![]() “The clips of Lentz’s preaching, both at Wave and Hillsong-which received significantly less circulation than the photos of his abs by non-churchgoers-are amusing to watch, considering how ineloquent, aggressive and unwelcoming he is onstage (not to mention the ridiculously tight clothing).” Despite how often he’s framed as charming and magnetic throughout the doc, his stage presence resembles Tom Cruise in Magnolia. The clips of Lentz’s preaching, both at Wave and Hillsong-which received significantly less circulation than the photos of his abs by non-churchgoers-are amusing to watch, considering how ineloquent, aggressive and unwelcoming he is onstage (not to mention the ridiculously tight clothing). We also see a gross clip of him sharing some advice he learned from his father about women being formed by their fathers and how husbands have to “get in there early.” Basically, the premise of John Mayer’s “Daughters.” Another reveals a time that she was shamed by him for having pre-marital sex, prompting her to marry her boyfriend of only three months. ![]() A former female member vaguely discusses feeling controlled and “put in place” as a woman under his guidance. This is where we’re formally introduced to Lentz, whose track record as a youth pastor at the equally dubious-sounding Wave Church in Virginia Beach prior to Hillsong is revealed by former members and provides some context for his infidelity and scrutinized views on abortion.įor the most part, Lentz is described as being a militant enforcer of purity culture during his tenure at Wave. Enter Hillsong NYC, which began operating out of Irving Plaza in 2010 with lines wrapped around the street. Likewise, as much as the docuseries attempts to present certain aspects of Hillsong as anomalous, anyone who spent time in an evangelical, Baptist or Pentecostal church growing up (or is still a part of one) won’t be shocked to hear about the concept of “prosperity gospel” or the way contemporary-sounding music is utilized to lure young congregants-although, the profits Hillsong turns annually from their record label are much more shocking than your average church with a lively choir.Īs the docuseries puts it, Hillsong and its business-minded, male leadership was always hell-bent on global expansion, with North America as a primary market. We see notable faces like Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker along other white men shouting into a camera. ![]() The “neo-Pentecostal” megachurch rose to prominence amid a wave of “charismatic” churches with a corporate focus and the rise of televangelism. But first, we’re given an introductory look into the conception of Hillsong and its growth as a global brand, which grew out of Sydney Christian Life Centre-led by Houston’s now-deceased father Frank in the ‘80s. Much of Lentz’s undoing is captured in the series’ second episode, and it makes for some of the most compelling minutes. Bieber publicly distanced himself from Lentz in 2021, migrating with many of his famous peers to copycat establishments like Churchome, the controversial Zoe Church, and Kanye West’s Sunday Services. Then came the pastor’s admission during the pandemic that he cheated on his wife Laura Lentz and had been ousted from the church, along with other damning headlines about Hillsong’s financial records, working conditions, and abuse allegations accumulating online. With his hypebeast fashion, “real talk” method of preaching, and A-list followers including Kevin Durant, Selena Gomez and Chris Pratt, his presentation and leadership style was as fascinating as it was grotesque and off-putting. Since entering the public consciousness and experiencing influencer-level fame, Carl Lentz represented the stereotypical image of the young, “hip” pastor grasping for relevance in the social media age while also raising awareness for the Hillsong youth-oriented brand. It turned out the tattooed fellow wasn’t a security guard or Bieber’s fitness trainer but the senior pastor and co-founder of Hillsong NYC, the Australian megachurch’s first branch in the United States and the latest hotspot for celebrity followers of Christ. ![]() Paparazzi photos of the Canadian pop singer strolling around New York and Los Angeles with a jacked, often shirtless Diplo look-alike began to emerge online. We all remember when Justin Bieber found Jesus after some run-ins with the law and pissing in a mop bucket back in the early 2010s. ![]()
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