Justin Bieber has not qualified as a lay preacher and has absolutely no plans to preach in a televised series filmed at Hillsong Church in Los Angeles, says Hillsong Church.
Contrary to an erroneous claim by Irish tabloid, The Sunday World , Bieber did not become a lay preacher “following an intensive, three month bible study course” to “preach to the masses and spread the good word as a part-time televangelist.”
The tabloid also claimed Hillsong Church Los Angeles were negotiating to fill a “prime time small screen slot on Sundays with two networks” via their new Hollywood agent — William Morris Endeavor Entertainment Ltd.
The Sunday World said Bieber not only wants to “boost ratings” for this alleged television deal, but also wants to help by preaching and appealing for donations on-camera.
However, despite a number of media outlets picking up the claim, it has been exposed as fiction by Hillsong Church. A PR rep for Hillsong Church stated on Twitter that The Sunday World story is “totally fabricated.”
The rep also relayed a comment from Brian Houston, co-founder of the original Hillsong Church in Australia, who added that it’s “not true that Justin Bieber has qualified to be lay preacher.”
The Twitter statements follow:
On Wednesday, February 25, Lyall Mercer, head of Mercer PR, which handles media for Hillsong Australia, tweeted:
Reports in @sundayworld abt Justin Bieber “performing” at Hillsong LA not correct. Also not true that he is lay preacher. Totally fabricated
— Lyall Mercer (@LyallMercer) February 25, 2015
Lyall also tweeted a message from Brian Houston, the co-founder of Hillsong Church Australia.
From @BrianCHouston – “Not true that Justin Bieber has qualified to be lay preacher or plans by Hillsong to rush him onto our platform.”
— Lyall Mercer (@LyallMercer) February 25, 2015
Replying to the official Twitter account of Pirate Christian radio, Mercer then wrote:
@piratechristian on behalf of the church, yes.
— Lyall Mercer (@LyallMercer) February 25, 2015
Meanwhile, following the superstar’s recent apology video — in which he owned up to past “arrogant” and “conceited” behavior — Bieber has been on something of a prank-fest while appearing numerous times on The Ellen Degeneres Show .
On Tuesday night, Bieber was seen pranking an old lady at a bowling alley on ABC’s new hidden camera show, Repeat After Me . He is also heading into his Comedy Central Roast, which airs on March 30. The singer will face a lineup of comics including the Roast Master Kevin Hart, Hannibal Buress, Jeff Ross, and other comedians who are yet to be named.
As for the “Bieber lay preacher” rumor, it’s remarkable how many media outlets published a tabloid’s claim without bothering to contact Hillsong Church or Bieber’s rep for comment.
