2:05. Lentz, who garnered fame for himself and Hillsong via his friendships with celebrities, led the churchs locations on the East Coast until his firing in November. In mid-November 2020, a crisis manager from the public relations firm Sunshine Sachs took on a new client: Carl Lentz, former head of Hillsong Churchs four locations in the American Northeast. Lentzs famous followers included Justin and Hailey Bieber. The church offers a version of the gospel that can cohere with the rest of your urban professional life. William started to notice pastors watching him and staying close to him on Sundays. Aside from its celebrity congregants, Hillsong, which was founded in Australia in the 1980s and now has 131 locations across the world, has bolstered its visibility with a vast multimedia operation. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Keatinge prompted her to tell her story. . Some have suggested that Lentz's missteps were a reflection of Houston and the culture he created . It looks sleazy as he avoided the question on sin and . The 92-year-old media mogul announced his engagement to the 66-year-old former dental hygienist a scant two weeks ago, following last years divorce from his fourth wife, Jerry Hall. By Brendan Esposito/Fairfax Media/Getty Images. Kimes said in her statement that Lentz repeatedly physically violated her, including on two occasions, in a movie theater and while she was driving, with one or more of his children present. One Hillsong NYC congregant, Ashley Jones (right), stuck with the church for years despite misgivings. The $16,000 a month rent on the house has reportedly been paid for by one of the only friends that have stood by him throughout this ordeal: Tyler Perry. Left, by Andres Kudacki/AP Photo; right, courtesy of Ashley Jones. After the celebrity-friendly megachurch Hillsong fired embattled pastor Carl Lentz in November, his initial replacement as the head of the churchs East Coast locations was executive pastor John Termini. When God blesses a business person its for Gods own purposes. (A Hillsong spokesperson said financial integrity is a value of the church, that it regularly audits its financial records and expenses, and that no staff member has unrestricted access to church funds.). FX has released its official trailer for The Secrets of Hillsong, which, essentially, is former Hillsong New York pastors, Carl and Laura Lentz's, side of the story.. In leaving Hillsong, Termini joins a growing group of Lentz-connected pastors. They joined a pool club and hosted cookouts with plenty to drink. And then he leaves. Its contemporary spin on Christianity, embodied by Lentz, packed a thriving network of on-trend believers into services across the globe every week. In the wake of Lentzs departure, Hillsong has experienced unprecedented turnover of staffers, including several notable pastors who worked closely with him in New York City. My turning point came one night after church at Serendipity, when one of my friends said to me, I just wanna meet Carl, I just wanna touch his coat.. According to the same report, however, many of Lentzs powerful celebrity allies had turned their backs. Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston said former pastor Carl Lentz had leadership issues that included lying and narcissistic behavior in an exclusive interview with "Today." Houston sat . In November, celebrity preacher at the church's New York church Carl Lentz had a spectacular fall from grace, fired for "moral failings" after his infidelities were publicly revealed. While there, Keatinge told the student that he had seen her Instagram photos from Williams prayer meeting. Zoe Church / Chad and Julia Veach. One pastor routinely asked Jones to replace singers, who had rehearsed, with celebrities (including, once, Vanessa Hudgens) and potential paramours. Scene Stealer: The True Lies of Elisabeth Finch, Part 1, Its Not So Black and White: Gisele Bndchen, Self-Professed Witch of Love, Talks About It All, The supermodel is super ready for her next act, as she enjoys the, Ezra Millers Messiah Delusions: Inside. At the center of the docuseries is Pastor Carl Lentz, the leader of the New York City branch of the church who gained public attention after befriending multiple famous congregants. As college students, Crenshaw and her friend couldnt drink alcohol, but some of the men could. I was unfaithful in my marriage, the most important relationship in my life and held accountable for that. Chief among them was Justin Bieber, whom Lentz baptized, and whose association with the pastor became the subject of scores of tabloid stories. The Grammy-winning group Hillsong Worship, one of the churchs three musical acts, recently broke the record for a Hillsong streaming debut in the U.S. Hillsong founder Brian Houston fired Lentz over what he said were moral failuresincluding, most explosively, Lentzs cheatingand has claimed in public statements and a recent interview on the Today show that Lentzs behavior was an aberration for the church. But Lentzs infidelity, the apparent cause of his ouster, also led to broader scrutiny of Hillsong as congregants and volunteers recounted a pattern of exploitation and alienation within the church. Hed interrupt lectures from the back of the room to pose counterarguments at length. She kept quiet for two and a half years. Kimes wrote that Lentz initially made flirtatious and suggestive comments to her in person and over text message. Where Is Carl Lentz Now? He's Working for a New Church - Distractify 2023 Cond Nast. Justin Bieber announces new church after Carl Lentz scandals Crenshaws father, a pastor in Pennsylvania, intervened and then the police became involved. (The email was provided to V.F. Lentz, the pastor from global megachurch Hillsong, who once ministered to Justin Bieber and a bevy of other celebrities. Producers and studio execs wouldnt take his calls. Lentz implored her to stay. By Dan. Lentz moved his family to the Williamsburg waterfront. Cover Story: The Charming Billie Eilish Kobe Bryants Tragic Flight, One Year Later How the PGA Polished Off Donald Trump Could the Monarchy Go Over a Cliff After Queen Elizabeth Dies? 36 Essential Items for Recreating Iconic Billie Eilish Nail Moments Inside 2021s Celebrity-Gossip Renaissance What Will Melania Trumps Legacy Be? From the Archive: The Brant Brothers Quest to Conquer Manhattan Not a subscriber? The Secret to Owen Wilsons Infinite Chill? Kimes provided the domestic help with the same clear instructions Hillsong volunteers received: Dont talk to him, dont look at him, dont be in his way., If this occurred, it was extremely inappropriate and not in keeping with the culture or the expectations of Hillsong Church, Brian Houston said in a statement. Hillsong congregants and insiders expressed skepticism about its integrity. Church officials de-rostered her daughter from her weekly volunteer commitments. Before Termini became Lentzs interim replacement at Hillsong, he held jobs as the churchs head of global real estate and director of business development. Where Is Carl Lentz Now? The Former Hillsong Pastor Is Lying Low - Bustle I also felt so ashamed and I had been told not to say anything or tell anyone, Kimes told Religion News Service, which first reported the allegations. Lentz recognized right away that the offer made little sense for him and his family. Wed, 05 May 2021. When reached for comment, Keatinge referred V.F. Ashleys mother, Mary Jones, grew up in segregation-era Baltimore and lived an entire lifetime before arriving at Hillsong in 2010, several years after her daughter moved to New York. The case has continued to plague Hillsong. The doctrine, popularized by American televangelists, holds that Jesus wanted health and wealth for his followers. A pair of Hillsong docuseries planned, examining the megachurch's Liberally tattooed, elaborately coiffed, and often dressed like a teenage hypebeast, Lentz, 42, achieved mild mainstream fame based on his proximity and access to the millennial celebrities in his flock: Justin and Hailey Bieber, Vanessa Hudgens, Kevin Durant, Selena Gomez. Celeb Pastor Carl Lentz Says His Family Is Together After "Challenging Net worth: $3 Million Carl Lentz founded the New York City branch of Hillsong Church in 2010. The drivers made sure crowds didnt mob him on city streets. Hillsong Pastor Accuses Carl Lentz Of Sex Abuse Scandal - Refinery29 (Emails provided to V.F. Disgraced Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz and his wife have broken their silence about his scandalous affairs in a new documentary about the secret church. Archive Footage: Code Orange Revival. The tech team sets up the sound and projector. Lentz brought the Hillsong megachurch to the US from Australia and led a charmed life in a $1.5 million home in New Jersey as lead pastor of New York City before his world came crashing down. Early on, Hillsong derived its largely working-class and left-wing ethos from the Assemblies of God Pentecostal tradition Frank Houston had worked in, Bullock told The Sydney Morning Herald. Over months of follow-up meetings, William says, his character was continually attacked and he was called a liar. What Happened to Hillsong? 7 Shocking Facts Concerning the Exploding Later, he said that Williams voice lost meaning to him. Carl Lentz appears during an interview on Oct. 23, 2017, in New York. Shamed Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz looks unrecognizable with disheveled When Elisabeth Finch met Jennifer Beyer in 2019, the two women forged a fiercely loyal friendship, and eventually got married. Fired Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz's wife breaks silence - New York Post Take the volunteers away from Hillsong and the services absolutely will not run, says the longtime worshipper. their relationship was consensual.) Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Hillsong replaces Carl Lentz with real estate broker, Bieber buddy Around the time Carl's firing was announced, he and his family moved to Manhattan Beach, California, and stayed away from the public spotlight. Also pictured were Terminis brother Joe and Joes wife, the star professional surfer Kelia Moniz. Days later, a Lentz insider told The Sun that Carl wants to use all the attention hes received to boost his post-scandal career, maybe land a faith-based Netflix reality series. But the proposed rental eventually became a purchase. later obtained it. They call it the Hillsong hangover, she says. Here are 7 facts you should know: Pastor Carl Lentz ran from speaking the truth on national TV. Lentz's wife Laura speaks out about his affair for the first time in Vanity Fair and FX's . He added that he wasnt aware of the moral failures until late last year. Houston recently tweeted that the assault by Jason Mays was a sad story and that the victim had been previously abused at her fathers church in Pennsylvania. The churchs doors were still open to him, Keatinge wrote, if he were to contact Hillsong on his own. After she had been attending Hillsong for some time, Mary Jones says she shared an idea with Keatinge. The pair shares three kids: two daughters and one son. Ex-Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz's new megachurch accused of 'inappropriate' Easter service . Ranin Karim, a woman who alleges she had a relationship with Lentz earlier this year, recently spoke out to Vanity Fair in an interview. His name is bigger than ever and he knows that, the friend said. Through tears, she challenged Williams account.