HILLSONG CHURCH IS A SNAKE PIT OF OPEN DEMONIC ACTIVITY AS IT'S REVEALED THEIR NY PASTOR CARL LENTZ AND STAFFERS RAN IT LIKE THE PLAYBOY MANSION by Geoffrey Grider for Now The End Begins The whistleblowers also claimed that Hillsong Church which has been rocked by recent revelations that its former leader, Carl Lentz, had multiple tawdry affairs was "a breeding ground for unchecked . The pastor, a former real estate broker, is the developer Abram Shnays son-in-law. The daughter of Lionel Richie said the process has been one of the greatest experiences of her life. This church will fail you, he remembers the pastor promising. In the second week of January, paparazzi spotted Carl and Laura, linked at the arm in the Redondo Beach Target parking lot. While Bieber said in a January Instagram Story that HILLSONG IS NOT MY CHURCH, the same month, Termini posted a photo of himself on the beach with Justin and Hailey Bieber. She wrote in a statement on Medium that during the seven years she spent as a nanny for Lentz and his wife, Laura, I was subjected to manipulation, control, bullying, abuse of power, and sexual abuse., I felt trapped and silenced. After a few conversations where she outlined some preliminary stepsincluding leaving their role working with childrenshe proposed a longer-term path. Wracked with guilt and confusion, Abreu opened up to a youth pastor and social worker. 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. The person was a youth leader, not a youth pastor. ArtAnd Lots of It, The actor, who plays a Bob Rossesque character in the new comedy, Breaking: Donald Trump Surrenders to Face Charges in New York. reported in February, Kimes paid a former Hillsong College student $150 a week to look after her own daughter. In the Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed premiere, former Hillsong contestant Jaclyn Hayes opened up about Carl's alleged sex and dating rules. By Andrew White/The New York Times/Redux. But the wounds from Sydney remained. Born the youngest of four in Williamsburg, Virginia, he was raised in a Christian household but struggled to connect with the local church concept and religion in general. (Later that year, Houston attended a prayer meeting for Donald Trump at the White House.) Discovery+ is a streaming service owned and operated by Warner Bros. An avid sports fan, Houston loved Lentzs basketball stories and his aptitude for name-dropping while telling them. In an Instagram post that included photos of palm trees and a blue sky, Laura Lentz alluded to the backlash that their family faced following the ordeal. ), She reported the incident to Margaret Aghajanian, Hillsongs head of pastoral care oversight. My faith in God is now unshaken by the heinous . What do you do when you discover the shepherds are part of the problem and even the problem itself?. He landed a new gig. (A church spokesperson said John Mays was recused from the matter due to his conflict of interest and that it was unaware of any incidents of Houston praising Mays onstage from the time Crenshaws allegations became known. Carl left the church after admitting to . A current pastor at the megachurch, who also worked as a nanny for the Lentz family, said that he threatened and belittled her when the two discussed his alleged abuse. ), In a statement on Hillsongs website, the Houstons said they heard about Kimess allegations in the course of the East Coast investigation. While the source suggested that Termini had grown tired of Hillsongs controversies, the pastor struck a more sanguine tone when reached by text message. Carl Lentz was an integral part of the Hillsong church family before his firing in early November of 2020. 2023 Cond Nast. We are now aware of the scope of changes that need to be made and are addressing those immediately., In 2011, with his New York flock outgrowing smaller venues, Lentz began holding services at 1,200-seat Irving Plaza. If so, the spokesperson said, it was unacceptable and not an accurate reflection of our desired global culture.). Join Vanity Fair to receive full access to VF.com and the complete online archive now. When she reported that a volunteer in the vocal group sent her a sexually threatening text message late one night, the man was simply moved to a different volunteer team. We value each member of our team, especially volunteers.. 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. Then In July 2021, they relocated to a $70,000 home south of Tampa, Florida. From The Sydney Morning Herald/Getty Images. Producers and studio execs wouldnt take his calls. The name of Carl's wife is Laura Lentz and she has stayed by his side after his infidelity and immediate termination from Hillsong. 2:05. In class, Lentz established himself as a brash and discursive presence. February 11, 2021 12:19pm AP/Tina Fineberg EXCLUSIVE: Hillsong, the church that has had celebrity worshippers including Justin Bieber, Kevin Durant, and Selena Gomez, has been mired in scandal. Still, the churchand Lentzcould be welcoming. Strobe lights and stage smoke filled the church lobby. Though Lentz came from a family of believers, by college at North Carolina State, where he earned a spot on the varsity basketball team, he had just about given up on his faith. Carl caught the culture from Brian, the former staffer says. He and Joel grew a joint reputation for their nightlife exploits. Since. The doctrine, popularized by American televangelists, holds that Jesus wanted health and wealth for his followers. Kimess allegations add to a growing portrait of Lentzs alleged misconduct as well as of Hillsongs record of abuse. A former Hillsong staffer who worked closely with Houston remembers one of his credos regarding Sydney: We need you to catch the culture from here. Houstons preferred personnel hold positions of power throughout the global church. Chief among them was Justin Bieber, whom Lentz baptized, and whose association with the pastor became the subject of scores of tabloid stories. Brian Houston was not informed of these claims prior to the events of late 2020.). But on Nov. 4 . They didnt tell anybody in Australia about their sexuality, but one day a professor stopped class to make an insinuation: We need to pray for Omars future wife.. The Lentzes home in the tony suburb became a hub of social activity. For several years of his Hillsong tenure, Termini was a central presence at what congregants and volunteers came to call the compound. Lentz and other Hillsong NYC pastors lived, worked, and partied at the building, a converted warehouse of luxury condos along the Williamsburg waterfront. PUBLISHED: January 5, 2021 at 8:31 a.m. | UPDATED: January 5, 2021 at 8:50 a.m. I dont know what happened to me, I mean Ive done that before, but something clicked, Lentz later said. 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. Missing the community Hillsong provided, William organized his own prayer meeting. Met Gala 2023 Red Carpet: See All the Fashion, Outfits & Looks, Get Him Out of Here: Donald Trump Tossed NBC Reporters Phones During Tirade Aboard Campaign Plane, How to Watch the 2023 Met Gala Live Stream. Scene Stealer: The True Lies of Elisabeth Finch, Part 2. In 2019, Hillsong paid Gray $14,178 (AUD). Some congregants poked fun at the protective measures. Friends remember Lentz being in and out, returning late from the city or leaving just as the party got under way to play basketball with Drake. An Intimate View of a Young Queen Elizabeth II The Sacklers Launched OxyContin. Wed, 05 May 2021. The popularity of the church Hillsong soared in the U.S. thanks in part to Carl Lentz, its New York lead pastor, whose ties to Justin Bieber and pro athletes made him a celebrity until he was. The Lentzes and Sunshine Sachs parted ways. (A church spokesperson acknowledged the accusation and said: This claim was investigated thoroughly by senior Hillsong East Coast staff and internal legal counsel, but remained unsubstantiated claims only, lacking evidence or proof. Keatinge, she said, called her unfit for leadership. (Keatinge told the paper he did not recall saying this.) A few days later, Houston announced that Chrishan and Danielle Jeyaratnam, formerly pastors at Hillsongs location in Perth, Australia, would replace Lentz on a permanent basis. obtained, was sent through a subordinates account: Most of the things you have said here, I know absolutely nothing about. 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. The disgraced religious leader was fired from the New York-based church for "moral failures" in 2020, before moving to California and then disappearing from the public eye. Didn't expect this guy to get a bailout from Madea, did you? One pastor routinely asked Jones to replace singers, who had rehearsed, with celebrities (including, once, Vanessa Hudgens) and potential paramours. That felt like a nonanswer. (A church spokesperson said, We are unaware of this situation occurring.). Kimes wrote that Lentz initially made flirtatious and suggestive comments to her in person and over text message. However, controversy followed him in May 2021 when Leona Kimes, who worked as a nanny at the Lentz home for over seven years, claimedthat Carl subjected her to "bullying, abuse of power, and sexual abuse." Carl Lentz has not publicly addressed his firing yet. He's 20 and she's 17, but not for long. We just really feel that its time to transition off of our staff and take some time to remain healthy, get healthy, and to really see what the next season holds for us, Reed said. But after the other witnesses corroborated Crenshaws account, Hillsong placed Mays on paid leave. Then he goes onstage. Carl Lentz is one of the senior pastors of Hillsong Church in New York City and is growing his business each passing day. Theyre one of Hollywoods brightest starsand most troubled actors. Austen texted, searching for answers, but received little response. Its all about God, its not about whos up here, she recalls him saying. She wrote in her statement that I was physically violated by his unwanted and repeated sexual touching of my intimate areas. A royal commission in Australia found in 2015 that Brian Houston failed to notify authorities about the allegations upon learning of them. FILE - Carl Lentz appears during an interview on Oct. 23, 2017, in New York. Lentz's wife Laura speaks out about his affair for the first time in Vanity Fair and FX's . This broker sells houses and God, too. Lentzs reply to the letter, which V.F. The prosperity doctrine is partly a financial proposition: If you donate to Hillsong, God will give you that money back. Kane came out and he looked me right in the eye. Every time, I froze. A legal representative for the Lentzes told RNS that the two vehemently deny the allegations and, in addition to that, have irrefutable proof the events did not happen as they are being described.. Hillsong was approached by a developer to lease office space and have a multi-use venue at a 50% discount to the market due to benefits that the developer would receive by having a community facility within the tenancy, the report said. 8 When its time for the service to begin, he sits in a special section, surrounded by his people, the staffer says. Music has proven to be a large part of the churchs draw throughout its history, and the growing congregation eventually renamed itself after one of the more popular musical acts it had produced. She claims he was "very conflicted with his own work . William doesnt have a sister. When Lentz returned Stateside in 2005, he brought his wife with him. Ex-Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz's new megachurch accused of 'inappropriate' Easter service . When questioned, Mays denied the incident. Entertainment mogul Tyler Perry reportedly paid their $16,000 monthly rent. The church offers a version of the gospel that can cohere with the rest of your urban professional life. As college students, Crenshaw and her friend couldnt drink alcohol, but some of the men could. January 5, 2021 In case it wasn't already obvious when Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey Baldwin unfollowed their former pastor Carl Lentz on Instagram in November, the pop star kicked off. The upcoming four-part docuseries is based on Vanity Fair's expos of the firing of Carl Lentz from the megachurch after he admitted to having an affair.. FX states that "everything will come to light" in announcing the . Left, photograph by Danielle Levitt; right, by Wagner Az/Backgrid. All rights reserved. Newspix via Getty Images, FILE Karim described her connection with Lentz as one that is "hard to explain in words." She said Lentz's wife found out about the alleged affair in October. By Brendan Esposito/Fairfax Media/Getty Images. A former Hillsong College student and lifelong megachurch goer recalls the kinds of statements shed hear at Hillsong services. (The email was provided to V.F. Sunday call time for volunteers is 5 a.m. A new TLC documentary about the church and the minister, which debuted on Wednesday, featured the claims. Kane Keatinge responded to Williams report promptly, setting up a meeting. Ranin Karim, a woman who alleges she had a relationship with Lentz earlier this year, recently spoke out to Vanity Fair in an interview. And at least some bad moral behavior had gone back historically., That afternoon, Lentzs publicists said he enrolled in a 28-day outpatient program for pastoral burnout. A few weeks later, The New York Times reported that Hillsong NYC volunteers had complained to church officials about rumors of Lentz acting inappropriately with women in 2017. Back in New York, they tried going to services again; their best friends were and still are part of the church. When Elisabeth Finch met Jennifer Beyer in 2019, the two women forged a fiercely loyal friendship, and eventually got married. In November, Houston announced an investigation of the Hillsong East Coast locations that Lentz led, and in February, he said the investigation was complete, though the results were not publicly disclosed. The writers bccd the Houstons. Exiting Irving Plaza following one Sunday service, Lentz and Mary struck up a conversation. We will have to reevaluate if youre fit for leadership positions, she recalled Keatinge replying. Pastors held exclusive late-night parties that managed to make space for the models whose agencies put them up in the building and the young men of Hillsong who had proven their loyalty. Lentz moved his family to the Williamsburg waterfront. Mayss wife had just had a baby, and he told his lawyer that Crenshaw went out of her way to be around his family. On November 4, 2020, congregants and fans of the Hillsong church awoke to the sad news that Carl Lentz and Laura Lentz had been fired. And New York City had a reputation as a wasteland for new churches. Through tears, she challenged Williams account. Wife of ex-Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz is suffering PTSD, depression By Andrew Court November 12, 2021 4:59pm Updated Laura Lentz is revealing the emotional distress she has suffered after her. Carl Lentz appears during an interview on Oct. 23, 2017, in New York. Met Gala 2023 Red Carpet: See All the Fashion, Outfits & Looks, Get Him Out of Here: Donald Trump Tossed NBC Reporters Phones During Tirade Aboard Campaign Plane, How to Watch the 2023 Met Gala Live Stream. Reporting what happened was the issue, not what happened to me, Crenshaw says. I will fail you. (Lentz declined to comment for this story.). In January 2020, Mays pleaded guilty to indecent assault and received two years probation and mandatory counseling. He was ultimately accused of abusing nine young boys at his ministries. Then Lentzs former dog walker went public about a 2014 incident in which he stumbled in on Lentz making sex noises with a younger star. On November 9, Ranin Karim, a 34-year-old jewelry designer and actor with a septum piercing and her own sleeves of tattoos, described a monthslong tequila-drenched love affair with Lentz in interviews with The Sun, the New York Post, and others. I froze. You have to choose where your loyalty lies, she recalls him telling her. The Sydney Morning Herald reported in a 2015 investigation of the churchs finances that that figure was likely incomplete, and Houston hasnt disclosed his salary since. The ex-president is expected to enter a plea of not guilty later today, after having his fingerprints and possibly his mug shot taken. Jasons actions have resulted in pain not only for Anna but also his wife Ashley not to mention other family members., Around the same time Crenshaws report was playing out in Australia, several whistleblowers brought complaints to church leadership about the culture at Hillsong NYC. Over months of follow-up meetings, William says, his character was continually attacked and he was called a liar. 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.. She often shares her mental health struggles amid the scandals and allegations regarding her husband. The lights, the rock show, the smoke. The Lentzes loved Virginia BeachCarls parents lived there; they had a house and friends. Shoebridge recalled on the Parliament floor what Brian Houston had once told an alleged victim, who had agreed to a $10,000 payment not to speak out. This is up from about one-quarter in 2021, . If you step out in faith and make that first step with a donation, you will be rewarded and it will come back to you, she says. (A church spokesperson said its global leadership was previously unaware of this incident but learned that Amazing Grace may have been a special request of Lentz for a sermon unrelated to Black History Month.). In leaving Hillsong, Termini joins a growing group of Lentz-connected pastors. June 23, 2021. Carl Lentz's Hillsong Replacement Is Starting a New Church in Hawaii A few months after Lentz was fired and the megachurch's scandals cascaded, John Termini confirmed his departure. In 2015, she said, he began making unwanted sexual advances on her. People are not looking for stale religion, Houston wrote in his 2015 book, Live Love Lead. Before Termini became Lentzs interim replacement at Hillsong, he held jobs as the churchs head of global real estate and director of business development. Tens of thousands of urban evangelical professionals followed Lentz for his soaring sermons at weekly services that resembled rock concerts. Keatinge prompted her to tell her story. His wife of nearly two decades, Laura Lentz, also 43, was pictured dropping off Lentz at the airport and taking her son to school. Having recently sold their home in Montclair, New Jersey, the Lentz family moved to a grand Spanish-style home with a terra-cotta roof and ocean views in Manhattan Beach, California. ), One of the most delicate conversations I had with a former volunteer deals with Pastor Carl, William wrote in the complaint, the existence of which The New York Times first reported in December. According to a 2011 interview with Lentz in The Christian Post, as early 20-something students, Lentz and the younger Houston fantasized about someday teaming up to establish a Hillsong church in New York. Crenshaw felt she couldnt take her complaint to human resources. But Lentzs scandal and subsequent departure caused many of its congregants to reevaluate their relationship with the church. Logging onto Grindr backstage, Abreu saw a screen dotted with fellow volunteers. After the blowup over the attempted White House invitation brought Morrisons ties with Houston into the spotlight, the Australian member of Parliament David Shoebridge argued that Houston failed his fathers victims and pointed to a strong basis for prosecution. ), When there are problems in the flock, you bring it to the shepherds, the letters authors wrote. 2023 Cond Nast. A few years ago, Shnays company, SK Development, along with two other firms, began constructing an office building at 363 Lafayette Street in NoHo that opened in 2018.
