FRESH START? Hillsong’s disgraced Carl Lentz sells Florida home for $778K and moves family to Oklahoma for first job after scandal

Sun/April 13, 2023

By Katy Forrester

Fired Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz has sold his humble Florida home for $778k and relocated to Oklahoma with his family for his first job since his cheating scandal.

Lentz has landed a job at Transformation Church, a predominantly Black, nondenominational megachurch in Tulsa, which is led by pastor, author, and YouTuber Michael Todd.

The U.S. Sun can now confirm Lentz, his wife Laura, and their children, have moved to the Sooner State for a fresh start as he's finally been given an olive branch.

Property records show he sold his three-bed, three-bath home in Bradenton on the Manatee River, south of Tampa, on January 31 before relocating to Oklahoma.

The home was bought for $700k in July 2021 after Lentz and his family left California.

Lentz and his wife sold their home in the New Jersey town of Montclair for $1.5M after the pastor's 2020 cheating scandal and briefly moved to Manhattan Beach, California, where movie mogul Tyler Perry put them up in a luxury rental.

Sources claimed he forked out $100K to support his friends after they found themselves out of work, and they lived in a stunning $4.3M beachside property for around six months.

After the house went on the market in April 2021, they secretly packed up and moved to the Sunshine State, with official records proving they took out a $520K loan to cover the mortgage.

But it seems they struggled to settle, and Lentz was not believed to be working as a pastor, with sources claiming he has been spending time rebuilding his marriage and seeking professional help.

Laura, who also left her post at Hillsong amid the scandal, retrained as an interior designer and began posting her new career achievements on social media some months ago.

BACK IN CHURCH

Transformation Church announced Lentz's new role last month, with Tammy McQuarters, the church's executive pastor of operations, releasing a statement.

She said: "We gladly welcome Carl Lentz to our Transformation Church staff, helping TC with strategy as we continue to move forward in our vast vision.

"After two years of Carl being in his own discovery and healing process, he has shown readiness to use his God-given gifts towards the local church again. We believe in Carl, his marriage, his skill set, and his restoration."

Tammy said the church's vision to "re-present God to the lost and found for transformation in Christ" includes restoration.

The two go "hand-in-hand," she added, pointing to Scripture from the Book of Galatians that includes a message to "restore one another" after sin, mistakes, and repentance.

“We are called to be a safe environment for people to evolve and transform," Tammy added.

Lentz's career move comes as he's set to break his silence in his first TV interview, alongside his wife, in a new FX docuseries covering the Hillsong scandals which debuts on May 19.

The Saturday after its network premiere, Secrets of Hillsong will be available via Hulu.

INVESTIGATIVE DOCUSERIES

After Lentz was fired in November 2020, Ranin Karim, a Brooklyn jewelry designer, discussed her relationship with him in a bombshell interview with The U.S. Sun.

The 44-year-old, who was known as a 'celebrity pastor' and used to be close to pop star Justin Bieber, admitted being unfaithful to his wife and issued a public apology.

But further accusations later came to light, with his former nanny, Leona Kimes, alleging he subjected her to “bullying, abuse of power, and sexual abuse," which his legal rep denied at the time.

Meanwhile, Brian Houston, the founder of Hillsong, also stepped down from his role as global senior pastor last year following allegations from two women.

According to Hillsong's statement regarding an internal investigation, alcohol, and medications had played a role in Houston's misconduct, and he claimed no sexual activity took place.

Houston has since found himself in more hot water as he faces an ongoing criminal trial in Sydney, Australia, which began in December last year.

The court is seeking to prove that he intentionally covered up his father Frank's earlier sexual abuse of a child and only offered information to police after he died in 2004.

A government inquiry found that Houston became aware in 1999 of the allegations but allowed his pastor dad to retire quietly rather than report him.

To see more documents/articles regarding this group/organization/subject click here.