A journey from controversy to contrition

Pat Mesiti is back working as a motivational speaker. Photo / Supplied

In 2001, Pat Mesiti was living his dream. He had managed to overcome a deeply troubled upbringing to become one of Australia's most popular, and wealthy, evangelists. He had his own TV show, a lucrative career as a motivational speaker, a mansion in a flash Sydney suburb, a devoted wife and two beautiful daughters.

And then it all turned into a nightmare. It was discovered that he had been visiting prostitutes. He was sacked as national director of Australian Christian Churches and stripped of his licence to minister. His marriage imploded.

For the Australian media, the scandal was even more delicious as the same church had been rocked by a similar saga just two years previously. Its spiritual leader, Frank Houston, had been forced to resign amid allegations he had sexually abused young members of his congregation while a minister in New Zealand.

"I lost everything," Mesiti recalls. "I was so depressed that I couldn't talk for two years. I struggled with my mental health."

Yet seven years on, Mesiti claims business has never been better. While he is no longer a minister, he is back on the speaking circuit and doing what he loves most - preaching what he practises.

After some serious soul-searching, he has a new wife, another daughter and a very busy diary. He got himself back on track, he explains, "one day at a time, and one friend at a time".

Next week he will visit New Zealand, courtesy of The Knowledge Gym, for a seminar titled "The Mind to Succeed".

His message? If you want to be successful, hang out with successful people. If you want to make money, you have to make a plan. Follow your passion, be prepared to make changes in your life, and go for it.

Naturally, it's a bit more complicated than that, he insists.

"I don't just do the cheesy American stuff - 'you're amazing, you're wonderful'. I tell people: 'If you want to grow your business, you've got to grow yourself first'."

In fact, Mesiti has visited New Zealand many times over the past few years and claims to love the place. It would be his first choice of somewhere to live other than Australia, he gushes. Or maybe second, after the Amalfi coast in Italy.

One of the things he likes about New Zealand is that the tall poppy syndrome is not as bad here as it is across the Tasman. Well, he would say that, wouldn't he? But if his testimonials are true, then Mesiti does indeed still have the gift of the gab.

It has to be said that none of the information about his hasty departure from Sydney's infamous Hillsong Church is included in his publicity material, and it certainly isn't mentioned in his Celebrity Speakers profile. But Mesiti is happy enough to talk about it - it is, after all, all there on the net.