In casting Lentz out, Houston exiled not only the leading avatar of the culture he built, but something of a son as well. The effects of the split between the church’s founder and his most famous acolyte went far beyond the two men’s relationship. For years, Hillsong experienced rapid growth as it offered itself as a house of worship and community for its young followers seeking what they needed-be that healing, fellowship, or grace. Its contemporary spin on Christianity, embodied by Lentz, packed a thriving network of on-trend believers into services across the globe every week. But Lentz’s scandal and subsequent departure caused many of its congregants to reevaluate their relationship with the church. In the months following Lentz’s exit, Hillsong volunteers and former congregants from New York Los Angeles Boston Kansas City, Missouri and Sydney offered stories about the church that included exploitation, bullying, and alienation.
