Pastor Credits Justin Bieber With Teaching Him ‘More About Jesus and More About God’

Published: July 6, 2026

By Movieguide® Staff

Churchome leader Judah Smith pointed to an unexpected source as teaching him “more about Jesus and more about God” — pop star Justin Bieber.

“I have learned more about Jesus and more about God from Justin Bieber than I’ve ever taught him,” the pastor said on an episode of “The Deep End With Lecrae” podcast. “And the reason for that is because platform has an acute pressure and pain.”

Smith explained that “that level of fandom and celebrity and global, iconic experience is not meant for a man,” adding, “It makes a man go crazy…and Justin’s willingness to be a broken man…he hit me yesterday with, ‘What can I do for you? I want to be here for you. I love you.’ Man.”

“I just love him,” he continued. “He means the world to me…At one point in my life, I told God, I said, ‘If this doesn’t work for Justin Bieber, this Gospel, then it doesn’t work.’ …If this is just something that works for aspirational kids who need something to believe in and buy into to get through another day…when you have it all, either Jesus is beautiful and wonderful and gorgeous and meaningful or He’s not.”

Smith concluded, “So, I could go on and on [about] how much I respect that man and love that man and feel like I’m just grateful a camera hasn’t followed me around since I was 14. That’d be a nightmare.”

Smith officiated Bieber’s 2019 wedding to Hailey Baldwin Bieber, and baptized the couple in 2020. In 2019, Bieber even helped lead a worship service at Churchome.

“[Justin and I] first met when Justin was like eight or something, in Toronto, and he’s always been a worshipper; it’s a lot of who he is,” Smith told the audience. “I want to be part of a church where everybody gets a fair [shot] at using their gifts to contribute to the community. And so, far be it from me to stand in the way of someone who clearly has a gift to lead worship.”

Later, Bieber spoke to TMZ about leading the service, saying, “My whole message at church the other day was [that] there’s power in your weakness…there’s so many people in this world who are struggling, but when you step out when you’re feeling weak…when you fight through that season and get to the other side, usually it gets better.”

Smith and Bieber’s longtime connection has taught both men important lessons about faith and friendship.

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