"When we first met, he remembered meeting me – I didn't remember meeting him. You just never know who you're talking to," says the pastor.
Of being a 'spiritual leader' of the most famous teen in the world, Judah said, "I'm just doing what I've always done. After 12 years of youth ministry, I know how to hang out with 19-year old dudes. Now he happens to be the most famous 19-year-old in the world, but the needs remain the same."
So what does the most famous 19-year-old in the world need?
"Attention, and affirmation and love," says Smith, who was in Sydney speaking at Hillsong Conference, which recently recognised as Australia's largest annual conference of any kind by the Australian Tourism Board. The conference drew up to 30,000 people to Sydney's Olympic Park.
Judah Smith took the stage along with Hillsong's United band to wrap up a week whose "Revival" theme created a great sense of expectancy among attendees and guests.
"Revival is God putting his breath on what we're doing and pouring out his spirit on us," stated Hillsong pastor Brian Houston. "Our church has carried the theme of Ezra 9:8-9 this year," he said, explaining that in this scripture, revival means "release, revive, repair and rebuild".
Now in its 27th year, the conference attracts international speakers such as T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen – and Judah Smith, Justin Beiber's Pastor.
For more information on Hillsong Conference or to register for the 2014 conference, visit www.hillsongconference.com. To read Judah Smith's most recent book, visit www.jesusisbook.com.
Grace Mathew is a Sydney-based writer and speaker.
Grace's archive of articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/grace-mathew.html