Home Australia Stephanie Rice reveals family fear she’s ‘joined a cult’ after embracing Christianity – and rushing down the aisle with pastor Mark Lassey after just ten months of dating

Stephanie Rice reveals family fear she’s ‘joined a cult’ after embracing Christianity – and rushing down the aisle with pastor Mark Lassey after just ten months of dating

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Stephanie Rice has shared how her friends and family feared she had

Stephanie Rice has shared how her friends and family feared she had “joined a cult” when she first expressed her strong interest in Christianity.

The former Olympic swimmer, 38, married pastor Mark Lassey earlier this month after just ten months of dating, with the couple bonding over religion.

“A lot of people thought I had lost my mind or fallen into some cult or something and that’s fine,” he told courier mail this week.

Rice says she dismisses these concerns by asking, “Aren’t you happy for me because I’m in a good place?”

The athlete claims that she has dedicated herself ‘one hundred percent’ to religion and that doing so ‘saved’ her.

Rice and her new husband, who is also a dedicated Christian, are now looking to the future.

Stephanie Rice has shared how her friends and family feared she had “joined a cult” when she first expressed her strong interest in Christianity. Pictured with her husband Mark Lassey

“We would love to (have a family) if that’s something we can do,” he said.

“Mark has three children, so if he didn’t want to have more children, it would have been very difficult for me to evaluate because I always wanted to be a mother.”

Stephanie surprised her fans with a second wedding just days after her first earlier this month.

She married her partner Mark after a whirlwind ten-month romance earlier that week.

Stephanie then held a second wedding, again in Perth, and shared a glimpse of the event on social media.

‘Because one night wasn’t enough. We had the most incredible night celebrating our marriage and farewell with our favorite people, on the most incredible rooftop, in this beautiful city, under the presence of God,’ she wrote in her Instagram caption.

“Thank you to all our family and friends who flew from all over the world to make these the most memorable days of our lives,” the athlete continued.

‘And to all our family who prayed, encouraged and honored our love story. “You all mean a lot to us and made these two days so special.”

The former Olympic swimmer, 38, married pastor Mark Lassey earlier this month after just ten months of dating, with the couple bonding over religion.

The former Olympic swimmer, 38, married pastor Mark Lassey earlier this month after just ten months of dating, with the couple bonding over religion.

In the images, the couple said ‘I do’ for the second time at a rooftop venue surrounded by family and friends.

Steph opted for a stunning sleeveless silk dress for her second ceremony and added a pair of pearl earrings.

She carried a large bouquet of white flowers while her heels were hidden by her long train.

Meanwhile, Mark looked dapper in a cream suit and a partially unbuttoned white shirt.

The couple partied late into the night with their guests with fireworks at the venue while sharing a kiss.

Stephanie had previously delighted in exchanging vows with the Australian shepherd, 46, during a ceremony at a vineyard in her native Perth.

The couple met in early 2024 and got engaged in September after seven months of dating.

For the ceremony, which took place at Sandalford Wines, Steph looked every inch the blushing bride in a gorgeous strapless satin gown that featured a long train that fluttered behind her.

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“A lot of people thought I had lost my mind or fallen into some cult or something and that’s fine,” he told the Courier Mail this week.

She let her dress speak for itself and simply accessorized with a delicate necklace and drop earrings, while wearing her brunette locks loose over her shoulders.

Steph looked lovingly at her new husband, Mark, who cut an elegant figure in a tuxedo, consisting of a white shirt, black pants and a soft cream suit jacket.

The couple shared a video documenting the moment they were declared married.

In the pictures, they smiled with joy while holding hands at the outdoor altar that sat under a natural green vine pergola.

They were then showered with confetti as they walked down the aisle together as newlyweds before sharing a romantic kiss.

The couple then celebrated their union with their closest friends and family during an outdoor sunset reception on the vineyard grounds.

Later that night, the couple kissed as flares lit up the sky behind them.

In an accompanying caption, Steph shared her excitement about starting her married life with Mark in Dubai, where they plan to live together.

Rice and her new husband, who is also a dedicated Christian, are now looking to the future and hope to start a family.

Rice and her new husband, who is also a dedicated Christian, are now looking to the future and hope to start a family.

She gushed: ‘Surrounded by our closest family and friends, those who loved, supported and guided us on our journey, we all came together to celebrate our love and the beginning of an eternity together.

‘As we enter this new chapter as husband and wife, where two become one, our hearts are very full.

‘The day was everything we dreamed it would be: overflowing with love, joy and the tangible presence of God. It felt like the sky touched the earth.

‘Thank you to everyone who made our day so special! “We are truly blessed.”

He ended his post with a Bible quote and added: ‘I know all about the wonderful destiny I have in store for you, a future planned in detail.

‘My intention is not to harm you, but to surround you with peace and prosperity and give you a beautiful future, sparkling with hope – Jeremiah 29:11 TPT.’

Stephanie, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, joined the church when she moved to Dubai late last year and is now heavily involved with Kingdom City.

Mark is a pastor at the same organization in Perth and has been with the church for over 10 years, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Stephanie surprised her fans with a second wedding just days after her first earlier this month.

Stephanie surprised her fans with a second wedding just days after her first earlier this month.

Stephanie then celebrated the second wedding, again in Perth, and shared a glimpse of the event on social media.

Stephanie then celebrated the second wedding, again in Perth, and shared a glimpse of the event on social media.

1737715181 720 Stephanie Rice reveals family fear shes joined a cult after

“We had the most incredible night celebrating our marriage and farewell with our favorite people, on the most incredible rooftop, in this beautiful city, under the presence of God,” she wrote in her Instagram caption.

The athlete was absolutely delighted.

The athlete was absolutely delighted.

Kingdom City started in Perth in 2003 and has since gone global with branches in Africa, Europe and Asia, as well as the Middle East.

Their wedding comes after a whirlwind ten months of dating after they were first introduced by a mutual friend in early 2024.

They quietly dated for five months before going public with their romance on Instagram in July, just weeks before getting engaged.

The couple have been in a long-distance relationship and Mark resides in Perth, while Steph moved to Dubai in November 2023.

The couple announced their engagement in September after Mark popped the question at Dubai’s luxury Atlantis The Royal hotel while visiting Steph.

Mark is the father of three sons, Tyler, Joel and Luke, from a previous relationship.

Previously, Steph was romantically involved with former soldier Dane Christison, whom she met in an Australian church.

They vacationed together in the United States during Christmas 2023, but she publicly announced their separation a few months later in May 2024.

Stephanie had previously delighted in exchanging vows with the Australian shepherd, 46, during a ceremony at a vineyard in her native Perth.

Stephanie had previously delighted in exchanging vows with the Australian shepherd, 46, during a ceremony at a vineyard in her native Perth.

The couple shared a video documenting the moment they were declared married

The couple shared a video documenting the moment they were declared married

They sealed their vows with a kiss.

They sealed their vows with a kiss.

For the ceremony, Steph looked every inch the blushing bride in a gorgeous strapless satin gown that featured a long train that fluttered behind her.

For the ceremony, Steph looked every inch the blushing bride in a gorgeous strapless satin gown that featured a long train that fluttered behind her.

Stephanie had removed images of her boyfriend from her Instagram page as early as early March and hadn’t mentioned him in a few weeks.

The athlete later spoke about how happy she was that their relationship was over.

“When I moved, I really wanted to share a lot more of the trip with you in real time,” he said.

‘I was just going through the deepest healing. I was in a really challenging relationship at the time, when we broke up I felt like the peace of God was upon me. I felt free. “I felt happy.”

At the time, Stephanie said her new life in Dubai had taken a weight off her shoulders.

‘For the first time I realized the heaviness I was carrying. “I just felt like everything had been taken away from me and I feel like now I’m in this incredible place where I feel very happy, very content,” she said.

‘God is so good. “I’m seeing so much fruit of the wonderful things God has given me, and I want to be able to share a lot more of what happened in the last six months,” he said.

“Now I have much more clarity, much more peace and much more happiness.”

The couple met in early 2024 and got engaged in September after seven months of dating.

The couple met in early 2024 and got engaged in September after seven months of dating.

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