Justin Bieber finds 'father figure' in pastor Carl Lentz

Justin Bieber finds 'father figure' in pastor Carl Lentz



He recently cancelled the remainder of his Purpose world tour in a bid to 'reconnect with his faith'.

And it seems Justin Bieber's desire to be closer to God has seen him grow particularly close to pastor Carl Lentz, with sources reportedly claiming that the singing sensation now views the hunky priest as a second father.

Insiders at Hillsong Church have allegedly told TMZ that the pair have been 'nearly inseparable' over the past month, with Carl offering Justin a welcome escape from celebrity life.



Last week, Justin, 23, shared a selfie of the pair on Instagram, where he enthused that the pastor 'brings out the best' in him.

Sharing a snap of the pair smiling for the camera, Justin wrote: 'THIS IS MY DOG TIL THE DAY I DIE .. he's the biggest Brodog, ride or die.. til the wheels fall off!! #bringsthebestoutofme.'

The duo have also been pictured hitting the basketball court together and dining out with friends in recent weeks.



But while their bond has been stronger than ever as of late, their friendship still managed to go the distance when Justin hotfooted across the globe on his Purpose tour earlier this year.

It's claimed Carl - who shares three children with his long-time wife Laura - frequently flew to visit Justin, particularly during his Australia and New Zealand dates in March.

When Justin returned to New York City in April - where the pastor primarily preaches - it's believed the singer didn't hesitate to reconnect with Carl, making him his first port of call upon arrival.



In March, Carl, who boasts a string of celebrity companions, including Lil Wayne, Oprah and Scooter Braun, appeared to insinuate that he saw Justin as a second son after sharing an adorable image of the singer smiling alongside himself and his little boy.

'LOVE these two legends...' he captioned the snap, before sharing a poignant quote about the importance of having love in your heart.

While Justin is believed to still hold an amicable, though not particularly close, relationship with his biological father Jeremy, the star is believed to be estranged from his mother, Pattie Mallette.



Speaking to Billboard in 2015, Justin described their relationship as 'non-existent', adding:  'I was distant because I was ashamed. I never wanted my mom to be disappointed in me and I knew she was.

'We spent some time not talking, so it takes time to rebuild that trust.'

However, there were signs that things are on the mend earlier this year, as Pattie shared a heartfelt tribute to Justin on his birthday.

'23 already tomorrow ??? Smh. I feel like I'm in my 20s still.. Where does the time go? Seriously. Stop growing up right now @justinbieber,' she wrote on Twitter, before sharing a sweet lullaby.