Usher Justin Bieber Made Bad Choices ... But He's No Racist 
 
 is finally speaking out about the videos that surfaced this month showing his protegeusing the n-word ... and even though he wasn't happy, Usher says J.B. is no bigot.Usher took to Instagram Saturday posting a pic of he and Biebs with a long caption describing how he feels ... he explains, "As I have watched Justin Bieber navigate difficult waters as a young man, I can tell you that he hasn't always chosen the path of his greatest potential, but he is unequivocally not a racist."He adds, "What he was 5 years ago was a naive child who did not understand the negative power and degradation that comes from playing with racial slurs. What he is now is a young man faced with an opportunity to become his best self, an example to the millions of kids that follow him to not make the same mistakes."For those of you keeping track ... Usher,, Young Money,andhave all voiced support for Justin, who has already apologized. ||||| Justin Bieber Baptized in NYC Bathtub 
 
 Justin Bieber -- Baptized in NYC Bathtub 
 
 EXCLUSIVE 
 
 turned to the Lord while being shaken down over his racist videos -- and TMZ has learned he washed away his sins with a baptism performed in a bathroom.-- who works with Bieber in NYC -- tells us he spent a week doing intense Bible study with Justin last month ... in the wake of being extorted over the videos.As we previously reported -- JB's team was contacted 2 months ago by a man in possession of the videos and wanted a million dollar payday or else he'd go public.We're told Bieber's religious resurgence focused on studying Bible passages and attending services ... culminating in an actual baptism performed in the bathtub of one of the singer's friends.Why a bathtub, you ask? We're told JB previously checked out a bunch of churches for the dip -- but his cover was blown every time and he wanted to keep the whole thing private.Justin's now got a clean slate with God -- but the public is a harder nut to crack.Amen. ||||| WHAT A WEEK! Friday, September 19th: FNL is at Dave & Buster's (234 W. 42nd St, 3rd fl) from 9pm-12am. It's a great time to get together with your church family and have some FUN! 
 
 Friday Young & Free is happening! For location & time, email NYCYouth@hillsong.com 
 
 Saturday we have Street Teams on the ground out in the Rockaways. We're there weekly and after we just collected school supplies, it's sure to be a great time. If you want to get involved, email RockawayHope@hillsong.com. 
 
 Sunday we're at the Grand Ballroom for service at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm as well as Montclair, New Jersey at The Wellmont Theatre for a single service at 10am. 
 
 Next Week: 
 
 Tuesday we have Exchange Bible Study in NYC at 155 E 22nd St starting at 7:30 as well as in New Jersey at The Loft starting at 7:30pm. 
 
 Wednesday we have a Welcome to Church Night! It's a great way to meet some of our team and find out exactly how to get involved. Starting at 7:30pm in NYC: The Jazz Room (199 Bowery) and in NJ: The Clubhouse (131 Glenridge Ave Montclair, NJ). Don't miss it if you're new to our church! 
 
 Thursday is Creative Team Night in NYC at 155 E 22nd St. and in New Jersey @ The Loft starting at 7:30pm. 
 
 If you were ever thinking about a time to get involved, it's now!
– Looks like Justin Bieber finally got that baptism he so desperately wanted. Biebs had been trying to find a church in New York City with a pool in which to get baptized since February, after a string of unfortunate choices got him quite a bit of bad press. Well, last week, he settled for a bathtub baptism, TMZ reports. Pastor Carl Lentz of Justin's fave Hillsong Church NYC performed the ritual in the home of one of Bieber's friends, sources say. Before the baptism, Lentz says he and Bieber did a week of "intense Bible study" involving reading and studying Bible passages and attending church services. The religious rebirth comes after Bieber's latest controversy—two videos of him using the n-word when he was younger were just recently released, two months after an alleged extortion attempt. A man demanded $1 million from Bieber or else he would release the videos, TMZ notes. If you were wondering how Bieber mentor Usher might react to that whole brouhaha, TMZ reported over the weekend that Usher insists Bieber "hasn't always chosen the path of his greatest potential, but he is unequivocally not a racist."