Justin Bieber has the habit of bestowing profile on people and things.
That includes the New York City location of Hillsong Church, which has now signed to the William Morris Endeavor (WME) entertainment, media, and talent agency in a move that is a first for Hollywood.
According to the Hollywood Reporter , WME will work on expanding Hillsong NYC’s sizable TV viewership (over 10 million globally), and improve on its 10 million followers across its social media accounts and around 9 million annual website visitors.
The high-wattage agency will also set about locking down film and digital opportunities for the church. It is reported Warner Bros. had been set to release Let Hope Rise , a movie-docu about the church’s worship band, but the deal fell through.
Bieber is a frequent Hillsong NYC attendee. It is an offshoot of the Pentecostal Hillsong megachurch parent, which was founded in Australia in 1983 by married pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston and the late Frank Houston.
The New York branch was launched by Brian’s son, Joel, and Pastor Carl Lentz, and is just one of many of the church’s 1ocations around the world.
Lentz — oft-called the hipster or punk pastor — previously said he is a friend and spiritual adviser to Bieber. The pair have known each other since 2008. In September 2013, after attending a service, the then 19-year-old star tweeted that he “broke down” during Lentz’s sermon.
In October 2014, the Biebs stayed at the pastor’s family home in New Jersey for about two weeks and attended church daily along with bible study classes.
Love to my guy @carllentzNYC for the amazing sermon at church this morning. Love you man. I broke down today. Thank u ?
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) September 9, 2013
Hillsong’s brand of rock and contemporary music-accompanied services and message of applying Christianity in everyday life were addressed recently by Pastor Lentz in a recent interview with DJ Elvis Duran on his Morning Show.
We are LIVE ON-AIR with Pastor @carllentzNYC ! Tune in! pic.twitter.com/Nv6aceMMNh
— Elvis Duran (@ElvisDuranShow) February 12, 2015
“Be who you are, dress how you want to dress. Believe what you want to believe. Whether you change or not is on you.” – @carllentzNYC
— Elvis Duran (@ElvisDuranShow) February 12, 2015
“Our gospel is supposed to bring hope and peace. Rather than run from the problem I want to be part of the solution.” – @carllentzNYC
— Elvis Duran (@ElvisDuranShow) February 12, 2015
Just some #inspirational words of advice our friend @carllentzNYC gave us this morning! pic.twitter.com/tj8ChkqX4i
— Elvis Duran (@ElvisDuranShow) February 12, 2015
And it’s not just Justin who likes Hillsong’s message. The Canadian’s pals, Hailey Baldwin and Kendall Jenner , have been seen at its NYC location, and at times the Los Angeles site.
Meanwhile, Vanessa Hudgens and Bieber’s ex-girlfriend, Selena Gomez, are often seen at the L.A. branch.
Although the church is the first church to be signed to WME, the agency handles celebrity pastors T.D. Jakes and Joel Osteen, and Mark Burnett and Roma Downey’s faith-focused outfit.
Get ready for Hillsong NYC, the movie. Will Justin Bieber cameo?
[Images via Instagram/Getty Images]
