Carl Lentz

Carl Lentz (born November 6, 1978) is an American former celebrity pastor and spiritual advisor. He gained prominence as the lead pastor of Hillsong NYC until his termination on November 4, 2020, due to leadership issues and breaches of trust. Lentz provided spiritual guidance to notable celebrities, including Justin Bieber. Born in Williamsburg, Virginia, Lentz attended North Carolina State University from 1998 to 2000, where he also played as a walk-on basketball player. He later studied at Hillsong International Leadership College in Sydney, Australia. Lentz, along with Joel Houston, initiated the idea of planting a Hillsong Church campus in New York City, leading to the founding of Hillsong NYC in 2010. Lentz's unique appearance, characterized by tattoos, hairstyle, clothing, and footwear, had a significant impact on younger pastors.