Pastor Carl Lentz strides though his Williamsburg loft apartment, a brightly lit home overlooking the East River. “Let’s get comfortable,” he says, planting his Starbucks on the coffee table—easier said than done, since we’re surrounded by a bustling team of producers, technicians and cameramen.
CNN is doing a story on him and the explosive growth of Hillsong NYC, the church Lentz pastors. Producers and cameramen are scurrying around both the apartment and his office, located only a floor down.
It’s not a normal day, but nothing to be surprised by, either. In the past three years, 35-year-old Lentz has watched over 240,000 people walk through Hillsong NYC’s doors. An average of 5,050 New Yorkers and visitors attend five Sunday services weekly.
Perhaps most jaw-droppingly, almost 41,000 men and women have given their lives to Christ.
A New York Apostle
In person, Lentz presents an intimidating figure, tall and resembling a sort of hipster Greek statue complete with a scruffy beard, long chain necklace and biblically themed tattoos.
Labeled a “celebrity pastor,” “Jesus Christ’s Superstar” and “apostle of cool” among other things, Lentz lives a lifestyle of constant scrutiny and pressure, yet his congregants and staffers say he’s one of the most humble men they know. He has faced controversy from every side: criticized by both the secular world for his Jesus talk and by fellow Christians for his controversial style; a style that includes, among other things, a commitment to not talk about “behavior modification” from the pulpit.
His charisma and message have gained the attention of media outlets, such as Details magazine, The Huffington Post and the Associated Press. He even did an interview with Katie Couric. He posts exuberant messages to his vast (and star-studded) collection of Twitter and Instagram followers
But he puts everyone at ease with encouraging words. To me, he jokes: “You look like you belong—do you live in Brooklyn?” No, but that’s high praise coming from one of the most stylish boroughs in the city.
You can learn a lot about a person by what they value. If you spend more than five minutes with Lentz, you quickly pick up on what seem to be his four defining loves: Jesus, family, other people and basketball. One of those things will bleed into any conversation he has—and it’s usually the first.
Family Time
For Lentz, each week has time set aside for these four loves. One day a week is reserved for highly protected family time. Lentz often talks about his love for his wife, Laura. They met while attending Hillsong Leadership College outside of Sydney, Australia.
Hillsong NYC doesn’t believe women belong in the background at church.
“Laura’s voice is just as strong as mine, and that’s cool for a lot of women to see that,” Lentz says.
The couple has three children: Ava Angel (9), Charlie (7) and Roman (4). Raising three kids in New York City makes family conversations lively and interesting. Lentz will often sit down with the girls after school and ask: “How was your day? What did you hear? How are you feeling? What did you learn?” It’s his single favorite pastime, he says: sitting with them and listening to their interpretations of life.
It’s one of Lentz’s more endearing traits: his refusal to put his family in his career’s backseat.
“Balance is a funny word,” he says. “I don’t want to do it all at the same time. My calling is not to Hillsong NYC, my calling is to serve Jesus and be a good husband and a father. If I do that right, the church ends up being fine.
“On Sundays, there are church services and children priorities—both important in this season of life. Only one is urgent.”
Celebrity Spottings
The day I visit Lentz is staff day, where he “keeps the pulse of the church” by meeting with key leaders in the church’s apartment-turned-office. He sits on the couch facing a circle of 20-plus staff members—only eight of them on payroll—and guides the meeting along jovially.
The CNN cameras don’t change the atmosphere much. I pass The Carrie Diaries’ AnnaSophia Robb in the hallway talking with some other staffers. She’s an involved member at Hillsong NYC.
Movie stars and famous athletes are regular attendees at Hillsong NYC, and while that’s become a popular talking point among media outlets, Lentz gets defensive when discussing his celebrity friends. He hates to be called a celebrity pastor. “Who’s a celebrity? Who’s not? Why does it matter to you?” he asks. “We believe everybody should be celebrated.”
Since New York City draws celebrities and the spotlight, it’s not surprising that many celebrities need a place to call their church home without being treated differently. One of Lentz’s best friends is NBA star Kevin Durant. Tyson Chandler, Jeremy Lin, Vanessa Hudgens and Scooter Braun (Justin Bieber’s manager) are regular attendees, as well.
As for Bieber himself, his friendship with Lentz has been well-documented. Pastor Judah Smith, Bieber’s pastor, is one of Lentz’s best friends, and Lentz says that he has been able to be a friend to Smith by being a friend to Bieber.
“I talk to him every week,” he says. “Justin is a friend of mine, and I love him. Ailments, wounds and all. Just like my friends love me.”
Of this friend in particular, Lentz is deeply protective.
“To the critic of Justin Bieber, I would say ‘Let’s follow you around for a day, shine a light on your soul ... Matter of fact, let’s go back to when you were 18, 19. How were you living?’” he asks.
His Testimony
There was a time when Lentz probably wouldn’t have wanted someone examining his life.
He was raised in Virginia Beach, Va., taught to know Jesus personally, beyond simply religious rituals, by his deeply religious parents. He sums up his story in a simple phrase: “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return.”
But in high school, while attending the First Baptist Church of Norfolk, he began to feel disconnected. Like many teenagers, he attempted to “do his own thing,” while church became optional.
But, “I always knew there was something better than that,” he says.
Around his sophomore year at NC State, Lentz realized that he was missing some part of the goodness of God. He rededicated his life to Christ and felt God telling him to leave NC State. “What’s it worth it if I go to NC State, play basketball, and lose my soul?” he recalls.
Back in Virginia, he dove into church work and studying the Bible afresh. At age 20, he crossed the country to The King’s University Seminary in Los Angeles, Calif., eventually moving to Sydney’s Hillsong Leadership College.
Lentz met Laura at the college and the couple returned to Virginia Beach, Va., where they taught at Wave Church. His friend (and current co-pastor) Hillsong United’s Joel Houston, approached him one day and suggested that they start a Hillsong church in New York City.
The day I visit Lentz is staff day, where he “keeps the pulse of the church” by meeting with key leaders in the church’s apartment-turned-office. He sits on the couch facing a circle of 20-plus staff members—only eight of them on payroll—and guides the meeting along jovially.
The CNN cameras don’t change the atmosphere much. I pass The Carrie Diaries’ AnnaSophia Robb in the hallway talking with some other staffers. She’s an involved member at Hillsong NYC.
Movie stars and famous athletes are regular attendees at Hillsong NYC, and while that’s become a popular talking point among media outlets, Lentz gets defensive when discussing his celebrity friends. He hates to be called a celebrity pastor. “Who’s a celebrity? Who’s not? Why does it matter to you?” he asks. “We believe everybody should be celebrated.”
Since New York City draws celebrities and the spotlight, it’s not surprising that many celebrities need a place to call their church home without being treated differently. One of Lentz’s best friends is NBA star Kevin Durant. Tyson Chandler, Jeremy Lin, Vanessa Hudgens and Scooter Braun (Justin Bieber’s manager) are regular attendees, as well.
As for Bieber himself, his friendship with Lentz has been well-documented. Pastor Judah Smith, Bieber’s pastor, is one of Lentz’s best friends, and Lentz says that he has been able to be a friend to Smith by being a friend to Bieber.
“I talk to him every week,” he says. “Justin is a friend of mine, and I love him. Ailments, wounds and all. Just like my friends love me.”
Of this friend in particular, Lentz is deeply protective.
“To the critic of Justin Bieber, I would say ‘Let’s follow you around for a day, shine a light on your soul ... Matter of fact, let’s go back to when you were 18, 19. How were you living?’” he asks.
His Testimony
There was a time when Lentz probably wouldn’t have wanted someone examining his life.
He was raised in Virginia Beach, Va., taught to know Jesus personally, beyond simply religious rituals, by his deeply religious parents. He sums up his story in a simple phrase: “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return.”
But in high school, while attending the First Baptist Church of Norfolk, he began to feel disconnected. Like many teenagers, he attempted to “do his own thing,” while church became optional.
But, “I always knew there was something better than that,” he says.
Around his sophomore year at NC State, Lentz realized that he was missing some part of the goodness of God. He rededicated his life to Christ and felt God telling him to leave NC State. “What’s it worth it if I go to NC State, play basketball, and lose my soul?” he recalls.
Back in Virginia, he dove into church work and studying the Bible afresh. At age 20, he crossed the country to The King’s University Seminary in Los Angeles, Calif., eventually moving to Sydney’s Hillsong Leadership College.
Lentz met Laura at the college and the couple returned to Virginia Beach, Va., where they taught at Wave Church. His friend (and current co-pastor) Hillsong United’s Joel Houston, approached him one day and suggested that they start a Hillsong church in New York City.
(A-)typical Sunday
Loving people is Lentz’s heartbeat. He preaches both from the pulpit (figuratively—there is rarely a physical pulpit in sight) and to those around him that Jesus said the most important thing in life is to love God and love your neighbor.
“We get lost in other things all the time. To me, following Jesus isn’t easy, but it’s simple,” he says. However, love doesn’t mean just letting things go, he says, it means discerning whether to open your mouth or shut your mouth, open your door to another person or shut your door.
This message is what seems to draw thousands.
One New Yorker who had been attending Hillsong NYC for two and a half years says she chose the church because she was able to get involved quickly and because she loves Lentz.
“He’s humble and passionate,” she says.
He’s able to maintain his zealousness for over 12 hours at the five different services on a Sunday, either leading services or preaching.
Last March, Hillsong NYC celebrated their third year in the city. In that time, the church has outgrown their famed “church in a club” venue at Irving Plaza, and moved uptown.
The new venue hardly affects the expected environment. As a music video plays in the Manhattan Center ballroom, the room darkens and the techno pop music soars. Visitors snap pictures, and a miniature mosh pit forms at the front of the room. A burst of confetti shoots into the audience and the worship team comes onto the stage, with an informal choir energetically dancing and singing upstage: “Dance the night away/We have found our place/In the Savior’s grace/ Dance the night away/Your light is taking over me.”
During the mid-service meet-and-greet, ushers pass around cups of water and gummy bears. Lentz dishes out a lot of memorable one-liners: “You don’t even have to believe what we believe here to belong here,” he says.
If his goal is to make the many visitors feel welcome and intrigued—and shocked out of their stereotypes of Christianity—he accomplishes it.
Although energy and passion pour out of any Hillsong NYC event, not all have a concert feel. Lentz’s favorite meeting is the Exchange Bible Study. In an old Lutheran church building, Lentz perches on a stool up front and leads a Q&A for over an hour.
With thousands of new believers to equip, the leadership staff has their work cut out for them. At the Exchange, a simple acoustic set leads into an evening of teaching. “It’s very, very unspectacular,” Lentz says.
Loving people is Lentz’s heartbeat. He preaches both from the pulpit (figuratively—there is rarely a physical pulpit in sight) and to those around him that Jesus said the most important thing in life is to love God and love your neighbor.
“We get lost in other things all the time. To me, following Jesus isn’t easy, but it’s simple,” he says. However, love doesn’t mean just letting things go, he says, it means discerning whether to open your mouth or shut your mouth, open your door to another person or shut your door.
This message is what seems to draw thousands.
One New Yorker who had been attending Hillsong NYC for two and a half years says she chose the church because she was able to get involved quickly and because she loves Lentz.
“He’s humble and passionate,” she says.
He’s able to maintain his zealousness for over 12 hours at the five different services on a Sunday, either leading services or preaching.
Last March, Hillsong NYC celebrated their third year in the city. In that time, the church has outgrown their famed “church in a club” venue at Irving Plaza, and moved uptown.
The new venue hardly affects the expected environment. As a music video plays in the Manhattan Center ballroom, the room darkens and the techno pop music soars. Visitors snap pictures, and a miniature mosh pit forms at the front of the room. A burst of confetti shoots into the audience and the worship team comes onto the stage, with an informal choir energetically dancing and singing upstage: “Dance the night away/We have found our place/In the Savior’s grace/ Dance the night away/Your light is taking over me.”
During the mid-service meet-and-greet, ushers pass around cups of water and gummy bears. Lentz dishes out a lot of memorable one-liners: “You don’t even have to believe what we believe here to belong here,” he says.
If his goal is to make the many visitors feel welcome and intrigued—and shocked out of their stereotypes of Christianity—he accomplishes it.
Although energy and passion pour out of any Hillsong NYC event, not all have a concert feel. Lentz’s favorite meeting is the Exchange Bible Study. In an old Lutheran church building, Lentz perches on a stool up front and leads a Q&A for over an hour.
With thousands of new believers to equip, the leadership staff has their work cut out for them. At the Exchange, a simple acoustic set leads into an evening of teaching. “It’s very, very unspectacular,” Lentz says.
Hard Days
It’s hard to believe that there are any unspectacular days at Hillsong NYC, which caters to a city that never sleeps. But there are hard days.
In the beginning of starting Hillsong NYC, Lentz preached at seven services in one day, the last one ending at 11:30 p.m.
“When you think about going on an extended camping trip and you hate camping, you know it’s time to slow down,” he says. Quickly, the church raised up a strong team, and now Lentz rarely speaks more than three consecutive Sundays.
When a movement explodes like Hillsong NYC has, the city takes notice. And when New York takes notice, the world takes notice. Although this opens up ministry opportunities, it also subjects Lentz to criticism from all sides.
“My biggest challenge is to remain compassionate but have thicker skin, because I have a desire to be understood,” he says.
Although many Christians judge his unorthodox tactics, Lentz restrains himself from rationalizing his choices because the Gospel itself is unexplainable.
“My prayer is that I remain compassionate and receptive to the need, but I don’t let things waver my own faith and convictions,” he says.
As a Christian, he knows he has chosen to be an ambassador—a “moving commercial” as he calls it. As a teacher, he knows he is called to an even higher standard: “The Bible says this is my job: to be under the microscope. I feel like I was born for it. Just like we all are.”
A famous church was never part of the plan. Lentz’s goal is to have a faithful community of believers.
“Faithfulness sometimes is in the shadows. Sometimes it’s in the spotlight. We don’t have control over the spotlight part of it, but we have control over our job, which is to be faithful to what is at hand,” he says.
For Lentz, faithfulness also requires him to reach out. Occasionally, he will visit clubs (with discernment, he’s quick to clarify) for a few short minutes to be part of his friends’ lives. He feels that if Christians can invite their friends to church, they cannot be opposed to being a part of other someone else’s world, as well.
“I go to some places not to ‘reach out to people,’” he says, “I go because that’s what you do when you are friends with people.”
In New York City, isn’t it hard to find the line? Is there a line? Lentz says Christians who might be susceptible to certain temptations should not place themselves in a vulnerable position.
“This has to be conviction from heaven, not rules from this religious earth,” he says. And everyone’s line is different.
He says his priority is to stay consumed with the Great Commission.
“That is my weight, that is my focus, that is my passion,” he says. “The Gospel rules are to wear Jesus wherever you go. That’s our call. That’s not a burden to me, it’s a joy.”
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