Stephen Carl Lentz, born on November 6, 1978, is an American podcaster and former pastor who became one of the most recognizable religious figures of his generation, largely due to his role as a spiritual advisor to a host of A-list celebrities, most notably Justin Bieber. He first captured the public’s imagination as the charismatic and stylish lead pastor of Hillsong NYC, the New York City branch of the global Hillsong Church, a position he held from its inception in 2010 until his dramatic and highly publicized dismissal in November 2020. Lentz’s rise was meteoric, transforming him from a relatively unknown minister into a cultural figure who blurred the lines between faith, fashion, and celebrity, often appearing in the pages of glossy magazines and commanding a massive social media following.

Lentz’s journey into the spotlight began in the late 2000s when he was tapped by Hillsong’s global leadership to plant a church in the heart of Manhattan. His approach was unconventional for a pastor; he was known for his designer clothes, tattooed arms, and a rock-star persona that resonated with a younger, secular audience. He quickly built a congregation that attracted a who’s who of the entertainment world, counting Justin Bieber, Kevin Durant, and Vanessa Hudgens among his famous followers. His close, almost brotherly relationship with Bieber was particularly well-documented, with Lentz serving as a constant companion and spiritual mentor during the singer’s turbulent rise to superstardom. This connection catapulted Lentz into the mainstream, making him a sought-after figure in media circles and a fixture in celebrity news, where his influence was often compared to that of a Hollywood manager as much as a man of the cloth.

The fairy-tale narrative of Lentz’s career came to an abrupt halt on November 4, 2020, when he was fired by Hillsong’s global pastor, Brian Houston, due to "leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures." The announcement sent shockwaves through both the religious and entertainment communities, as the details of his infidelity and subsequent scandals were laid bare in the press. Following his ouster, Lentz retreated from public life for a period, but he has since re-emerged with a new focus on media and personal reflection. He launched a podcast, where he candidly discusses his fall from grace, the complexities of faith, and the lessons he has learned from his very public mistakes. While his pastoral career is over, Lentz has leveraged his substantial platform to rebuild his public identity as a commentator and storyteller, navigating the delicate process of redemption in the digital age.