Jared Zwerling

MEET ROCK STAR PASTOR CARL LENTZ， SPIRITUAL GUIDE TO DURANT， MELO， NBAS ELITE.

認識一下大人物卡爾·蘭茨牧師，他是杜蘭特、安東尼等等NBA頂級球員的精神向?qū)А?/p>

"There are only two times when Im talking： balling and preaching，" Lentz said.

“我只在兩種情況下說話：打籃球和布道?！碧m茨說。

So who exactly is Carl Lentz？

那么，到底誰是卡爾·蘭茨？

He is one of the most connected people in NBA circles—but not for the reasons you may think. Hes not an agent， business representative or in any way connected to players financially. You could even pass him for a fashion stylist or rock-band member with his scruffy beard， half-shaved head and slickedback Mohawk， ripped jeans and leather jackets， graphic T-shirts and tattoos representing his family and faith.

他是NBA圈子里人脈最廣的人——不過原因和你想的可能有些不同。他不是經(jīng)紀人，不是商務(wù)代理，和球員在經(jīng)濟上也沒有任何聯(lián)系。從他不修邊幅的胡子、半剃光的腦袋、亂糟糟的莫西干發(fā)型、破舊的牛仔褲、皮夾克、印著圖案的T恤造型，以及代表他家庭與信仰的文身上，你也許會把他當做時尚設(shè)計師，或搖滾樂隊的成員。

A former college baller at N.C. State in the late 1990s， Lentz is one of the most sought-after pastors in the country. His base is New York Citys nontraditional Hillsong Church， which attracts a younger congregation with its liberal style and musical sermons.

上世紀90年代末，在北卡州大當過球員的蘭茨，如今是全美范圍內(nèi)最受歡迎的牧師之一。他的本部是紐約市非傳統(tǒng)的希爾桑教堂，他用自由的風(fēng)格和音樂式的布道，吸引了更加年輕的教眾。

This past December， before his 36th birthday， Lentz was named to Esquires "37 People Under 35 Who Are Reshaping The World，" along with the likes of LeBron James， Beyonce， Channing Tatum and Mark Zuckerberg. The story called Lentz "the hipster Joel Osteen，" a pastor whos even befriended Justin Bieber and many other celebrities who attend his church.

過去的這個12月，在他36歲生日前，蘭茨被《時尚先生》雜志評為“37個35歲以下重新定義世界的人”之一，和他一起入選這個名單的，還有諸如勒布朗·詹姆斯、碧昂斯（歌手）、錢寧·塔圖姆（演員）和馬克·扎克伯格（facebook創(chuàng)始人）。那篇文章將蘭茨稱為“嬉皮士版的喬爾·奧斯汀”，后者也是牧師。蘭茨甚至和賈斯汀·比伯都成了朋友，而且前往他教堂的人中很多都是他的名人朋友。

"I speak the same language as them. Its a huge advantage for me，" said Lentz， whos also close with some NFL players.

“我和他們說著同樣的語言，對我來說這是一個巨大的優(yōu)勢?！碧m茨說，他還和一些NFL球員關(guān)系密切。

As much as his words may inspire players hearts， Lentzs down-to-earth， relatable approach—bridging the gap between the court and the church—wins over their heads.

就像他的言語能激勵球員一樣，蘭茨平易近人的行事方式——將球場與教堂聯(lián)系在了一起，也贏得了球員們的心。

"Hes definitely relatable，" Durant said. "He came to me as a friend first， and I can say that he genuinely cares. We just grew from there， and then our relationship as far as being attached to the church. I went to church growing up， but I didnt really pay attention， honestly. I knew the basics. I just wanted to learn more and grow as a man， and he taught me a lot about the Bible and learning from God.”

“他絕對能引起共鳴?！倍盘m特說，“他主動和我成為了朋友，我可以說他是發(fā)自真心的關(guān)心。我們從那開始發(fā)展，我們之間的關(guān)系都和教堂相關(guān)。從小到大我一直都去教堂，但說實話，我沒真正認真聽過。我知道基礎(chǔ)的東西，我只是想更多地了解，成長為一個男人。他教會了我很多圣經(jīng)以及如何從上帝身上學(xué)習(xí)的經(jīng)驗?！?img src="https://cimg.fx361.com/images/2024/04/03/qkimagesklanklan201504klan20150425-1-l.jpg"/>

"What you find with people who are really famous is that often theyre isolated，" Lentz said. "They have so much money that they cant trust anybody， or anybody that tries to help them always has a hook trying to get something from them. So our [churchs] big advantage is we dont need anything from[them]， and were not pursuing anybody except for whos in front of us.”

“你能從那些真正很有名的人身上發(fā)現(xiàn)，通常他們很孤獨?！碧m茨說，“他們的錢太多，所以不能相信任何人，或者任何試圖幫助他們的人總是想從他們那里得到一些東西。所以我們的教堂最大的優(yōu)勢，就是我們不需要他們的任何東西，我們不會去追逐任何人，我們只關(guān)注眼前的人。”

One of the first things Lentz did when he moved to New York in the fall of 2010， to open Hillsong， was attend a Knicks game. Shortly after， a local pastor named Rex Duval introduced Lentz to former Knicks All-Star Allan Houston. Then came Tyson Chandler and other team members.

2010年秋天為了開辦希爾桑教堂而搬到紐約后，蘭茨做的第一件事，就是去看了一場尼克斯的比賽。沒過多久，一個名叫萊克斯·杜瓦爾的當?shù)啬翈熃榻B蘭茨認識了前尼克斯全明星球員阿蘭·休斯頓。接下來他又認識了泰森·錢德勒和其他球員隊員。

"Hes my mentor and provides consistency in my life，" said Chandler， who turned to Lentz last season when he was dealing with a serious family situation， flying to and from games to be with his loved ones. "To see someone who doesnt want anything and just be there for you during a time of need is the most valuable thing that someone can give.

“他是我的導(dǎo)師，為我的生活帶來了一致性。”錢德勒表示。二年前錢德勒面臨著嚴重的家庭問題，他需要乘飛機在愛人與比賽之間來回奔波，為此他尋求了蘭茨的幫助?！翱吹揭粋€人什么也不要，只是在你需要的時候支持你，這是一個人能給予的最寶貴的東西?！?/p>

Through his Knicks friendships， Lentz was there for Jeremy Lin during his historic run in 2012. One day， while heading to his wedding anniversary dinner， Lentz made a detour to pick up Lin and bring him along to answer his questions about the gospel and Christianity.

通過他的尼克斯關(guān)系，2012年在史詩般的林瘋狂期間，蘭茨成了林書豪的后盾。有一天，在他參加自己的結(jié)婚紀念日晚宴時，蘭茨還特意繞道接了林書豪，并回答了他有關(guān)教義和基督教的相關(guān)問題。

"Hes pretty remarkable，" Lin said. "He definitely helped me through that time in my life. To receive that much attention， fame and power all overnight is very contrary to the gospel， because it talks about humility and giving God the glory. So while society was talking about how great I was， I had to really fight back and really remember that God gave me the blessing thats here because God wanted me to be here. Carl helped me understand that. Its still an ongoing process that I have to continue to work through.”

“他相當出色?！绷謺辣硎荆霸谖胰松哪嵌螘r間，他絕對幫助了我。一夜之間得到那么多關(guān)注、名氣和權(quán)力，這和教義正好相反，因為基督教說的是謙虛，一切榮光屬于上帝。所以在社會談?wù)撐叶鄥柡r，我必須反擊，我必須記住是上帝給了我祝福，因為上帝希望我在這里，我才能站在這里。卡爾幫助我理解了這些。這是一個仍然在繼續(xù)的過程，我必須繼續(xù)努力下去?！?/p>

In November 2013， Metta World Peace asked Lentz to be the pastor for the funeral of his half-sister， Shalice. "It was a special honor for me to do that，" Lentz said. "It really impacted me.”

2013年11月，慈世平邀請?zhí)m茨擔(dān)任他同父異母姐姐沙麗斯葬禮的牧師?！皩ξ襾碚f這是一個特別的榮譽。”蘭茨說，“這真的影響到了我?！?/p>

The Knicks are only one focus of Lentzs service. Five years ago， he became friendly with current Cavaliers forward Mike Miller. They met through their mutual friend， Adam Harrington， who was Lentzs teammate at N.C. State and is now the shooting coach for Durant and the Thunder.

尼克斯不是蘭茨布道工作的唯一關(guān)注點。五年前，他和現(xiàn)騎士前鋒邁克·米勒成了朋友。兩人通過共同的朋友亞當·哈靈頓認識，哈靈頓是蘭茨在北卡州大的隊友，現(xiàn)在還是杜蘭特和雷霆的投籃教練。

"Meeting Carl has really changed my life in a lot of ways，" Miller said."Hes really made me a better father， a better husband， a better friend， a better teammate. He has the unique way of bringing light to every situation， and its been a blessing to have him in my life. I really consider him basically my life coach. Carl is and will be a big shift in the culture of the NBA. I introduce him to as many teammates as I possibly can just because I know what kind of impact hes had on my life.”

“認識卡爾真的改變了我生活的很多方面。”米勒說，“他讓我成為了一個更好的父親、更好的丈夫、更好的朋友、更好的隊友。他有特殊的方法，能在任何情況下給你帶來希望，我的生活中有他，這是上天的恩賜。我基本把他看作我的人生指導(dǎo)?？柆F(xiàn)在，將來都會為NBA的文化帶來巨大的提升。我會盡量多地向隊友介紹他，就是因為我知道他對我的生活帶來了什么樣的影響?！?/p>

When Miller and other players are in NYC for a weekend game and it fits their schedule， they will bring along some of their teammates to one of Hillsongs six services on Sunday at Manhattan Center—one block from Madison Square Garden. This season， Miller and James Jones brought Kyrie Irving. Fields came with Greivis Vasquez. During All-Star Weekend， several players attended Hillsong.

當米勒和其他球員到紐約市打周末的比賽時，如果時間合適，他們會帶著其他隊友參加希爾桑教堂周日六次的布道活動。這個教堂就在曼哈頓中心——距離麥迪遜廣場花園只有一個街區(qū)。本賽季，米勒和詹姆斯·瓊斯帶凱里·歐文去了。蘭德里·菲爾茲帶著格雷維斯·瓦斯奎茲。全明星周末期間，不少球員去了希爾桑教堂。

Lentz met Durant after a March 2013 game at MSG. They talked that night for 30 minutes， and Lentz said theyve been in touch every day since through phone calls or texts. Lentz even baptized Durant in 2013 in the Thunder All-Stars pool at his Oklahoma City home.

2013年3月在麥迪遜廣場花園的一場比賽后，蘭茨認識了杜蘭特。那天晚上他們聊了30分鐘，蘭茨說，從那之后，他們每天都會通過電話或短信聯(lián)系。2013年，蘭茨甚至在杜蘭特位于俄克拉荷馬城家里的泳池里為他進行了施洗。

Lentz was with Durant during All-Star Weekend， and helped him learn from his media outburst when he told reporters， "You guys dont know shit."

全明星周末期間蘭茨和杜蘭特在一起，幫助他從自己在媒體面前失態(tài)的事件中吸取經(jīng)驗，杜蘭特那時對媒體說：“你們這些家伙真的狗屁都不知道?！?/p>

Lentz said the two biggest issues that he helps players deal with are"taking care of their family and trying to find peace in the middle of turmoil.”

蘭茨說，他幫助球員應(yīng)對的兩個最大問題，就是“照顧自己的家庭，并試圖在混亂中尋找平靜?！?/p>

What message does he emphasize the most？

他強調(diào)最多的是什么信息呢？

"Dont get caught dreaming so much about the future that you miss the power of the present，" Lentz said. That has a special meaning in his connection to players.

“不要過多地夢想未來，這樣你就會錯過‘現(xiàn)在的力量。”蘭茨說。在他與球員的聯(lián)系中，這有著特別的意義。

"I tell them， Use basketball， dont let basketball use you， because it will milk you for all youre worth and squeeze you dry， " he said. " If youre going to be famous， use your platform. If youre a Christian， your life should be about helping other people. Becoming a better man makes you a better player."

“我對他們說：‘利用籃球，不要讓籃球利用你。因為它會壓榨你的所有價值，把你榨干?！碧m茨說，“如果你會出名，利用你的平臺。如果你是基督徒，你的人生關(guān)注的應(yīng)該是幫助他人。成為一個更好的人能讓你成為一個更好的球員?！?/p>

Lentz also talked about how whenever hes about to pray for someone in a hospital， Durant will always—even before hes about to take the court—send him a text message for the patient saying something like， "Hey， man， its Kevin Durant. Carl says youre going through some stuff. Keep your head up， much love.”

蘭茨有時候會帶著球員去紐約市的Bowery Mission地區(qū)為無家可歸者贈送食物，他稱贊球員們在社區(qū)中“比人們所知道的更為活躍”。他說大衛(wèi)·李會抽時間前往不同城市的兒童醫(yī)院。他說到了桑迪颶風(fēng)過后，錢德勒是如何在尼克斯的訓(xùn)練結(jié)束后，一路開車到皇后區(qū)的洛克威海灘給那些需要的人們送食品——他甚至渾身濕透來不及換衣服。蘭茨還提到了，無論何時他需要為醫(yī)院里的某人祈禱時，杜蘭特都會給予幫助，他甚至?xí)谏蠄霰荣惽敖o病人發(fā)條短信，寫著類似”嘿兄弟，我是凱文·杜蘭特?？栒f你正在經(jīng)歷一些問題。打起精神，愛你”的字眼。

Its a regular paying job， with plenty of pro bono acts of kindness—many that have changed the lives of NBA players.

這是一份收入普通的工作，包括很多免費的善舉——而其中卻改變了很多NBA球員的人生。

"This is the life I pursued and have a passion for—serving others without getting anything in return，" Lentz said. "Im very happy doing what Im doing.”

“這是我追尋的生活，這是我激情所在——服務(wù)他人，不求回報。”蘭茨說，“我很高興做我在做的事情?！?/p>