Faith and Fate

Eight years after Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber first started dating, the famous (and infamously rocky) pair solidify their romance once and for all

Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber are taking a big step together after reconnecting.

Selena Gomez casually strode through an LA parking lot on Oct. 31 on her way to Panera Bread. But while she looked carefree, the star’s not taking anything for granted months after secretly receiving a kidney transplant as a result of her battle with the autoimmune disease lupus. In her hand during the lunch run? A book by evangelical Christian pastor Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?, which promises to help readers understand God’s plan for their lives.

Spirituality is more important to Selena than ever. “Her faith in God and her trust in Jesus has done everything for her,” Carl Lentz, lead pastor at Hillsong NYC (where Selena frequently attends services), tells Life & Style. “I’m sure that helped her through whatever she was going through.” It’s also helped reunite her with Justin Bieber, a Hillsong devotee and close friend of Carl’s. Now the on- again, off- again pair are back together, and two sources exclusively tell Life & Style they’re making plans to get married and start a family as soon as possible. They’re moving awfully fast, but “Selena’s health scare has given her more reason to live than ever,” says an insider, who expects Selena to be a pregnant bride. “She doesn’t want to waste another precious second.”

BONDED FOREVER

Three years after they split for what fans thought was the final time, Selena, 25, and Justin, 23, have been inseparable. On Oct. 29, they had a oneon- one breakfast before attending church together and returning to his mansion. Another fullday hang followed on Nov. 1. Before cheering on Justin at a nighttime rec- reational hockey game, Selena went on a couples’ bike ride with him in LA, then rested her head on his shoulder during a stroll. She was still clutching her copy of The Purpose Driven Life, and a shared devotion to God is seemingly a huge factor in the pair’s reignited relationship. “A lot of what Justin has learned in his life has come from following Jesus and being a Christian,” Carl points out. “He’s just growing day by day. I’m just proud of his life.”

Justin’s life is about to get a whole lot richer. He and Selena “had discussed eloping,” reveals a source. “But now she wants a wedding — the bigger the better. She wants a white dress, thousands of colorful roses and her very best

“I’m happy when he’s happy.” — Selena on Justin