conference every year. It's nice to think that Justin knows Jesus too. It means we probably have mutual friends!"
To register for Hillsong Conference 2016, and "do a Bieber" like a believer, head to www.hillsong.com/conference/
Grace Mathew is a Sydney-based writer.
Grace Mathew's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/grace-mathew.html