"The City Church" pastor Judah Smith has praised Justin Bieber using his talents for the Lord and thanked him for "fighting for your faith and taking the risk of relationship."
On Friday, Smith shared an Instagram photo of himself and others watching Bieber perform during the singer's "Purpose" tour.
"What I witnessed last night as I watched my friend and brother for life @justinbieber completely give himself to the gift God has given him and lift people's souls was nothing short of astounding," Smith captioned the photo. "Justin I love you, thank you for fighting for your faith and taking the risk of relationship! Let's get better every day and when we are 70 years old let's be kind, sweet, devoted men who look like Jesus."
Bieber, who reposted Smith's photo and caption, earlier unveiled a tattoo reading the phrase "Better at 70."
"I look back at a lot of things in my life, mistakes, insecurities, and although I have felt I've wasted a lot of time it also makes me want to be better faster and longer!" he explained. "For me personally I want to work everyday to be BETTER AT 70."
Smith first met the "Despacito" singer nearly a decade ago after his mom, Pattie Mallette, discovered his sermons and met him at a conference, according to Fox News. She told Smith that his tapes put her son to sleep and asked for the two to meet, and the rest is history.
Last year, Smith year told The Christian Post he has learned more from the pop star "than he could ever have learned from me".
"I feel like I have learned more from Justin Bieber than he could ever have learned from me," he said. "I have been allowed to love him and I feel like we are family. We talk almost every day. And I've learned that what does it profit a man to gain the whole world but in the process lose his soul?
"That all of the trappings that our culture tells us you pursue, leaves us as lifeless as you could possibly imagine.
"What really matters in life, even when you have hundreds of millions and are one of the most famous people in the world, is relationship with God and with each other, authentic relationship."
Bieber also reportedly frequently attends services led by the pastor at his City Church in Seattle.
It was previously revealed that the Canadian super star texts his pastor "almost daily" and it's not "just me sending him Bible verses anymore", Pastor Smith said.
"He'll send them to me, along with encouraging thoughts or an encouraging emoticon. I'm committed to helping him and protecting him, but it's fair to say we're there for each other," he added.
Bieber, who has become increasingly outspoken about his Christian faith, recently told the crowd at One Love Manchester to remember that God is good in the midst of the darkness and evil and that He loves His people - no matter what is happening in the world.
"I'm not going to let go of hope. I'm not going to let go of love. I'm not going to let go of God," he said. "Put your hands up if you're not going to let go," he said. "God is good in the midst of the darkness, God is good in the midst of the evil, God is in the midst no matter what is happening in the world.
"God is in the midst and he loves you and he's here for you."
