‘I'm A Very Good Liar’

LEAKED Documents Expose Carl Lentz's Cultish Control

Trump is our president-elect.

This is despite his refusal to accept defeat four years ago, orchestrating a violent insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol, and being convicted of over 30 felony charges. He didn’t barely win, he annihilated his competition, winning the popular vote, and sweeping major swing states. Over 70 million people chose a demonstrably ill-qualified, vulgar, abusive man to be their leader.

This phenomenon feels unique, but I can assure you it’s not. Cult leaders are masters of “getting away with it.” Carl Lentz, once celebrated as the "hot pastor" of Hillsong NYC, is a perfect case study of how if you can manipulate people well enough, nothing will disqualify you.

Lentz’s rise to fame as the charismatic pastor behind Hillsong NYC and his subsequent firing is more than just the story of a scandal — it represents a deeper, more troubling pattern of abuse of power, manipulation, and secrecy within one of the world’s most influential churches.

Despite his history of abuse, Lentz has been hired as a consultant for Transformation Church, aiming to rebrand himself as a prodigal son. He launched a podcast in June titled “Lights On with Carl Lentz,” where he interviews celebrities such as Fat Joe, Charlamagne tha God, and Steve-O. He also has brought his therapist and wife on the show to “tell everything,” branding this show as an authentic and raw look into his life.

Lentz and his former colleague, Ben Houston, recently attempted to downplay the fallout of their time at Hillsong. Houston stated that while he doesn’t want to belittle others' pain, he wouldn't change anything about his time at Hillsong, while Lentz expressed a desire to remember his tenure there for the collective accomplishments rather than the pain of his public scandal.

The truth behind Lentz’s actions reveals a darker reality: a culture where personal betrayal, misconduct, and disregard for accountability festered under the guise of doing holy work.

Hillsong Church, once a global evangelical powerhouse has faced bad press. But beyond the headlines of the past decade, a leaked internal investigation has unveiled the extremes of their toxic culture of abuse, financial misconduct, and systemic failures that shatter the church's carefully cultivated image.

The 2021 reports from that investigation, anonymously leaked to me earlier this year, detail a pattern of sexual misconduct, including coercion and harassment, by senior church leaders, as well as financial irregularities and a cover-up culture.

Lentz captivated followers with his magnetic presence and connections to celebrities like Justin Bieber. His casual attire and modern approach to Christianity drew a young, enthusiastic crowd, making him a prominent figure in the evangelical world. However, this carefully crafted persona unraveled dramatically in November 2020 when Lentz was dismissed from Hillsong for "leadership issues and breaches of trust," including revelations of sexual coercion.

The scandal, depicted in the documentary "Secrets of Hillsong," exposed Lentz’s dual life — his charm and emotional appeal were overshadowed by his deceit and manipulation. In the documentary, Lentz attempted to shift the blame to higher church leadership, presenting himself as a victim of systemic issues rather than accepting full responsibility for his actions.

Lentz has claimed he seeks redemption and reinvention. He has expressed remorse and acknowledged his struggles with addiction.

But according to a report titled, “Internal Investigation Report Regarding Carl Lentz and Other Matters” dated January 11, 2021, conducted by Zukerman Gore Brandeis & Crossman LLP, the public has surface-level knowledge of all the abuse not only permitted at Hillsong but also promoted and encouraged. The following information comes solely from this report.