Disgraced, former Hillsong Pastor Carl Lentz and his spouse Laura Lentz posted a cryptic video on Instagram right this moment, prompting hypothesis on-line that Lentz could also be returning to ministry June 4.
The 18-second video options sounds of town, a thunderstorm, and hearth, together with photos of a subway, Carl and Laura Lentz, a burning bush, and storm clouds. One of many photos is of the Clinton-Washington subway station in New York Metropolis.
The video ends with a black display screen with the date—06.04.
The Roys Report (TRR) reached out to the Lentzes, asking for clarification, however neither one responded.
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Lentz, a star pastor with a half-million followers on Instagram recognized for his shut relationship with Justin Bieber, was fired from Hillsong New York Metropolis in 2020 for “moral failures.”
It later got here out that he had a five-month-long affair with a New York Metropolis designer, Ranin Karim.
Lentz additionally admitted to years-long sexual misconduct with Leona Kimes, his former nanny who served along with her husband, Josh Kimes, as pastors of Hillsong Boston.
In a 2021 article, Kimes wrote that in her time working for the Lentz’s, she was “subjected to manipulation, control, bullying, abuse of power, and sexual abuse.”
Nevertheless, within the docuseries, The Secrets and techniques of Hillsong, Lentz referred to as what occurred with Kimes “an inappropriate relationship,” including that “any notion of abuse is categorically false.”
But consultants on abuse agree that grownup clergy sexual abuse is “any sexualized behavior” by a non secular chief “toward a person under his or her spiritual care.” Due to the imbalance of energy, “there can be no mutual consent to a romantic or sexual relationship.”
Lentz has additionally been accused of spending church cash to fund his lavish way of life, and of fostering a poisonous work tradition the place volunteers have been abused and pastors have been handled like royalty.
Regardless of this, Transformation Church, a megachurch in Tulsa, Oklahoma, pastored by controversial Pastor Michael Todd, employed Lentz final 12 months.
And an affiliate campus pastor at Transformation Church, William Heckenbach, shared the Lentzes’ video on his Instagram story, with the textual content, “SOME OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE! CAN’T WAIT!”
Equally, Rohn Starling, a content material strategist at Transformation Church, additionally shared the Lentz’s video on his story.
A lot of the feedback on the Lentz’s Instagram submit, which garnered greater than 5,500 likes in simply two hours, are optimistic, as effectively.
One individual commented, “I GENUINELY HOPE, it’s what I think it is!!! The Body needs you! Let’s go!”
One other wrote, “Praying for it now and for God to use your marriage, ministry, story, and gifts powerfully.”
Another person prompt the video is referring to Transformation Church NYC.
However not all of the feedback have been optimistic.
One requested, “(W)hy the Clarion call? Why the splash and dazzle. (sic) God draws near to the humble and resists the proud.”
One other posted, “Smh. You are not the event. You are not the main character. You aren’t a brand.”
And nonetheless one other wrote, “Carl ruined his marriage by cheating and @lauralentz should never be okday with this and @carllentz has always been a fake he (sic) hasn’t changed.”
*This story has been up to date.
Julie Roys is a veteran investigative reporter and founding father of The Roys Report. She additionally beforehand hosted a nationwide speak present on the Moody Radio Community, referred to as Up for Debate, and has labored as a TV reporter for a CBS affiliate. Her articles have appeared in quite a few periodicals.
“Well bless their hearts.”
