Skip to main content

Hillsong founder urges followers to donate 10 per cent of their salaries amid the fallout of cheating pastor Carl Lentz - despite the megachurch earning almost $100million last year

The founder of Hillsong Church has urged followers to donate a tenth of their wages to the  amid the fallout from cheating pastor Carl Lentz.

The megachurch has been rocked by scandal since its head pastor for New York Lentz - once a mentor to singer Justin Bieber - was kicked out for cheating on his wife of 17 years Laura.

Lentz, 42, confessed on social media earlier this month to having an affair with fashion designer Ranim Karim, 34, after being sacked for 'moral failures'.

Ms Karim then spilled details of their sordid affair, drunken nights together and how he told her that she was the best sex he'd ever had. 

Hillsong founder Brian Houston preaching in Sydney on Saturday. The service repeatedly encouraged parishioners to give 10 per cent of their income to the church

Hillsong founder Brian Houston preaching in Sydney on Saturday. The service repeatedly encouraged parishioners to give 10 per cent of their income to the church

Hillsong is reeling from scandal in which New York head pastor Carl Lentz (left) cheated on his wife of 17 years, Laura (right) and was sacked from his church job for it earlier this month.

Hillsong is reeling from scandal in which New York head pastor Carl Lentz cheated on his wife of 17 years, Laura and was sacked from his church job for it earlier this month.

Lentz and his wife, who are parents to Charlie, 16, Ava, 14, and Roman, 11, are said to be seeking professional help to mend their marriage.

Hillsong founder Brian Houston has said there would be a full investigation into the church earlier this month in the wake of the scandal.

Mr Houston has returned from the U.S. with his wife Bobbie, preaching from the church's Sydney campus in a service streamed live on YouTube on Sunday.

The service contained multiple messages for followers to donate a tenth of their income, which the church calls 'tithing', including when they are struggling with bills or debt.

'It's a powerful thing when people know how to tithe, they know how to give, Amen,' Mr Houston said.

A video played shortly after showing people step-by-step how to pay online, with the example of a $100 donation each week.

The service included a pre-recorded video of an interview with Senior Pastor Robert Morris from the Gateway Church in Dallas, U.S.

Fasion designer Ranim Karim, 34, who had an affair with Carl Lentz, 42, sparking the scandal

Fasion designer Ranim Karim, 34, who had an affair with Carl Lentz, 42, sparking the scandal

Hillsong heavily promoted donating money to the church in the service, including by advertising new and easy ways to give them money such as using the Hillsong Giving App

Hillsong heavily promoted donating money to the church in the service, including by advertising new and easy ways to give them money such as using the Hillsong Giving App

Mr Morris said giving 10 per cent of income to the church via tithing was 'the most important principle' because that was 'putting God first in every area of life'.   

'Jesus himself said where your treasure is there your heart will be also,' he said.

'Sixteen of 38 parables Jesus taught had to do with money and possessions, so you have to kind of ask yourself: Was Jesus after their money? No.

'He was after their hearts. Because where your treasure is, there your heart will be.'

Mr Morris said if people put God first in their finances, their hearts would follow their treasure.

'So if they're putting their treasure in the church, their heart's going to be in the church,' he said.

During Sunday's service, Mr Houston played a pre-recorded interview with U.S. pastor Robert Morris who urged people to give money to the church - even when struggling financially

During Sunday's service, Mr Houston played a pre-recorded interview with U.S. pastor Robert Morris who urged people to give money to the church - even when struggling financially

 Mr Morris urged people to give even when struggling with finances.

'All these people would write to me and say: 'hey I'm giving but I'm still in debt. I'm giving but I still can't pay my bills',' he said.

Mr Morris said it wasn't 'magical' but that 'God blesses generosity'. 

'We're going to give and God's going to bless us,' he said.

He then told the story of a used-car dealer who earned only $640 in a difficult week.

After donating $64 to the church, the very next day he got a refund cheque for an overpaid water bill, Mr Morris said.

'You'll never convince me in a million years that is a coincidence,' Mr Morris said. 

Secular Party of Australia president John Perkins, an atheist, said the church was encouraging people to give them money by implying that God would repay it. 

'At a time when people are struggling financially because of the virus it is quite immoral of the church to seek more money from its followers,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

U.S-based pastor Robert Morris said almost half of Jesus' parables were about money, and parishioners should put their treasure where their heart is - in donations to the church

U.S-based pastor Robert Morris said almost half of Jesus' parables were about money, and parishioners should put their treasure where their heart is - in donations to the church

Lentz has reportedly been staying at Bieber's New York apartment since he was let go

Lentz has reportedly been staying at Bieber's New York apartment since he was let go

'They say it is important to give money to God - but God does not get the money. And why does God need money? Tithing is a very onerous imposition. No wonder Hillsong Church is so rich. It is psychological manipulation.'

Hillsong Church's revenue was $95,903,071 with 76 per cent from 'tithes and offerings', according to its 2019 report, and it has set up multiple donation channels. 

Churchgoers can give money through the Hillsong giving app, which was advertised during the service, by BPAY or direct deposit, in an envelope at the service, or by mail to the church's headquarters at Castle Hill in Sydney's north-west. 

The Australian mega-church said in 2015 that no one was ever pressured to donate.

'We call the offering a 'free will' offering for a reason – and many people let the offering containers pass them by without contributing anything,' Hillsong said in a press release.

'People give because they want to, not because they have to, and anyone has a right to support a church financially if they wish, just as they have a right to give to any other organisation.'

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o