Carl And Laura Lentz Pen Book On Healing Infidelity 6 Years After Hillsong Firing
Former Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz and his wife Laura have announced a new book detailing their journey following his 2020 firing for having an affair.
According to The Christian Post, “Overcoming Infidelity: 10 Conversations to Help Heal the Hurt” guides couples attempting to navigate the aftermath of betrayal. The publisher, Simon & Schuster, calls it a roadmap to relational restoration for those struggling to survive.
The announcement comes six years after the global Hillsong network fired Carl Lentz from his lead role at its Manhattan campus. As noted in The Roys Report, founding pastor Brian Houston cited leadership issues and breaches of trust when he told staffers in November 2020 about the firing.
Lentz later admitted he had been unfaithful in his marriage. His affair with a New York City fashion designer became a subject of national scrutiny and speculation.
The scandal effectively ended his tenure as a high-profile “hypepriest” to celebrities such as Justin Bieber.
The firing followed a long decade of rapid growth for the church under Lentz’s charismatic leadership style. Lentz, raised in Virginia, attended the Hillsong training program in Australia before launching the New York City location.
The new book is scheduled for an October release. According to the publisher, the project is no mere memoir but offers a practical framework for healing. It guides readers through ten critical conversations that arise when trust is shattered.
The Lentzes address difficult questions such as whether trust can return and how to tell children about marital wounds. By using spiritual wisdom, the book says, it is possible to build a marriage that is better than ever.
Laura Lentz recently shared on social media that writing the book was not easy. She previously said she was proud of her husband for taking responsibility and remaining focused on their family.
In the years since the scandal, Carl Lentz has publicly acknowledged his struggles. In a 2024 appearance on ABC’s “Nightline,” he described himself as a recovering drug and sex addict.
Lentz attributed his misdeeds to a deep brokenness, which he has worked to address through professional help.
After leaving Hillsong, Lentz joined Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2023 as a strategist. He clarified at that time that he was no longer in active ministry or overseeing congregants. Instead, he said, he sought to provide perspective to other leaders based on his own professional and personal failures.
“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,” Transformation’s executive pastor of operations, Tammy McQuarters, said at the time. “We believe in Carl, his marriage, his skill set, and his restoration.”
Simon & Schuster indicated the book will offer an “unflinching look” at a marriage that once seemed perfect to outsiders. It seeks to reach couples whose relationships have fractured under pressure and public shame.
The Lentzes aim to meet people during their hardest seasons, the publisher said, giving them tools to restore trust. The book contains a gripping narrative, yet the focus remains on the roadmap to restoration, the couple claimed.
The couple noted that healing the hurt requires both partners to be vulnerable. They hope their wisdom will prevent other marriages from ending in permanent ruin.
The book is currently available for pre-order and will hit the shelves on Oct. 20.
Lentz previously thanked his wife in an Instagram post for not leaving him despite his repeated failures. He continues to stress his role as a husband and father above his former professional status.
The publication arrives as Hillsong grapples with the fallout of various leadership scandals across its global campuses.
This article was originally published at The Roys Report.
Mark A. Kellner is a reporter based in Mesquite, Nevada. He most recently covered statewide elections for the New York Post and was for three years the Faith & Family Reporter for The Washington Times. Mark is a graduate of the University of the Cumberlands and also attended Boston University’s College of Communication.