Carl Lentz, the former Hillsong NYC pastor who was fired in 2020 for “moral failure” and “narcissistic” behavior, cleared the air early Friday morning (May 31) on Instagram by telling his followers that he is not returning to ministry.
Instead, Lentz is starting a new podcast titled “Lights on” that will launch on June 4.
The speculation of Lentz’s return to ministry came earlier this week after he released a cryptic video announcing he and his wife Laura were starting a “new chapter.” The announcement depicted faint images of Carl, and images of storm clouds, a burning tree, and a shadow of the couple holding hands together as they walk towards dark clouds.
In Lentz’s latest video, images of his past controversies flash on the screen before words appear saying, “No I’m not back. That guy is gone.”
The video then proceeds to show Lentz and his wife excited for the launch of his new podcast.
View this post on Instagram
“JUNE 4, my podcast ‘Lights on’ is available on all platforms,” Lentz wrote in the caption. “My choices, and the road toward recovery taught me how helpful it is to have people share vulnerably the impact of their bad choices,” he continued, “the pain they caused, and the pain they suffered that led them to make those choices, and what they’ve discovered can be helpful and healing.”
Lentz added that his hope for his new podcast is “that in sharing those things from my story and asking others to share theirs, it will be helpful, hopeful and healing.”
RELATED: ‘I’m No Longer in Ministry’— Carl Lentz Clarifies New Position at Transformation Church
“I’m thankful for where we are today,” said Lentz. “To be confident of the future, content in the present and healed enough to speak to the past is miraculous. If we can make it, anybody can…thank you for all the love and support!”
 on Instagram by telling his followers that he is not returning to ministry.){kind=link}