Mr. Lentz seemed to surround himself with people primarily concerned with protecting his reputation. "When we talk about Carl and purity, wolf in sheep's clothing is honestly the mental picture I get," said Jaclyn Hayes, a former member of Wave Church, the Virginia church where Lentz preached before joining Hillsong. Pastor Sam is often found on campus casually hanging out in his flip flops, laughing really loud and fellowshipping with everyone. According to the series, at least eight men have come forward with accusations of abuse by Frank Houston between 1965 and 1977. The docuseries concluded by drawing a direct line to Frank Houston, who died in 2004. "This is the devil calling the devil the devil," said Carson. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? Mr. Houstons father was accused in the late 1990s of sexually abusing a young boy decades earlier. Flush with royalties totaling a reported $100 million per year, Brian pursued aggressive expansion for Hillsong throughout the '90s and early 2000s while also cultivating its growing network of colleges, annual conferences and more. They wanted to protect the founder of Hillsong. Ever wonder what it means to follow Jesus? The recent series of scandals have really damaged any trust in the church. Anna called the tweet "victim-shaming," and Ed thought it was "atrocious to refer to a previous victimization as a way of diminishing the impact of her current situation." At that point, the college told Anna she would need to file a report with local police, she claimed in the docuseries. ", Sengstock was to be paid $10,000 AUD (about $11,500 in U.S. dollars today) but he had to follow up with Brian to receive his payment, the series stated. He was also suspended without pay for a year by Hillsong. I think people like him are just very intuitive of where they can go to prey.". Her gentle spirit and compassionate nature represent a true pastor's heart! I would have liked to say this with my voice, to you, in person because you are owed that. On Wednesday, just one day before the premiere of the docuseries, it was announced that Houston had resigned following complaints that he behaved inappropriately towards two women in two separate incidents. Hillside Church of God, Sunday Night, 4-30-23, Pastor Alvin Radford Darlene Radford 21 subscribers Subscribe 0 Share No views 55 seconds ago We do not own the copyright to this music. But, let's face it, they're not coming there for sound doctrine, they're not coming there to be fed the Word, they're coming there to see the cool Carl Lentz. Together it is our mission to love God as we lead others into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Rev. Find out more about Hillside Church. "So you started to understand this person cannot lose a battle. Below, read some of the bombshell claims made by former Hillsong churchgoers and employees, not only against the organization but also specifically founder Brian Houston, in the docuseries. David Shoebridge, a member of the New South Wales Parliament's Legislative Council, spoke to Frank's "deeply, deeply troubling background," including allegations of abuse going back to his days with the Assemblies of God (a precursor to Hillsong) in his native New Zealand. Amid Hillsong Churchs numerous ongoing scandals, the singer went on social media to continue distancing himself from his former place of worship and correct some false tabloid narratives about his career trajectory. In case it wasnt 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 new year by clearing up any ambiguity about his megachurch allegiances. When that does not happen, a change needs to be made and has been made in this case to ensure that standard is upheld. If convicted he faces up to five years in prison. Learn more about our team at Hillside Church of Bloomington, located in Bloomington, MN. Rupert Murdoch and Ann Lesley Smith Call Off Their Engagement. Carl Lentz, speaking at Hillsong NYC, became not just a friend to celebrities but a celebrity himself. The 23-year-old singer left the tour because he rededicated his life to Christ thanks to a pastor named Carl Lentz, leader of the New York City branch of the global megachurch Hillsong. Mr. Lentz was known for his look: tattoos, edgy glasses and not just style but fashion. Associate Pastor. This story has been shared 387,646 times. To our pastors Brian and Bobbie, thank you for allowing us to lead, allowing us to thrive and giving us room to have a voice that you have never stifled or tried to silence. A culture that worshiped wealth, while making volunteers cater to leaders as royalty. Soon, volunteers began to question the celebrity-focused nature of services, including a VIP section that everyday worshipers were forbidden to enter. The. Your ministry is now eroded, it's built on sand in a lot of ways," said Kirby. He often sported a Rolex, too. When you lead out of an empty place, you make choices that have real and painful consequences. Soon, though, she realized, she was "just an add-on" for Lentz and that "his persona brought chaos into my life," she explained. ", Said Levin, "The bullying, the intimidation, the fear it's very, very real.". Leading this church has been an honor in every sense of the word and it is impossible to articulate how much we have loved and will always love the amazing people in this church. According to Ed, a senior pastor at Victory Church in Philadelphia, it helped the church "get off the hook a little bit from some cultural issues, culture within the church.". Even in the contemporary era of megachurches, Hillsong stands apart. CAROL MADISON. And a sense that for all the celebrity surrounding the church, its soul was harder to find. Jesus is a core value., The church has contracted with a New York law firm to conduct what Mr. Houston described as an independent investigation of Carls leadership of Hillsong New York, and culture of the church during that time.. But on the tabloid website TMZ, a more hopeful narrative quickly emerged. ", In episode 2, journalist and Beyond Belief author Elle Hardy noted that Brian "built [Hillsong] up from 45 people in a school hall in western Sydney. Shoebridge cited close "connections" between Hillsong and the former police commissioner in New South Wales, as well as the state's former premiere (governor) and prime minister. The docuseries then provided a statement: "Producers of this series spoke with two former volunteers who brought multiple reports of sexual impropriety against Carl Lentz to Hillsong leadership in 2017. People are a core value. However unfortunately he failed to take all of the agreed steps which resulted in further action being taken by the board in late 2021.. It was largely business as usual on the network after its historic defamation suit with Dominion Voting Systems, which will not be seeing any on-air apologies, came to an abrupt end. Soon after, the two churches merged and were renamed Hillsong. The three-part docuseries out now has examined this trajectory and more. They were significant. But sexual infidelity was only one piece of the story. Hillside Covenant Church 2060 Magnolia Way, Walnut Creek, CA 94595-1696. Click on a pastor's picture to automatically compose an email to their personal inbox. And it is a sound, too. Pastora has been serving with Iglesia Emanuel since 2009 and has been leading the congregation since 2013. HAVE NO DESIRE FOR THAT THIS IS FAKE NEWS, followed by another story that read, AND BTW HILLSONG IS NOT MY CHURCH.. FOR CLARITY I AM A PART OF CHURCHOME. Churchome is another celebrity-beloved nondenominational megachurch that believes that Jesus perfectly reveals the true heart of God. Bieber also added that, Church is not a place. Church The corollary of union with Jesus Christ . The founding pastors, Brian and Bobbie Houston, took Lentzs termination as a church hypepriest personally, with Brian writing in his email, While I have no doubt in my heart that this is the right course of action, I must mention Bobbies and my personal sadness, as we have known Laura her entire life and Carl for well over 20 years.. Sunday morning services incorporate a casual atmosphere, a blended style of praise and worship music, and relevant teaching. Mid Week. This failure is on me, and me alone and I take full responsibility for my actions. After she was called in for two additional interviews and saw that Jason had faced no public consequences for the incident, Anna said she realized, "Okay, they are not on my side." They wrote out the terms of the deal on a paper napkin at McDonald's, a move Shoebridge said demonstrated "the contempt that Hillsong showed to this victim. Pastor Brian Houston, 68, announced this January that he had made the decision to "step aside completely" from leadership of the multinational church that he and wife Bobbie founded in 1983. Check-In Give Events Livestream More. Indeed, the notoriety became so great for Hillsong's musical offerings, which were and continue to be consciously modeled after contemporary hits, that Houston officially renamed the church Hillsong in 2001. He said he had three meetings with Mr. Lentz over the summer to discuss leadership issues.. (Brian "absolutely 100%" denied that during his testimony before the Royal Commission.). We are thankful for a legacy of godly leadership at Hillside Church. Womens Wear Daily described Mr. Lentzs uniform as a Saint Laurent leather jacket, ripped jeans and a low-cut T-shirt. Our pastors understand that a healthy church has mature lay leaders who are empowered and equipped for a ministry of leadership and service. They have two small boys and have been serving Hillside Church since 2014. Skip to content. Be the light. On Oct. 22, a staff member at the church office in Manhattan found intimate text messages on Mr. Lentzs work computer. Both sources have since left the church. When he did appear on Sundays, he rarely mixed with churchgoers. Hillsong finally found a place in the global zeitgeist in 2017, thanks in large part to celebrity pastor Carl Lentz's bond with Justin Bieber. He described Hillsong East Coast as pioneers and fighters who had built Hillsongs presence in America from scratch. The sources allege that they were accused of fabricating the accusations and were dismissed from their positions in the church. All three hours of Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed can now be streamed on discovery+. But as Mr. Lentzs profile rose, many congregants felt the focus on fame and cultural power that had helped the church grow was overwhelming its spiritual mission. 7:00 PM. Pastor Sam is a graduate of Biola University and received his M.Div. He stepped away from what happened in New Zealand to expand the market in Australia. Anyone can read what you share. Wednesday. Learn More WATCH OUR LATEST MESSAGE She said she reported the accusation that December to Margaret Aghajanian, Hillsong's head of Pastoral Care, by reading a statement she had written out. Johnny became Worship Leader at Hillside at the beginning 2018 and has blessed the congregation with a worshipful and compassionate heart along with skillfully leading the worship band. The Lentzes have two daughters and a son. Bieber was the most prominent celebrity member of the beleaguered megachurch. The pastor and the pop star were inseparable, the gossip site reported. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The pastor of Maricopa Community Church has been charged with a felony stemming from allegations he inappropriately touched and kissed a 12-year-old girl while giving her a driving lesson. ), Anna believed a double standard was at play: "If a student does something wrong, whether that is get drunk or they sleep with their partner, they're sent home. Join Us This Weekend! Hillside Evangelical Free Church Jul 2016 - Present6 years 10 months San Jose, CA Hillside refers to the location of our campus on Communication Hill in South San Jose. The two became so close that Mr. Bieber moved in with the Lentz family temporarily in 2014. That it honors the church, and that it honors God. Carl Lentz preached to millennials, and counted Justin Bieber as a follower. Hillsong, Once a Leader of Christian Cool, Loses Footing in America. It's part of a strategy," said Boz Tchividjian, an attorney advocate for abuse survivors. I now begin a journey of rebuilding trust with my wife, Laura and my children and taking real time to work on and heal my own life and seek out the help that I need. In his Instagram post, Lentz admitted he had cheated on his wife, Laura. The investigation by the integrity unit appointed by the global board found that the conduct was of serious concern, it said. That all stems from the top.". May-be, La Jolla Playhouses immersive La Lucha finds heartbreak and mystery in the world of lucha libre wrestling. God may be forgiving, but Hillsong Church seems less so. Dedicated to teaching Biblical prin Hillside Tabernacle City of Faith | Altadena CA "The goal of Hillsong is to stay current," said Kelsey McKinney, author of God Spare the Girls. This is a hard ending to what has been the most amazing, impacting and special chapter of our lives , he wrote on Instagram. We, the Lentz family, dont know what this next chapter will look like, but we will walk into it together very hopeful and grateful for the grace of God.. A post shared by Carl Lentz (@carllentz) on Nov 5, 2020 at 12:12pm PST. The family behind Hillsong Church had been mapping out its course to "take over the world" for decades, an insider explained in the discovery+ docuseries . "If the church's whole thing is based on that one guy or girl [they are always] one misstep away from literally imploding the entire thing. "We have. Thank you! The members of Open Table would vote to transfer their assets to join Hillside. Paparazzi have photographed Mr. Lentz riding his bicycle, taking an evening stroll with his family and meditating shirtless on the beach. And I was like, Wow, that's a slap in the face. "I mean, it's such, like, a PR-ified Instagram caption on a sweet photo of his family, trying to play it down as much as possible, but it's pretty bad. "They know that they were sitting on it, hoping that the problem would just go away, minimizing the problem, continuing to question her, continuing to make her tell her story over and over again," said Ed. History has a horrible, horrible, horrible habit of repeating. Pastor Art was born and raised in El Sereno. 146 Mont Belvieu, Tx 77535. Jonah has been in church his whole life but really began to feel a call into ministry during his eighth grade year. Youth Pastor Jim Wilson "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. A church that started as series of small group meetings in apartments across the city began gathering at the downtown concert venue Irving Plaza, then at the larger Hammerstein Ballroom, and then at United Palace, a venue that advertises itself as Manhattans fourth-largest theater. Doug Manson Lead Pastor Pastor Doug and his wife, Brie, have lived and served in Petaluma for almost all of their lives. It is serious. Carl Lentz, former pastor of Hillsong NYC oversaw a church where sexual misconduct and abuse were common, according to a report leaked to The Christian Post. ", Calling Lentz's intentions "inherently duplicitous or hypocritical," Coleman continued, "The motivation seems to have been to use celebrity, to use glamor, to amass a following, to amass power, to amass fame. He played basketball at North Carolina State University before dropping out. It is something they take really seriously. Get our L.A. Coincidentally he is an avid Large Mouth Bass Fisherman, who is now a "Fisher of Men," who actually grew up on El Pescador Ln (The Fisherman's Lane). ", (According to producers, Carl Lentz and Brian Houston have not responded to requests for comment regarding allegations in the docuseries. KARA SKOGG. On Wednesday, Religion News Service first revealed the scandal via an email to members of megachurch Hillsong regarding his dismissal. "For a good many years, Brian Houston has proven to be successful in terms of systemic cover-up," said Shoebridge, "but then thankfully we had the Royal Commission, and they really lifted the lid on exactly what went on in Hillsong. "He kept saying a lot that we were so similar, me and him, that we found each other because we were both broken," said Karim. [Now] he's got churches in 130 countries and 150,000 a week, and he will protect the brand at all costs. ", Hillsong addressed the program, telling the docuseries it was intended "to gauge suitability and preparedness to undertake a vocation with high moral and professional standards. Please understand that it would not be appropriate for us to go into detail about the events that led to this decision. (Aghajanian did not return PEOPLE's request for comment. According to Sengstock's testimony, when Sengstock reached Brian, he said, "You know, it's all of your fault that this happened you tempted my father." Lentz, Houston, and Hillsong did not immediately return PEOPLE's requests for comment. And the formula works. Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed on discovery+ probes the culture and personalities including embattled founder Brian Houston and disgraced pastor Carl Lentz behind the global religious phenomenon. Mr. Houston pressed his father, who has since died, into retirement when he found out. The association with Mr. Bieber catapulted Mr. Lentz, 42, into a new stratosphere of fame, in which he became not just a friend to celebrities but a celebrity himself. Pastor Tim is the lead pastor of Hillside Church. ", Shoebridge added, "The records of Hillsong show that [Brian Houston] and the governing council of Hillsong were very much aware and indeed discussed and debated the fact that Brett Sengstock had come forward and disclosed the abuse by Frank Houston. Two of the megachurchs lead pastors from their Dallas branch, Reed Bogard and his wife Jess Bogard, made an announcement during their Sunday sermon, saying, 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 this next season holds for us. For more than a decade, the couple, who first met at Hillsong International Leadership College, had served in various staff roles at the church across three of its American branches, but they said the experience has really taken a bit of a toll on Jess and I, on our family. They gave no further explanation for their sudden departure. Episode 1 traced the roots of the modern Hillsong Church to New Zealand, where Frank Houston began his ministry. "I'm going to have to be a bit of a cynic, given that I feel very sure that it was part of the Hillsong strategy to attract celebrities and to make them sort of front and center of their branding. Loving faces all around, amazingly talented singers, and a . No pastor of a big church can have personal relationships with every parishioner. Hillsong confirmed the existence of this letter to Vanity Fair, adding that after a three-month inquiry into the claims, it learned that some of the allegations were true.. When that does not happen, a change needs to be made and has been made in this case to ensure that standard is upheld.. Ms. Lagata, a former volunteer, said that when high-profile entertainers or sports stars would try to slip into the main seating area, content to worship with ordinary churchgoers, ushers were often instructed to guide them to the special section in front, or to whisk them backstage to meet Mr. Lentz. View All Locations Online Rancho Cucamonga Office Hours 5354 Haven Avenue Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday (909) 980-2191 info@hillsidechurches.com Prayer Messages Events / Calendar Blog 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. When you lead out of an empty place, you make choices that have real and painful consequences, he wrote. One Sunday evening a few weeks after Mr. Lentzs departure, John Termini, an executive pastor, spoke to the church about its future, acknowledging its recent difficulties. And when you want to transform society, you want to transform it in your own image.". To our pastors Brian and Bobbie, thank you for allowing us to lead, allowing us to thrive and giving us room to have a voice that you have never stifled or tried to silence. Ultimately Lentz's undoing at Hillsong came because he was "unfaithful" to his wife of 17 years, Laura, which he publicly acknowledged in 2020. Per the lawsuit, that meant CMA had the "responsibility of governing the church," its assets, and liabilities. A day after it was revealed that celebrity pastor Carl Lentz was fired from star-studded Hillsong for leadership issues and breaches of trust, the specifics of his moral failures have come to light: Lentz cheated on his wife. The. Instead of old hymns and dry sermons on Sunday morning, Hillsong and the churches like it offer a slick concert punctuated by a message that often sounds more like a self-help seminar. Hillsong had another exponential burst when they opened their New York City location in 2008 and brought on pastor Carl Lentz, a rising star who had received training from Hillsong College. We exist to glorify God through Just three years later, Bieber had moved on, Lentz had left the church in disgrace, and Hillsong's leadership was on the cusp of a dramatic shakeup in the wake of criminal sex abuse concealment charges. ", Said Karim, "He just doesn't know how to have compassion [for] others because he thinks he's the only one who suffers.". The churchs bands have won a Grammy. His hearing regarding his alleged cover-up of his father's abuse has been slated to begin on Dec. 2, per the Daily Mail. He is an entrepreneur by trade who has a passion for Theology, Apologetics, and Biblical Ministry. Following investigation of the second incident, he agreed to take specific action including stepping down from leadership for a period. When leaked audio of Hillsong leadership's conversations about Lentz's "narcissistic behavior" and his firing hit YouTube, it raised eyebrows among some members of the church and media, according to the docuseries. Surprise! We apologise unreservedly to the people affected by Pastor Brians actions and commit to being available for any further assistance we can provide.. Stephen McCurtis, 68, admitted kissing the girl on the mouth, according to sheriff's . But students claimed they didn't have the option of hiding anything when it came to their personal lives. But more than that, many were concerned about the growing cult of personality forming around Lentz and how Brian Houston would respond to Lentz's perceived power eclipsing his own. Looking back on this experience, I do believe that it is the beginning of a brainwashing process. The couple and their three children have since decamped to Southern California. Fox News Mostly Avoids Airing How It Paid Out $787 Million For Spreading Election Lies. The board said the first incident occurred approximately a decade ago, in which inappropriate text messages from Houston were sent to a staff member, which subsequently resulted in the employee resigning. Lentz baptized Bieber in 2014 in an NBA players custom-built bathtub, he told GQ, and the two guys were best buds for years. Ms. McClanahan recalled attending, along with Ms. Lentz, a birthday party for a pastors wife in a private room at a Williamsburg restaurant, and seeing a friend who was a church volunteer sitting at the edge of the room. John Bingham, pastor of the Hillside Baptist Church, Springfield, Missouri, was born in Ennis, Texas. A day after it was revealed that celebrity pastor Carl Lentz was fired from star-studded Hillsong for "leadership issues and breaches of. Finally, in October 2018, then church pastor and President Kennedy filed papers to transfer the property to Hillside Church of CMA. ", Former Hillsong Sydney member Tanya Levin affirmed, "Music is a really huge department because it's so critical to [the church's power of] hypnosis. In 2015, the Royal Commission found Brian guilty of failing to report his knowledge of the abuse. Christie DZurilla covers breaking entertainment news. That year Hillsong and Mr. Lentz became a fixture on TMZ, always in flattering items citing unnamed sources. Currently he is a part of the pastoral staff at Hillside LA and also founder of the non-profit Project Prodigal. Draft preview mode. Ranin Karim, a jewelry designer in Brooklyn, told The Times that she had been in a relationship with Mr. Lentz since May, and that Mr. Lentz called her in late October to tell her their messages had been discovered. A survivor of sexual assault, Krawczyk felt victim-blamed: "They never brought it up to me that it wasn't my fault. On Monday, Bieber posted a screenshot of a Page Six headline from last week to his Instagram Stories, proclaiming that hes studying to be a minister for Hillsong church. He wrote in all caps over the headline: IM [sic] NOT STUDYING TO BE A MINISTER OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE TO THAT. Hillside Church Mark Miltimore Current Workplace Mark Miltimore has been working as a Lead Pastor - Pastors at Hillside Church for 17 years. Following media reports on Friday, the church's global board said in a statement that Houston had breached Hillsong's pastor code of conduct in two incidents over the past decade. "It's always [hanging] over your head. I was unfaithful in my marriage, the most important relationship in my life and held accountable for that. Lanford previously worked at Entertainment Weekly, NBC News and Ralph Lauren, to name a few. They really do believe that they need to conquer Earth in order to make Heaven on Earth. Lentz was allegedly known at Wave as being vehement about abstinence and purity even though some claim it was an open secret that he was a womanizer. But that opportunity I will not have. Hillside LA, 2241 N. Eastern Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90032 info@hillsidela.org, CHILDRENS SERVICE (Nursery - High School): 11:00AM-12:30PM, Hillside LA, 2241 N. Eastern Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90032, United States. It was on that day that, as a child, he trusted Christ as his personal Saviour. The pair undertook a five-month affair after meeting in a park one Friday in May 2019, she claimed. '", This magnetism especially appealed to Brian Houston, who'd had "upfront, explicit intentions to take over the world with his church for 30 years now," said Levin, "and I think when he saw Carl Lentz, he realized he'd hit the jackpot.". ), Ed drew a parallel between his daughter's experience and what happened with Lentz, calling them "closely connected" because "when [church leaders] obviously have desire to protect themselves more than help the victim, then that becomes problematic. Lentz helped open the Australia-born ministrys Hillsong East Coast branch in New York City in 2010. Hillsong said Houston remains on a period of leave. The 92-year-old media mogul announced his engagement to the 66-year-old former dental hygienist a scant two weeks ago, following last years divorce from his fourth wife, Jerry Hall. Hillside Community Church Calendar . Laura and I and our amazing children have given all that we have to serve and build this church and over the years I did not do an adequate job of protecting my own spirit, refilling my own soul and reaching out for the readily available help that is available. In his statement to The Times, Mr. Houston described the dismissal as the culmination of long-simmering frustration with Mr. Lentzs leadership.

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