Carl Lentz (born November 6, 1978) is a Pastor at Hillsong Church in New York, NY, a church in the heart of Manhattan that has a passion for serving the city and making an impact worldwide. Carl recently wrapped up 7 years of ministry at Wave Church. In July 2017, it was reported that his relationship with Justin Beiber may have influenced his decision to cancel the rest of his tour.

Carl is originally from Virginia Beach and attended Frank W. Cox High School where he was on their basketball team. He admits in his youth that he was temperamental. After high school, he became a student at North Carolina State and was a walk-on on their basketball team. Growing up, Carl went to a Baptist Church but was not particularly religious. One night at the suggestion of his parents, Carl went to church to see a visiting pastor, Hillsong Church leader Steve Pastor. The service was a life-changing moment and his sophomore year he transferred to Virginia Wesleyan. He would later go to the Hillsong International Leadership College in Australia but was overwhelmed by all the sudden life changes. He then returned to the United States and joined a Bible college in California, “the porn capital of the world,” he points out. It was at this time that Carl got his first tattoo, a sword on fire, on Sunset Boulevard.

A year later he went back to Australia to finish his bible studies and met his wife, Laura.Both

Carl and Laura embrace a simple, dedicated faith in Jesus and are passionate about delivering the gospel in a method that makes sense to a generation that is desperately seeking a cause that is greater than themselves. Carl

and Laura have three children under the age of 7.

It was reported that Carl was developing a deep relationship with Justin Beiber, which caused him to reflect on his own spirituality. Although Carl recommended the opposite, Justin Beiber decided to cancel the rest of his tour.