Carl and Laura Lentz, the former Hillsong New York City pastors, are set to tell their side of the Hillsong story in an upcoming documentary series.
According to Deadline, FX has ordered The Secrets of Hillsong, an investigative docuseries based on Vanity Fair‘s exposé of the controversial megachurch, which counted celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber, Kevin Durant, and Selena Gomez among its worshippers.
The four-episode docuseries, which Deadline exclusively reported had been in development since 2021, hails from Oscar and Emmy-winning Queer Eye producer Scout Productions and Vanity Fair Studios. It’s set to premiere Friday, May 19 at 10 PM with the first two episodes. The final two episodes will air May 26. All episodes will stream the next day on Hulu.
The series will be available on Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ under the Star banner in all other territories.
Lentz became widely known for his work as the lead pastor of Hillsong Church New York City, from 2010 until 2020. He attracted a lot of attention for his unconventional approach to preaching and his close relationships with many high-profile celebrities. All seemed well and the church was flourishing, attracting thousands of young people each Sunday.
In November 2020, it was announced that Lentz had been fired from his position at Hillsong Church due to what the church called “moral failures.” Lentz later revealed that he had cheated on his wife and was undergoing therapy for mental health and addiction issues.
Since leaving Hillsong, Lentz has remained out of the public eye and has not returned to full-time ministry.
The series will feature interviews with congregants navigating the still-unfolding global reckoning as Hillsong faces a raft of fresh revelations. Just this week, former senior pastor, Brian Houston, has been forced to admit he had a DUI charge in California in February 2022, a minor detail he failed to disclose in explaining his resignation.
Vanity Fair’s exposé reportedly details the Lentzs’ marriage, worshippers’ vanity, and secrecy surrounding the controversial megachurch.
In the documentary series, Carl and Laura Lentz will reportedly reveal secrets about Hillsong that have yet to be shared. The series will explore how it all unfolded from both sides, giving voice to a variety of perspectives on its culture and practices. It includes interviews with Carl and Laura, as well as other insiders familiar with Hillsong’s operations.
The expose is said to shed light on financial discrepancies within the church, allegations of sexual misconduct among staff members, and various other controversies that had gone unchecked for years.
Laura Lentz has in the past stated that at the right time, they would share their side of the story. Well, it appears that now is that time. For all Christians though, it’s a sad story. What has happened at Hillsong has left so many worshippers feeling betrayed by church leaders.
It’s not just Hillsong members that have been affected, but Christians who love God, love church, but become disillusioned when they read stories about the celebrity lives of pastors who are meant to be making Jesus, not themselves, famous.
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