Carl Lentz fully known as Stephen Carlz Lentz is an American pastor and former lead pastor of Hillsong church New York until 2020. He was fired by Hillsong Global Pastor Brian Houston for “leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures in November 4, 2020.
His popularity is as a result of him being a celebrity pastor, spiritual advisor to celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Kendall Jenner, and Selina Gomez as well as being categorized as a hype-priest by GQ.
Carl Lentz Biography
The celebrity pastor, author and entrepreneur, Pastor Stephen Carl Lentz was born on the 6th of November 1978 in Virginia, United States .
Carl, who is from Virginia Beach, went to Frank W. Cox High School and played basketball there.
He attended North Carolina State University from 1998 to 2000 during which time he played as a walk-on (non-recruited member) for their basketball team.
Mr. Lentz was not a particularly devout person but attended a Baptist church while growing up.
Carl went to church one evening at his parents’ urging to meet Steve, the pastor of the Hillsong Church, who was a guest. After the service, which changed his life, he enrolled in Virginia Wesleyan for his sophomore year.
Although he would subsequently enroll in the Hillsong International Leadership College in Australia, the abrupt changes in his life left him feeling overwhelmed. He went back to America and enrolled in a Bible college in California. Carl received his first tattoo at this time—a sword on fire—near Sunset Boulevard.
A year later he traveled back to Australia to finish his bible studies and met his wife, Laura.
Age
Carl Lentz was born on the 6th of November 1978. Accordingly, he is 44 years old (2022). He marks his birthday on the 6th day of November every year.
Carl Lentz Family Life
Carl Lentz is happily married to his lovely and understanding wife Laura Lentz. Carl met Laura who was a fellow pastor while attending Hillsong College.
Both Carl and Laura have a straightforward, committed faith in Jesus, and they are passionate about sharing the good news in a way that appeals to a generation that is frantically looking for something bigger than themselves. Carl and Laura got married in 2003 and their marriage is blessed with 3 children.
Education
He studied at North Carolina State University from 1998 to 2000. Carl relocated to Los Angeles as an adult to attend The King’s College and Seminary. He subsequently went on to study at Hillsong International Leadership College at Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia.
When he was 20 years old and still in college, him and Joel Houston, the son of Hillsong founder Brian Houston, came up with the concept to start a Hillsong Church campus in New York City.
He returned to Virginia Beach after receiving his theology degree in 2003. There, he was ordained, and he started working with young people.
Ministry
At the age of 20, during his stiudies at Hillsong International Leadership College of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia, Carl Lentz and Joel Houston, Hillsong founder Brian Houston’s son, had the idea to plant a campus of Hillsong Church in New York City. Lentz helped establish Hillsong NYC in New York City in 2010. It was Lentz who baptized Justin Bieber, and also attended Kevin Durant’s baptism. He has made friends with a number of other well-known figures.
Mr. Lentz’s association with Mr. Bieber and other celebrities led to his popularity . He appeared on Kourtney Kardashian’s Instagram and was a guest at Oprah Winfrey’s interview.
Rich Wilkerson Jr., a Miami-based pastor who officiated Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s wedding, was also one of the trendy preachers he socialized with.
Carl Lentz Dress Code
Mr. Lentz was known for his look: tattoos, edgy glasses and not just style but fashion. Women’s Wear Daily described Mr. Lentz’s “uniform” as a Saint Laurent leather jacket, ripped jeans and a low-cut T-shirt. He often sported a Rolex, too. Pastors and other staff members who arrived at Hillsong wearing traditional suits and ties often gradually started to dress like Mr. Lentz, and even imitate his Southern-inflected accent.
Carl Lentz Affair / Scandal and Dismisal
On November 4, 2020, Brian Houston, Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong announced through a church newsletter that he had fired Lentz. The reason for Lentz’s removal was cited as “leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures.”Lentz accepted engaging in an unfaithful act. Carl Lentz wife’s employment with the church was also terminated despite her own conduct not being an issue.
Carl Lentz Sexual assault allegation by Leona Kimes
The dismissed Hillsong Church pastor Carl was on May 31, 2021, accused by Leona Kimes of “manipulation, control, bullying, abuse of power, and sexual abuse” toward her. Kimes worked as the Lentz family nanny and alleges that the assaults happened from 2011 to 2017
Net Worth
Information relating the net worth of Carl Lentz is currently not available. However, some sources did say that Carl was worth about $700k – $800k USD in 2020. The only verifiable information is that Carl has made fortune for himself.
Social Media
Instagram: @carllentz
Twitter: @carllentzNYC
