Carl Lentz once served as a pastor at the well-known Hillsong Cathedral, which has gained prominence for its celebrity membership. 

Celebrities that have been identified as attending the church include Chris Pratt, Justin Bieber, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Selena Gomez, Kevin Durant, and members of the Kardashian and Jenner families. However, an affair scandal-tainted Lentz’s administration.

Early life and education

His full name is Stephen Carl Lentz, and he is a famous American former pastor well-known for being a celebrity preacher. He was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, on November 6, 1978.

Carl studied at North Carolina State University from 1998 to 2000 and played for the basketball team at the university. In 2020, he moved to Los Angeles and continued his studies at The King’s College and Seminary.

While in college, at age 20, he came up with the idea to establish a branch of Hillsong Church in New York City with Joel Houston, son of Hillsong founder Brian Houston. 

After graduating with a degree in theology in 2003, he returned to Virginia Beach and was ordained, eventually becoming a youth pastor.

Ministry

In 2010, Lentz co-established Hillsong NYC in New York City and significantly impacted the church and ministry, particularly among the millennial demographic who were not previously affiliated with a church. 

He also started a trend among younger pastors in fashion, branding, tattoos, hairstyles, clothing, and footwear.

Lentz has had the opportunity to baptize well-known individuals such as Justin Bieber and was present at Kevin Durant’s baptism.

In 2017, Lentz was asked about his stance on abortion during an appearance on The View, but he did not provide a direct answer, stating that “the cultural, religious norm right now is that if you and I disagree, we’re done.”

Eight days later, he released a Twitter statement affirming that he believes abortion is a sin.

In January 2019, he condemned the Reproductive Health Act in the state of New York, which allows abortions after 24 weeks in cases where the fetus is not viable or the pregnancy endangers the mother’s health, as “evil, shameful, and demonic.”

Brian Houston dismissed Carl Lentz on November 4, 2020, who was serving as a global pastor for Hillsong NYC. 

The two had conflicts of trust and faced challenges in leadership. He made headlines again on May 31, 2021, when he was accused of s*xual assault, bullying, and misuse of authority by his former nanny.

The famous ex-pastor tied the knot with Laura Lentz in 2003, and they have three children together named Roman Lentz, Ava Lentz, and Charlie Lentz. According to multiple reports, Carl is currently residing in his Florida home.

The famous ex-pastor has served as a spiritual guide for multiple famous celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Selena Gomez, and Justin Bieber.