Carl Lentz: Justin Bieber’s Hillsong pastor sacked for cheating on wife
Followers have flocked to support a celebrity Hillsong pastor who cheated on his wife before being sacked by the megachurch.
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American Carl Lentz was fired from his role as Hillsong New York pastor by the global church boss Brian Houston who announced the sacking in a mass email on Wednesday.
Mr Lentz is one of the most high-profile members of the church and is known as a celebrity pastor to Justin Bieber, Kevin Durant and Drake.
He took to Instagram to say he was unfaithful to his wife of 17-years, Laura Lentz.
Since posting a photo of his wife and three children, and detailing his cheating Mr Lentz received hundreds of comments in support.
“I love you friend.You are walking the same path I walked...And if you keep walking...
Just look at all that God will do. He’s not done with you...Slow healing is still healing...
Love to the fam. For you,” Christian influencer Carlos Whittaker said.
Lentz was fired from his role as Hillsong New York pastor by the global church boss Brian Houston who announced the sacking in a mass email on Wednesday.
Mr Houston said there had been“leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures”.
The tight-lipped church said they would not be commenting any further.
However Lentz, who is the personal pastor to Justin Bieber, said he had cheated on his Sydney-raised wife Laura Lentz in a lengthy social media post to his 670k followers.
“I was unfaithful in my marriage, the most important relationship in my life and held accountable for that. This failure is on me, and me alone and I take full responsibility for my actions,” he said.
“I now begin a journey of rebuilding trust with my wife, Laura and my children and taking real-time to work on and heal my own life and seek out the help that I need. I am deeply sorry for breaking the trust of many people who we have loved serving and understand that this news can be very hard and confusing for people to hear and process.
“We, the Lentz family, don’t know what this next chapter will look like, but we will walk into it together very hopeful and grateful for the grace of God.”
He added, he “did not do an adequate job of protecting my own spirit, refilling my own soul and reaching out for the readily available help that is available.”
The American studied at Hillsong International Leadership College in Sydney. While in Australia, Houston, his son Joel and Lentz formed the idea to plant the church in New York.
In 2010, Houston Jr and Lentz founded Hillsong NYC which has since become one of the most high-profile churches in the world.
Mr and Mrs Lentz have three children together.
In May, Mr Lentz wrote a lengthy post celebrating their 17 year anniversary.
“Laura Lentz you are the best part of my life. We are getting better, together, you are easy to love … Happy anniversary girl! I love you,” he said on Instagram.
The 41-year-old has been seen largely as the poster boy for the mega-church.
His followers include NBA stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, as well as Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey Baldwin and world-famous rapper Drake.
Lentz came under fire earlier this year after keeping his church open to 200 people despite being urged to limit large gatherings. He also contracted coronavirus in March.
Originally published as Carl Lentz: Justin Bieber’s Hillsong pastor sacked for cheating on wife