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Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez in 2011.
- Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez were recently spotted spending a Sunday together, and attending a church service.
- Bieber and Gomez both attend the mega-church Hillsong.
- Hillsong is a fairly conservative Pentecostal church that retains a very hip aesthetic and appeals to many celebrities.
- I attended a service at Hillsong's New York City chapter to see what it was like.
Shortly after Selena Gomez and The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) broke up, TMZ reported that Gomez and Justin Bieber spent the day together last Sunday. The pair reportedly grabbed breakfast and attended a church service together - sparking rumors that they're back together.
Bieber and Gomez are both congregants of the mega-church Hillsong, and reportedly used to frequent church services there when they were together. According to The Daily Beast, Bieber is known for bringing his love interests to services at Hillsong, making Bieber and Gomez's recent appearance at the church intriguing.
Hillsong, the mega-church that has been serving as the backdrop for Bieber and Gomez's possible rekindling, is worth paying attention to. It has chapters all around the world, and is known for its casual, concert-like approach to traditional church services.
Hillsong has attracted numerous A-listers like Vanessa Hudgens, Hailey Baldwin, and Kendall and Kylie Jenner, earning it a reputation as the celebrity church du jour.
Hillsong's NYC Pastor Carl Lentz told Business Insider that despite the church's celebrity following, Hillsong is just a "normal" church. And although Hillsong puts forth a savvy rebranding of Christianity, it is, at its heart, a conservative Pentecostal church.
Hillsong has openly opposed gay relationships and abortion in the past, and used to refer its members "struggling" with their sexuality to conversion therapy, according to The Daily Beast. While Hillsong stopped referring congregants to conversion therapy in 2011, some gay congregants have continued to feel unwelcome at the church.
So, how does a Pentecostal church with traditional Christian values rebrand the church experience?
Curious, I went to see what one of Hillsong's services was like, and attended a Sunday service at its NYC location.
Here's what it was like to attend a Hillsong Service: