Hillsong Church Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Not holding back. While addressing his personal life, Chris Pratt called out the rumors that he was involved with the controversial Hillsong Church.

a public cheating scandal. Ahead of the new FX documentary series “The Secrets of Hillsong” — premiering May 19 — Lentz, 44, wrote a long post on Instagram and revealed where he stands with his wife, Laura.The former pastor admitted he cheated on his spouse of 20 years back in November 2020.“For the last 3 years my entire focus has been fighting for my wife and my kids,” he began his social media memo.“In order to do that, seeking sobriety and healing had to run parallel with those goals,” wrote the celebrity pastor.Lentz went on: “All I wanted was to prove to my wife and kids that I could show up for them like I had never done before.” “Although we have a long way to go, with a lot of work, a lot of honesty and a lot of prayer, we have found ourselves in a beautiful, happy and deliberately honest place,” he said.He then shared that he and Laura celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on May 5.Lentz and his family are featured in the FX series in which he confessed that the marital commemoration couldn’t have occurred without “humiliation, embarrassment and heartache.”“Part of the healing from that heartache led us to the decision to be a part of a documentary that we do not control, that we don’t have any say in and that we haven’t even seen yet,” he said.He added: “We’ll see it when the world does.

the Australian first reported. Crenshaw, who was 18 at the time, had moved from Pennsylvania to Sydney to study at Hillsong College less than two years prior when Jason Mays — a married Hillsong staffer whose father, John Mays, has been a key member of church management for close to 15 years — assaulted her one night while at a gathering.“Jason grabbed me, putting his hand between my legs and his head on my stomach and began kissing my stomach. I felt his arms and hands wrapped around my legs making contact with my inner thigh, butt and crotch,” she wrote as part of a statement she submitted to Hillsong in 2018 informing them of the incident, the Christian Post previously reported. In response to her coming forward, the church defended Mays and shamed Crenshaw, making her feel at fault for bringing up the issue, according to the Australian report.

leaked internal investigation alleged that Leona was once repeatedly punched in the face “with a closed fist” by scandalized ex-pastor Carl Lentz’s wife, Laura. The incident reportedly occurred one night in 2016, when Laura caught Carl and Leona canoodling on a couch in the home of former NBA player Tyson Chandler. “It was never in our plans to ever leave Hillsong Church,” Josh Kimes captioned a Monday Instagram post.

and launched shortly after Lentz was fired for adultery in November 2020. In an email to congregants in February 2021, now-disgraced church founder Brian Houston announced the investigation was complete and had unearthed “significant ways” the NYC operations had “failed to reflect Hillsong global culture” but offered little further information, The Post reported at the time. Those details have now finally come to light: A version of the 51-page report was leaked to the Christian Post, which on Monday published many of its most shocking allegations, including that working with Lentz “caused” many churchgoers “to suffer from mental illness,” that his wife Laura reportedly once punched a former nanny and current Hillsong pastor in the face “with a closed fist” and that, in addition to his alleged affair with fashion designer Ranin Karim, he reportedly had at least one more with a woman he met at a Brooklyn deli and saved in his phone contacts as “Germany.” The investigation was conducted by the NYC law firm Zukerman Gore Brandeis & Crossman, LLP.

most recently resigned this month from the church he and his wife Bobbie co-founded in 1983. Although the shockwaves of Houston’s alleged missteps are only beginning to be felt by the multinational church — which has seen multiple pastors resign following Houston — it would seem Houston has already forgiven himself. “Imperfect and flawed, but genuinely passionate about God, people, calling and life. I am determined that my mistakes will not define me,” the email continued, before referencing the ongoing court trial which he credited as the reason for his first resignation in January.

[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]

Instagram post announcing his departure. “My greatest reason for stepping down as Pastor of Hillsong Atlanta is probably not a secret to any of you.

“Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed” is produced by Breaklight Pictures in association with New York Post Entertainment for Discovery+. Post reporter Hannah Frishberg is featured in the documentary.Under celebrity pastor Carl Lentz, international megachurch Hillsong became trendy and influential, garnering splashy profiles in outlets such as GQ, and attracting stars such as Chris Pratt, Kendall Jenner, Nick Jonas and Justin Bieber.But all was not holy.

announced this January that he had made the decision to “step aside completely” from leadership of the multinational church he and wife Bobbie founded in 1983.The move followed months of Houston incrementally resigning from his various Hillsong positions amid numerous scandals and an ongoing court case accusing Houston of hiding his late father’s child sexual abuse.Now, Houston has resigned following an internal misconduct investigation that found merit to two women’s years-old complaints he committed “indiscretions” with them while under the influence of pills and alcohol.“We would like to advise you that Pastor Brian Houston has resigned as Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church and the board has accepted his resignation,” the multinational church told members in a website post on Wednesday.“Hillsong Church was birthed out of Brian and Bobbie’s obedience and commitment to the call of God and we are extremely grateful for all that Brian and Bobbie have given to build His house. We ask that you continue to pray for them, and the entire Houston family, during this challenging time.”In addition to Houston’s formal resignation from the church, Hillsong has also purged his preaching from its website, the religion-focused news site Protestia reported.Hillsong did not respond to The Post’s request for further comment.In a statement released on March 18, the church said Houston had sent “inappropriate” text messages to a female staff member, leading to her resignation nearly a decade ago.

incrementally resigning from his various positions at Hillsong, the megachurch’s founder Brian Houston has finally resigned in full. The move comes amid numerous scandals and an ongoing court case accusing Houston of hiding his late father’s sexual abuse of children — all of which the church has denied.Houston’s lawyers have informed the court he will plead not guilty to the allegations.“In September last year, I learned it was necessary for me to step aside as a director of all Hillsong boards during this season, enabling me to give attention to these charges,” Houston, 67, wrote in an announcement posted to the Australia-based church’s website.

controversy-plagued church once again found itself in hot water for exploiting a COVID exemption for Aussie religious institutions. The church was reprimanded by the New South Wales Ministry of Health after footage of young parishioners singing and dancing to secular songs at an annual youth camp surfaced. Hillsong then issued a lengthy statement to The Post denying wrongdoing.In a more than 15-minute Instagram video Toggs posted Monday, deleted, then posted again, she said she blamed the media for the controversy surrounding the incident.“I have watched the media willingly disregard any fairness for the sake of click-bait and to suit whatever profit they make off their agendas,” Toggs said in the post, Australian news site News.com.au first reported.

scandal–burdened founder of Australian megachurch Hillsong, was recently spotted staying at a $1,500-a-night hotel.

scandal–plagued Australian megachurch Hillsong, will plead not guilty to charges of concealing child sexual abuse.Authorities in New South Wales, Australia, in August charged the 67-year-old pastor with concealing child sex offenses committed by his late father, the Pentecostal pastor and pedophile, Frank Houston.

scandal–plagued Hillsong Church, has stepped down from almost all of his positions at the Australia-based megachurch ahead of a looming court date next month.“I’ve made a decision to step aside from my role on the Hillsong Church boards that oversee the governance of our operations,” Houston, 67, wrote in an email sent to congregants Friday and seen by The Post.

ongoing controversy and scandal surrounding Australia-based megachurch Hillsong, its chief operating officer is trying to sell her swanky Manhattan pad and has downgraded to a cheaper, smaller unit.The Post can report that, according to property records, Hillsong COO and executive pastor Tolu Badders has listed her Upper West Side one-bedroom and purchased a more affordable studio in the West Village.While her prior split-floor apartment boasted one-and-a-half baths in a full-service doorman

according to Brian’s own shocking admission in a newsletter sent to his congregation over Christmas.Authorities in New South Wales, Australia subpoenaed the 67-year-old reverend by way of his attorney on Thursday afternoon, The Australian has reported. He is due to appear in court on Oct.

recently deceased congregant’s fatal refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by calling the choice a “personal decision.” “While many of our staff, leadership and congregation have already received the COVID-19 vaccine, we recognize this is a personal decision for each individual to make with the counsel of medical professionals,” said the Australia-based church’s founder, Brian Houston, in a statement to CNN following the July 21 passing of 34-year-old Stephen Harmon, who died after contracting

published on Medium on Memorial Day, Leona Kimes, 37 — currently a lead pastor of Hillsong Boston — has alleged that in the seven years she spent as a nanny for Hillsong NYC pastors, she was “subjected to manipulation, control, bullying, abuse of power, and sexual abuse.”Her allegations join a months-long stream of claims about the formerly celebrity-adored church and its leaders, beginning with the shocking news that its now-fired head “hypepriest” pastor Carl Lentz had cheated on his wife.

told NBC News’ “Today” in his first interview reflecting on the Australia-based institution’s rocky last year. After Carl Lentz —Justin Bieber’s ex-pastor pal and the former head of Hillsong’s NY branch — was fired for cheating on his wife in November, a tidal wave of allegations emerged against the multinational house of God.Houston, 67, now admits that despite the turmoil Lentz’s impropriety caused for Hillsong, he still misses the man.“Carl was Carl. He’s a unique character.

the pair was fired from the megachurch due to his infidelity. “I have looked at these palm trees everyday for the past few months & there are many symbolic meanings to these amazing trees,” Laura Lentz, 40, begins the meandering Instagram caption on a shot of palm trees and a sunny sky, posted on May 5 — the couple’s 18th wedding anniversary.

yet another pastor following revelations of infidelity this week. Darnell Barrett, the creative director of the church’s Montclair, New Jersey, chapter resigned on Tuesday after sharing explicit photos to his Instagram and sending a revealing selfie to a nonconsenting church volunteer. “Hey! I think I might’ve added you to my close friends list by accident.

interview with GQ, the pop superstar opened up about how he feels when pastors let fame go to their heads.“I think so many pastors put themselves on this pedestal,” the devout songwriter, 27, told the publication without making a direct reference to Carl Lentz, the disgraced former Hillsong megachurch pastor who Bieber once counted among his best friends.

resigned in January after more than a decade of employment at the once-celebrity-beloved international worship chain. Before becoming top dog at the Texas branch, Reed Bogard served as the head of finances at Hillsong NYC, where former members alleged that he and Jess exploited congregants for free labor and used tithe money to fund their luxury lifestyles.  “We received several complaints regarding Reed Bogard’s failure to uphold the standards of Hillsong leadership.

embattled-megachurch revealed he had lived a double life as a pop-star preacher, performing his hit song “Healer” for Hillsong United with an oxygen tube in his nose — a ruse to hide a crippling addiction to pornography. (When Guglielmucci’s “lie was later exposed, Hillsong proactively removed the album that his recording of ‘Healer’ appeared on from shelves worldwide” and he has “never been employed at Hillsong Church in any capacity” a rep for the church confirmed to The Post.)The comeback

registered Lighthouse City Mission Incorporated as a charity helping the “financially disadvantaged,” “people with chronic illness,” “migrants, refugees,” and the “general community in Australia,” among others. “Our mission is to provide food, clothing and a community of support for people who need it in the Port Adelaide area,” the charity’s Instagram bio more succinctly describes.

firing of adulterous NYC superstar pastor Carl Lentz — which exposed rifts across the church, fraud accusations and congregant allegations of abuse — Hillsong’s senior pastor and co-founder Brian Houston has for the first time publicly said that he’s sorry for it.His apology was made in conjunction with the release of changes the Australia-based institution plans to make at its East Coast branches following an independent investigation, launched after news of Lentz’s affair broke in

resignation announcement.As a result of growth, Houston continued, Gary Clarke and his wife will begin helping with “the global side” and “invest[ing] into the pastors.”Clarke has been with Hillsong for over two decades and claims to have healed lepers, the deaf and people with polio through prayer alone, the Daily Mail reported in 2019.