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May 16, 2023 | 12:30 pm
Carl Lentz, the former Hillsong pastor known for standing in the pulpit of a mega-celebrity church, admitted to cheating on his wife with the family’s nanny while he was at the helm of the US-based ministry.
In a new FX documentary, Lentz reveals the ups and downs of leading a successful church for nearly a decade after Hillsong Church expanded from its original Australian roots to New York and the United States.
Lentz became an unexpected “rock star” pastor and made Hillsong famous through his celebrity clientele alone.
Justin Bieber was once a close friend, while Selena Gomez, U2 singer Bono and Kourtney Kardashian have each been spotted once at a Hillsong location.
After ten years at the helm of Lentz, he made an Instagram post in November 2020 admitting his family was leaving the church after he was “unfaithful” in his marriage to his wife Laura.
During the trailer for The Secrets of Hillsong, which drops Friday, Lentz delivered the message, “You don’t want to be in that chair. I can’t stress it enough.”
Cameras zoomed in on Lentz, who wore two gold chains with a heart pendant and a cross.
“I’ve had some big lies,” he said.
Lentz’s reps did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Carl Lentz admitted the ups and downs of being the senior minister of Hillsong Church in the docuseries. Newspix via Getty Images
In his 2020 social media post, Lentz wrote that he, his wife, and their three children were leaving the church after failing to “adequately protect my own spirit, replenish my own soul, and lightly.” available help.” available. When you lead out of an empty space, you make choices that have real and painful consequences.”
In the trailer, Lentz’s wife, Laura, recalls how Carl revealed the truth about his extramarital affair.
“He said, ‘I was unfaithful,'” she said as images from their wedding day flashed in front of the screen.
Carl Lentz cheated on his wife Laura Lentz with a woman named Ranin Karim – their family’s nanny. Charlie Gallay
The pastor was accused of having an affair with a woman named Ranin Karim.
During a video conference call with Hillsong executives ahead of his firing — including Brian Houston, who resigned in 2022 amid allegations of “inappropriate behavior” toward two women — Lentz was also reportedly asked about a relationship with her family’s nanny, Leona Kimes.
“He hadn’t told me that part yet,” Laura said in a preview of the docuseries on People magazine. “Sometimes I had these little feelings. And then one night I found her in a compromising position. I was angry and I definitely freaked out.”
Carl Lentz announces his departure from Hillsong Church in an Instagram post on social media. Instagram
Laura recalled that they “never spoke about the situation again,” but Lentz was fired a month later. In July 2021, Kimes made allegations of sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of the pastor, but did not name him.
According to People, in the upcoming episode, Lentz said that given the scandal and the aftermath of the famous church, he’s “considered going off the planet.”
He also revealed allegations of sexual abuse as a child by a family friend.
Carl Lentz’s Hillsong Church grew tremendously over the years due to the frequent presence of major celebrities. Getty Images
Addressing the allegations in the docuseries, Carl said, “I am responsible for an inappropriate relationship developing in my home with someone who worked for us,” Lentz said, adding, “Any notion of abuse is categorically false.” “
He noted, “There were mutual adult decisions made by two people who lied a lot, mostly to my wife.” That’s a problem because I was a boss, that person was an employee. I am responsible for this power dynamic and its management and the wisdom that comes with it, and I failed miserably.”
Almost two years after Lentz posted about the infidelity, he broke his silence on social media, sharing that his family “are at peace and by the grace of God we are together.”
He recently wrote that his entire focus for the past three years has been “fighting for my wife and children.” To achieve this, the pursuit of sobriety and healing had to go hand in hand with those goals.”
The former pastor noted that “there’s still a long way to go, with a lot of work, a lot of honesty and a lot of prayer,” but Carl and Laura celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. He also added that he is no longer in office, but has since found a relationship with Jesus that he cannot have “from the pulpit.”
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