Former Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz makes a brief appearance as Troy in Tyler Perry's The Gospel of Christmas, which premiered on Netflix on Nov. 11. The cameo comes weeks after Carl and Laura Lentz published a book in which Laura recounts how Perry helped their family after Carl's dismissal from Hillsong in 2020.
In Overcoming Infidelity: 10 Conversations to Help You Heal the Hurt, Laura writes that Perry helped the family move to California and paid six months' rent for a home in Manhattan Beach. She recalls that Perry kept checking in on them after the move. "In many ways, he pastored us when the actual pastors who knew us best weren't always there," she wrote, according to ChurchLeaders.
Perry told The Christian Post that he wanted the couple to have space to work through what had happened. He said he hoped including Lentz in the film would encourage people facing difficulties of their own.
Hillsong announced Lentz's dismissal in November 2020, citing leadership issues, breaches of trust and moral failures. Lentz publicly acknowledged the following day that he had been unfaithful to his wife. In their book, published Oct. 20 by Simon & Schuster, the couple draws on their experience to guide readers through conversations about betrayal, rebuilding trust and talking with their children.
Written and directed by Perry, The Gospel of Christmas stars Durrell "Tank" Babbs as Isaac, a pastor who moves to New York City with his wife, Rebecca, played by Fantasia Barrino Taylor. With the family church facing foreclosure, Isaac must confront his own doubts as he tries to save the congregation's home before Christmas. The musical drama features gospel artists including CeCe Winans, Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond and Jekalyn Carr, with Kirk Franklin overseeing the music.
Watch The Gospel of Christmas on Netflix
