Our time at HillsongNYC has come to an end. This is a hard ending to what has been the most amazing, impacting and special chapter of our lives. Leading this church has been an honor in every sense of the word and it is impossible to articulate how much we have loved and will always love the amazing people in this church. When you accept the calling of being a pastor, you must live in such a way that it honors the mandate. That it honors the church, and that it honors God. When that does not happen, a change needs to be made and has been made in this case to ensure that standard is upheld. 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. 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. I now begin a journey of 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. I am deeply sorry for breaking the trust of many people who we have loved serving and understand that this news can be very hard and confusing for people to hear and process. I would have liked to say this with my voice, to you, in person because you are owed that. But that opportunity I will not have. So to those people, I pray you can forgive me and that over time I can live a life where trust is earned again. To our pastors Brian and Bobbie, thank you for allowing us to lead, allowing us to thrive and giving us room to have a voice that you have never stifled or tried to silence. Thank you for your grace and kindness especially in this season, as you have done so much to protect and love us through this. We, the Lentz family, don’t know what this next chapter will look like, but we will walk into it together very hopeful and grateful for the grace of God..
2017: I remember preaching about my definition of this subject and struggling to believe that people really had a problem even acknowledging “white privilege” might exist. It wasnt that the concept cant be confronting to some. All the good stuff is! It was how dismissive, how defensive and how divisive even the conversation about it would become. 2020? Although some still outright reject this notion, I think far more people are starting to see the reality of this country we all love so much. Humbly “considering” things that make you uncomfortable has to become a habit in these times. It does not make you weak. It does not mean you pander. It does not even mean you “agree.” It does mean, you love people enough to SEARCH FOR WAYS THAT MAY HELP BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND SEEK UNDERSTANDING. This was not “popular” then. And it’s not popular now. Regardless: It is a privilege to use my privilege to talk about privilege so someday we all can stand on equal footing. #occupyallstreets
For the so very many genuine people who have said “I want to grow.”: Truth back then, shines a light right now.. and it comes in all different shapes, colors, speakers and backgrounds.. #occupyallstreets
MY BABY CHARLIE JAYNE TURNED 14 today! We walked across this bridge recently and noticed after that sign to our left. “Courage”. That word defines my daughter. She is a spectacular young woman who is finding her voice and her place and her passion more every day. Because she can speak for herself, I’ll let her words she posted recently do exactly that. @charlentz I love you and I’m proud of you ..You make me better as person.*******”I will never know what it’s like to be black in america. but i will choose to fight for those who are suffering, hurting, and crying for justice that is not being served. to everybody confused on why looting is going on, people have been silenced for way to long. this country was built off of racism, it’s time to change. everytime someone asks me what i want to do when i grow up, i say i don’t know. but i do, i want to change the world, i want to change the way my friends are seen by police. i don’t want to fear for them, i don’t want them to fear for their life everytime they get pulled over. i will keep fighting and i will keep going to as many protests as i can to experience the pain people have in person. i will educate myself, i will stand in the front lines, i will use my privilege for good. because that’s my job, not to loot or destroy things. that’s not my right, my job is to protect and comfort and be an ally.” “a riot is the language of the unheard” -MLK jr.
MY BABY CHARLIE JAYNE TURNED 14 today! We walked across this bridge recently and noticed after that sign to our left. “Courage”. That word defines my daughter. She is a spectacular young woman who is finding her voice and her place and her passion more every day. Because she can speak for herself, I’ll let her words she posted recently do exactly that. @charlentz I love you and I’m proud of you ..You make me better as person.*******”I will never know what it’s like to be black in america. but i will choose to fight for those who are suffering, hurting, and crying for justice that is not being served. to everybody confused on why looting is going on, people have been silenced for way to long. this country was built off of racism, it’s time to change. everytime someone asks me what i want to do when i grow up, i say i don’t know. but i do, i want to change the world, i want to change the way my friends are seen by police. i don’t want to fear for them, i don’t want them to fear for their life everytime they get pulled over. i will keep fighting and i will keep going to as many protests as i can to experience the pain people have in person. i will educate myself, i will stand in the front lines, i will use my privilege for good. because that’s my job, not to loot or destroy things. that’s not my right, my job is to protect and comfort and be an ally.” “a riot is the language of the unheard” -MLK jr.
MY BABY CHARLIE JAYNE TURNED 14 today! We walked across this bridge recently and noticed after that sign to our left. “Courage”. That word defines my daughter. She is a spectacular young woman who is finding her voice and her place and her passion more every day. Because she can speak for herself, I’ll let her words she posted recently do exactly that. @charlentz I love you and I’m proud of you ..You make me better as person.*******”I will never know what it’s like to be black in america. but i will choose to fight for those who are suffering, hurting, and crying for justice that is not being served. to everybody confused on why looting is going on, people have been silenced for way to long. this country was built off of racism, it’s time to change. everytime someone asks me what i want to do when i grow up, i say i don’t know. but i do, i want to change the world, i want to change the way my friends are seen by police. i don’t want to fear for them, i don’t want them to fear for their life everytime they get pulled over. i will keep fighting and i will keep going to as many protests as i can to experience the pain people have in person. i will educate myself, i will stand in the front lines, i will use my privilege for good. because that’s my job, not to loot or destroy things. that’s not my right, my job is to protect and comfort and be an ally.” “a riot is the language of the unheard” -MLK jr.
MY BABY CHARLIE JAYNE TURNED 14 today! We walked across this bridge recently and noticed after that sign to our left. “Courage”. That word defines my daughter. She is a spectacular young woman who is finding her voice and her place and her passion more every day. Because she can speak for herself, I’ll let her words she posted recently do exactly that. @charlentz I love you and I’m proud of you ..You make me better as person.*******”I will never know what it’s like to be black in america. but i will choose to fight for those who are suffering, hurting, and crying for justice that is not being served. to everybody confused on why looting is going on, people have been silenced for way to long. this country was built off of racism, it’s time to change. everytime someone asks me what i want to do when i grow up, i say i don’t know. but i do, i want to change the world, i want to change the way my friends are seen by police. i don’t want to fear for them, i don’t want them to fear for their life everytime they get pulled over. i will keep fighting and i will keep going to as many protests as i can to experience the pain people have in person. i will educate myself, i will stand in the front lines, i will use my privilege for good. because that’s my job, not to loot or destroy things. that’s not my right, my job is to protect and comfort and be an ally.” “a riot is the language of the unheard” -MLK jr.
FAITHFUL FRIEND FRIDAY.. Its easy to take great things in this life, for granted. Especially in relationships, we tend to give attention and time to what is a problem and don’t adequately thank or acknowledge people in our lives that ARE ACTUALLY HELPFUL AND CONSISTENT! Birthdays and holidays cant be the only time we let ppl know they are loved. I think #faithfulfriendfriday should be a thing. So today, I want @anthonypjdavis to know how much I love him! The first 3 people I met when we landed in Brooklyn over 10 years ago were @deeveekashi @djclue (who I thought was R&B legend Ginuwine, initially) and @anthonypjdavis in that order. Thankfully all 3 are still family to me and PJ is one of the most loyal, low maintenance, creative, deeply compassionate people I have ever known. He is “true New York” born and raised in QUEENS and has taught me, “true VIRGINIA” so much about this city and the people in it over the years. He also saved my life one night at a club, but that story is for another day! Thank you PJ, for being a faithful friend. I love and appreciate you and this family is better because of you.. If you have a faithful friend, tag them on this, call them, thank them for being just that. Life is way to short, to withhold thanks and appreciation from anybody.. #occupyallstreets #faithfulfriendfriday OH ALSO!!! Thanks to @michellespalafox the legend for capturing these photos from a special day where we marched for Peace and said things like “BLACK LIVES MATTER”. You know, the sentence that means “BLACK LIVES MATTER” and is not owned by any particular group or organization, perfectly reasonable and logical to say, no matter how many people try to convince you that somehow saying this sentence makes you a marxist endorsing, anti police, left leaning liberal loving, demonically powered and politically motivated activist pseudo warrior. It does not. Those people have always been wrong, and saying “BLACK LIVES MATTER” will always matter. #blacklivesmatter
FAITHFUL FRIEND FRIDAY.. Its easy to take great things in this life, for granted. Especially in relationships, we tend to give attention and time to what is a problem and don’t adequately thank or acknowledge people in our lives that ARE ACTUALLY HELPFUL AND CONSISTENT! Birthdays and holidays cant be the only time we let ppl know they are loved. I think #faithfulfriendfriday should be a thing. So today, I want @anthonypjdavis to know how much I love him! The first 3 people I met when we landed in Brooklyn over 10 years ago were @deeveekashi @djclue (who I thought was R&B legend Ginuwine, initially) and @anthonypjdavis in that order. Thankfully all 3 are still family to me and PJ is one of the most loyal, low maintenance, creative, deeply compassionate people I have ever known. He is “true New York” born and raised in QUEENS and has taught me, “true VIRGINIA” so much about this city and the people in it over the years. He also saved my life one night at a club, but that story is for another day! Thank you PJ, for being a faithful friend. I love and appreciate you and this family is better because of you.. If you have a faithful friend, tag them on this, call them, thank them for being just that. Life is way to short, to withhold thanks and appreciation from anybody.. #occupyallstreets #faithfulfriendfriday OH ALSO!!! Thanks to @michellespalafox the legend for capturing these photos from a special day where we marched for Peace and said things like “BLACK LIVES MATTER”. You know, the sentence that means “BLACK LIVES MATTER” and is not owned by any particular group or organization, perfectly reasonable and logical to say, no matter how many people try to convince you that somehow saying this sentence makes you a marxist endorsing, anti police, left leaning liberal loving, demonically powered and politically motivated activist pseudo warrior. It does not. Those people have always been wrong, and saying “BLACK LIVES MATTER” will always matter. #blacklivesmatter
FAITHFUL FRIEND FRIDAY.. Its easy to take great things in this life, for granted. Especially in relationships, we tend to give attention and time to what is a problem and don’t adequately thank or acknowledge people in our lives that ARE ACTUALLY HELPFUL AND CONSISTENT! Birthdays and holidays cant be the only time we let ppl know they are loved. I think #faithfulfriendfriday should be a thing. So today, I want @anthonypjdavis to know how much I love him! The first 3 people I met when we landed in Brooklyn over 10 years ago were @deeveekashi @djclue (who I thought was R&B legend Ginuwine, initially) and @anthonypjdavis in that order. Thankfully all 3 are still family to me and PJ is one of the most loyal, low maintenance, creative, deeply compassionate people I have ever known. He is “true New York” born and raised in QUEENS and has taught me, “true VIRGINIA” so much about this city and the people in it over the years. He also saved my life one night at a club, but that story is for another day! Thank you PJ, for being a faithful friend. I love and appreciate you and this family is better because of you.. If you have a faithful friend, tag them on this, call them, thank them for being just that. Life is way to short, to withhold thanks and appreciation from anybody.. #occupyallstreets #faithfulfriendfriday OH ALSO!!! Thanks to @michellespalafox the legend for capturing these photos from a special day where we marched for Peace and said things like “BLACK LIVES MATTER”. You know, the sentence that means “BLACK LIVES MATTER” and is not owned by any particular group or organization, perfectly reasonable and logical to say, no matter how many people try to convince you that somehow saying this sentence makes you a marxist endorsing, anti police, left leaning liberal loving, demonically powered and politically motivated activist pseudo warrior. It does not. Those people have always been wrong, and saying “BLACK LIVES MATTER” will always matter. #blacklivesmatter
Years ago, many people were even more defensive and unaware of deep racial disparities and even the conversation being had was controversial…The difference I see right now and why I have hope, is that far more people are listening, open and willing to consider another’s experience. It matters so much. For instance, I have almost never had a single bad experience w/ a police officer. That heavily shapes how I feel about the entire police system. But if that is the only experience I’m willing to listen to, I’m not only foolish. I’m selfish. That is the opposite of who we want to be. @therealarbernard in his typical brilliant fashion, points out some truths that are powerful here. #occupyallstreets
Micheal Che is a sharp thinker and this is a very funny yet precise way to explain the baffling debate around the most simple sentence “black lives matter.” Its at the point now where if you are still trying to convince somebody this sentence “needs more”, there isn’t much more you can do for that person! #occupyallstreets
One month of LIGHTS ON! 🔦 Thank you for the support and love and encouragement for this podcast. It means a lot to us, really didn’t know what to expect! Thank you to the @bside_app team that has worked so hard to help produce something that matters! Tomm episode is one I wasn’t going to use because it felt too vulnerable.. but after some further thought (and some safety edits lol) the feedback we have gotten is that it’s helpful to see how our family is processing some things. This convo with @avaangellentz @charliejaynelentz covers a lot. Including how to build trust again in your family after that trust is broken so badly.. a lot of families have to go through this to some degree, perhaps our experience as we know it can help you navigate your own… in short for us: NO. FAMILY. SECRETS! Episode drops tomm, hope it’s helpful!
One month of LIGHTS ON! 🔦 Thank you for the support and love and encouragement for this podcast. It means a lot to us, really didn’t know what to expect! Thank you to the @bside_app team that has worked so hard to help produce something that matters! Tomm episode is one I wasn’t going to use because it felt too vulnerable.. but after some further thought (and some safety edits lol) the feedback we have gotten is that it’s helpful to see how our family is processing some things. This convo with @avaangellentz @charliejaynelentz covers a lot. Including how to build trust again in your family after that trust is broken so badly.. a lot of families have to go through this to some degree, perhaps our experience as we know it can help you navigate your own… in short for us: NO. FAMILY. SECRETS! Episode drops tomm, hope it’s helpful!
One month of LIGHTS ON! 🔦 Thank you for the support and love and encouragement for this podcast. It means a lot to us, really didn’t know what to expect! Thank you to the @bside_app team that has worked so hard to help produce something that matters! Tomm episode is one I wasn’t going to use because it felt too vulnerable.. but after some further thought (and some safety edits lol) the feedback we have gotten is that it’s helpful to see how our family is processing some things. This convo with @avaangellentz @charliejaynelentz covers a lot. Including how to build trust again in your family after that trust is broken so badly.. a lot of families have to go through this to some degree, perhaps our experience as we know it can help you navigate your own… in short for us: NO. FAMILY. SECRETS! Episode drops tomm, hope it’s helpful!
Thank you @dranitaphillips for your time, your compassion and your deposit into our church today. If you have time, please check out the link in my bio to further explore how we can all change for the better. We talk about trauma, if I believe in “WHITE GUILT” and how deep the layers are in this generational battle for humanity. #occupyallstreets
Complicated times for all of us. So here is something uncomplicated that we can all agree on! These two legends are simply amazing and like their voices, hope always rises above all the crowds and noise and complexities that surround.. wherever you are tonight, be encouraged! #occupyallstreets #hoperemains
Happy Sunday! Over the years @therealarbernard has taught me a lot, about a lot. We talked years ago about Race, Jesus, politics and CHURCH and it’s eye opening..so in between watching the brilliant @dhariusdaniels on HILLSONG EAST COAST YOUTUBE today, here is more food for your soul as we all continue to try to learn, listen and a change.. @therealarbernard love and appreciate you sir!
But why I do believe in responsibility.. this convo w/ the brilliant @dranitaphillips helped me and many ppl yesterday.. click on my bio for full conversation, for those open to continual change for the better, this is for you! #occupyallstreets
And that’s why we can’t allow it to look like it does.. hope this adds some hope today! And this is not a political video. I did not make the video. Before anybody asks, I too wish there was a single clip of our president saying something kind or compassionate right now that could be added to this. When there is, when He does, I’ll show that too…ITS GONNA BE A GREAT WEEK! #occupyallstreets
I hope you find this interview with the super nova that is @opalayo, one of 3 original founders of the black lives matter movement, to be informative and inspiring. Ive known Opal for 10 years, she’s been a faithful part of @hillsongnyc and I have been able to see this movement from its day 1. As people continue to try to complicate these three simple words “BLACK LIVES MATTER” to create palatable reasons why they simply cant say that without equivocation, I refuse this narrative that movements own statements. Its illogical. Or that you must have complete agreement on every facet of a movement, to support any of it. If “mothers against drunk drivers” asked me to march with them to bring awareness to this issue and mourn with mothers who lost their children, I would. I would not ask what else they believe, because it would not matter. I would not begin searching through their doctrine looking for ways to not stand with them. I would not care about the rumors about the “moms”. I would not care that groups claiming to be “MADD” invaded another march and looted a building. None of that would matter. You know why? Because those moms are in pain. And that matters. And I can agree, that my support in that moment matters because what happened to them WAS NOT RIGHT. You wont find me debating the use of this phrase again. Use it, dont use it. Make an excuse or make it a reason. Thats your right. But as for us, we will use it in our church, in our hashtags and remain conscious of it in our actions. @opalayo I’m proud to know you, you inspire me and your church stands behind you. And as you know, we roll pretty deep..Keep shining, woman of God! This world needs your voice desperately. #occupyallstreets #blacklivesmatter ..This whole interview is on Opals IG if you want to check it out!
NO SECRETS… One of the underlying motives for this podcast is to encourage people who have had mistakes, lies, secrets and complexities cloud the honesty of their family dynamic. In one way or another this impacts every family…in this episode we talk about how to recover from broken trust, what kind of details your kids may need to find their own closure and how we try handle what can be “taboo” subjects that don’t need to be. Hope it’s helpful, thanks for engaging with Lights on! Audio out on all platforms ! Watch on B-Side App now! Watch on YouTube at 3PM ET
The more you can learn about other people’s experience, the better. In this clip you will hear a thought expressed I’ve heard a lot over the years along the lines of “I really tried to tone down my blackness.” This happens in America. ESPECIALLY in our churches!! Thank God for this opportunity to transform our minds and change our actions.. @bmarshall is a leader of leaders, for content that matters on athletics, life, culture I recommend @iamathletepodcast @thehouseofathlete … amazing wisdom. #occupyallstreets
I had to re-learn how to listen to my kids! My instinct as a dad is to lead, direct, “fix” anything and everything. Which is fantastic at times! But where that ultimately led me was trying to control how other people FEEL. Even my kids. We don’t let feelings rule or direct us at all, but we do acknowledge them in our family! And when there is room for that, I think what it produces is real growth and trust. Charlie’s journey of forgiveness towards me took time for the feelings to match the choice she made. Only God can do that in His time…was not easy for me at times to not try to “rush the process” so I would feel better! Just doesn’t work like that. Gottan “let people have the dignity of their process” I was told and it’s very helpful. one thing is for sure: never too late to get better as a parent! ✝️
