Justin Bieber calls reports of becoming a minister at Hillsong Church 'fake news'

Is it too late now to say sorry to all the Beliebers who thought Justin Bieber was about to become a spiritual leader? The 26-year-old Canadian pop star has announced that he has “no desire” to become a church minister.

Last week OK! Magazine and Page Six reported that the “Holy” singer wanted to minister over the flock at Hillsong Church following the exit of disgraced pastor Carl Lentz. Considering the significance of that news, Bieber was forced to address the situation on Instagram. 

Bieber took to his IG Stories on Monday to deny the reports that he’s studying to be a minister at the megachurch in New York City. He shared a screenshot of Page Six’s article, published on Dec. 31, and wrote, “I’m not studying to be a minister or anything even close to that. Have no desire for that. This is fake news.”

“And BTW Hillsong is not my church. For clarity I am a part of Churchome,” Bieber added. “Church is not a place. We are the church. We don’t need a building to connect with God. God is with us wherever we are.”

Page Six reported that the “Anyone” singer was "hoping to lead Hillsong [church] after the firing of his preacher pal Carl Lentz." The outlet’s report was based on the information from an OK! Magazine article, which has been removed from the magazine’s website and replaced with a 404 page. Interesting and suspicious.

OK! Magazine’s report included a source that revealed that Bieber didn’t plan on giving up his music career, “but he feels there’s a bigger calling out there for him.” The source added that Bieber “wants to be a full-fledged minister next year.”

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Lentz was removed from his duties as the Hillsong Church pastor earlier in 2020 because of "moral failures" and "breaches of trust." Lentz, who counselled couples through infidelity, has been accused of indulging in a series of extramarital affairs. Other accusations against Lentz include abuse of church members, inappropriate sexual relationships, and hateful, homophobic messaging. Former members of Hillsong have compared the organization to a cult.

Lentz broke his silence in an Instagram post after his firing and revealed that he had cheated on his wife of 17 years, Lauren Lentz. “Laura and I and our amazing children have given all that we have to serve and build this church and over the years I did not do an adequate job of protecting my own spirit, refilling my own soul and reaching out for the readily available help that is available,” Lentz wrote. “When you lead out of an empty place, you make choices that have real and painful consequences. I was unfaithful in my marriage, the most important relationship in my life and held accountable for that. This failure is on me, and me alone and I take full responsibility for my actions.” The former Hillsong Church pastor said that he’s now working on “rebuilding trust with my wife, Laura and my children and taking real time to work on and heal my own life and seek out the help that I need.”

This is Bieber’s first time addressing Hillsong Church since Lentz was fired from his position. Both Bieber and his wife Hailey have unfollowed Lentz on Instagram even though the “Yummy” singer had referred to his former pastor as a “second father” numerous times.

For now, it looks like the only celebrity pastor of 2021 will include rapper Mase, who famously retired from hip-hop to become an ordained minister in 1999, returned to hip-hop after a five-year hiatus and is now the head of the Gathering Oasis Church. “Welcome Back” to church Mase. 

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