Lakewood Church Explained

Lakewood Church
Location: Houston, Texas
Attendance:45,000
Founded Date:May 10, 1959 (65 years ago)
Founder:John Osteen
Capacity:16,800
Seniorpastor:Joel and Victoria Osteen
Pastor:Nick Nilson, Dr. Paul Osteen, Craig Johnson, Lisa Osteen Comes
Country: United States

Lakewood Church is a non-denominational evangelical Christian megachurch located in Houston, Texas. It is among the largest congregations in the United States, averaging about 45,000 attendees per week.[1] The 16,800-seat Lakewood Church building, home to four English-language services and two Spanish-language services per week,[2] is located at the former Compaq Center.[3] Joel Osteen is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church with his wife, Victoria, who serves as co-pastor.

It has 368 full-time and part-time staff.

History

Lakewood Church, originally called Lakewood Baptist Church, was founded by John Osteen and his second wife, Dolores (Dodie) on Mother's Day, May 10, 1959, in a tent. The church then moved to an abandoned feed store in northeast Houston.[4] John was a Southern Baptist minister, but after experiencing baptism in the Holy Spirit, he founded Lakewood as a church for charismatic Baptists. The church soon dropped "Baptist" from its name and became nondenominational. In 1961, John Osteen left the church and was called to missions. Marvin Crow became the pastor in his absence until John returned in 1969. In 1972, Lakewood broke ground for a new building that seated seven hundred people. By 1979, attendance was over five thousand, and the church was becoming prominent among Pentecostals and charismatics. John and Dodie created and hosted Lakewood's weekly television program, which could be seen in one hundred countries worldwide. On February 15, 1987, a groundbreaking was held for a new eight-thousand–seat sanctuary, which was completed in April 1988.

Following John Osteen's death on January 23, 1999, his youngest son, Joel Osteen, became the pastor that October.[5]

In 2001, Tropical Storm Allison caused flooding in the Houston area. Lakewood Church was opened as a shelter to approximately five thousand displaced persons.[6] [7] [8]

Under Joel Osteen, Lakewood's congregation increased almost fivefold.[9] Attendance increased to thirty thousand  weekly, prompting a move from its location at 7317 East Houston Road[10] [11] to a larger facility. In late 2003, the church signed a long-term lease with the city of Houston to acquire the Compaq Center, a 29-year-old former sports arena.[12]

Lakewood Church relocated to the Compaq Center on July 16, 2005. It is a 16,800-seat facility in southwest downtown Houston along U.S. Highway 59, that has twice the capacity of its former sanctuary.[13] The church was required to pay $11.8 million in rent in advance for the first thirty years of the lease. Lakewood renovated the new campus at an estimated cost of $100 million.

The church received $15 million after selling the former building to New Light Christian Center Church.[14] On March 31, 2010, the Houston City Council voted 13–2 to sell the property to Lakewood for $7.5 million.[15]

On December 3, 2021, national news services reported that a plumber found cash and checks within a wall behind a toilet that was being repaired. They may have been related to a 2014 incident in which $600,000 in cash and checks disappeared from a safe.[16]

On January 14, 2024, Joel Osteen announced that Lakewood Church had paid off the $100 million dollar loan used to renovate the campus.[17] [18]

Shooting

See main article: Lakewood Church shooting. On February 11, 2024, a woman with a history of mental health issues, Genesse Ivonne Moreno, accompanied by her 7-year-old son, entered the church between services and began firing an AR-15. Two off-duty police officers working security returned fire and killed her. Her boy was critically injured with a gunshot to the head during the exchange of gunfire. Another man who was present was wounded in the hip, treated at a local hospital and released.[19] [20]

Beliefs

Lakewood Church believes that the entire Bible is inspired by God, and the church bases its teachings on this belief. The church also believes in the Trinity, and recognizes the death of Christ on the cross and resurrection.

The church practices the following, believing them to be commanded in the Bible:

Lakewood Church is known for its Word of Faith teaching. It is also known, before every sermon, for a creed (originally led by John and continued by Joel) which the congregation repeats in unison.[22]

Church organization

Lakewood offers different types of ministries, fellowships, and services depending on the age, marital status, and need of its members.

Services

During weekend services, Joel Osteen, Victoria Osteen, or Danilo Montero preach. On Wednesday nights, associate pastors Paul Osteen, Lisa Osteen Comes, Nick Nilson, and Craig Johnson, or guest speakers preach.

Education

Various classes are offered through the Compass Classes ministry, meeting before and after weekend services.[23]

Television

The church's weekly services are broadcast on Trinity Broadcasting Network and Daystar Television Network,[24] as well as local channels in most major U.S. markets. Lakewood also appears on secular networks, such as Fox Network, Freeform, and USA Network. In 2007, Lakewood reported spending nearly $30 million every year on its television ministry.[25] Osteen's sermons are also televised in more than 100 countries, with an estimated 7 million viewers each week.[26] Lakewood also hosts a Night of Hope every month. This is when the church hosts a Christian service event in one of the arenas or stadiums all across America.

Hispanic ministry

In 2002, Lakewood began a Hispanic ministry, Iglesia Lakewood, founded by Hispanic Pastor Marcos Witt and his wife, Miriam Witt. In September 2012, Danilo and Gloriana Montero assumed the role of associate pastors for the Hispanic ministry. Lakewood has two services each week in Spanish and translates all English services into Spanish. The weekly attendance at the Spanish services is approximately 6,000 people.[27] [28]

Charitable work

Since 2016, Lakewood Church organizes an annual Mobilizing Medical Missions Conference to equip doctors for on-field medical missions.[29] The church has been active during natural disasters by organizing food distribution programs and blood donation drives during COVID 19,[30] providing shelter services during Hurricane Ida and 2021 Texas Freeze,[31] [32] and serving as a distribution center for essential supplies during Hurricane Harvey.[33]

Criticism

Prosperity gospel

Osteen's sermons and writings are sometimes noted for promoting prosperity theology, or the prosperity gospel, a belief that material gain is a reward for pious Christians.[34] [35] However, when asked if he is a prosperity teacher, Osteen responded that if prosperity means God wants people to be blessed and healthy and have good relationships, then he considers himself a prosperity teacher, but if it is about money, he does not. He has specifically stated that he never preaches about money because of the reputation of televangelists.[36] In an interview with The Christian Post on April 21, 2013, Osteen expressed his sentiments on being perceived as being part of the prosperity gospel. "I get grouped into the prosperity gospel and I never think it's fair, but it's just what it is. I think prosperity, and I've said it 1,000 times, it's being healthy, it's having great children, it's having peace of mind. Money is part of it; and yes, I believe God wants us to excel ... to be blessed so we can be a bigger blessing to others. I feel very rewarded. I wrote a book and sold millions of copies; and Victoria and I were able to help more people than we ever dreamed of. But when I hear the term prosperity gospel, I think people are sometimes saying, 'Well, he's just asking for money'."[37] On October 14, 2007, 60 Minutes ran a twelve-minute segment on Osteen, titled "Joel Osteen Answers his Critics", during which Reformed theologian Michael Horton told CBS News correspondent Byron Pitts that Osteen's message is heresy. Horton stated that the problem with Osteen's message is that it makes religion about us instead of about God.[38] According to the Houston Chronicle Lakewood church’s income was $89m in the year ending March 2017. More than 90 percent of that was raised from church followers and barely 1 percent of its budget went to charitable causes.[39]

Slow response to Hurricane Harvey

During the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Osteen received significant criticism in response to not making Lakewood Church, a 606000square feet, 16,000 seat, former basketball arena, available as an emergency shelter for those displaced by the storm.[40] [41] [42] [43] [44] On August 27, posts from the church and a Lakewood Church associate pastor's social media accounts stated that the church was "inaccessible due to severe flooding," and associate pastor John Gray posting further, "If WE could get there WE WOULD OPEN THE DOORS."[45] [46] However the area was not under flood warning and photos and videos posted on social media appeared to counter the church's claim.[47] In a subsequent interview, Osteen denied the claim that the church was closed during the flood, saying "the church has been open from the beginning," and, "We've always been open … How this notion got started, that we're not a shelter and we're not taking people in is a false narrative."[44] [48] [49] [50] He also said that "On the evening of August 28, it was announced by Lakewood that it would open at noon the next day as an available shelter, opening to storm victims and emergency personnel on August 29".[44]

On August 15, 2018, the City of Houston and Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed a "Lakewood Church Day" in honor of Lakewood's assistance in reconstruction efforts across the Houston area.[51] [52] It stated Lakewood has provided "assistance to more than 1,150 Houston-area families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by floodwaters" and bought "1.1 million dollars in building materials, furniture, appliances, and paid labor, as well as through the contribution of more than 2,500 volunteers".[53] The unconfirmed but oft mentioned reason for Lakewood not initially opening doors to hurricane survivors was the former basketball arena’s carpet had been recently replaced.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cochran. Amanda. 2021-12-03. Lakewood Church: The Houston megachurch by the numbers. 2022-02-14. KPRC. en.
  2. Web site: Services. Lakewood Church. December 29, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20100201101520/http://www.lakewood.cc/SERVICES/Pages/LakewoodChurchServices.aspx. February 1, 2010. dead.
  3. News: America's largest church opens in former arena. USA Today. July 14, 2005. July 21, 2009.
  4. Book: Conser Jr . Walter H. . Rodger M. Payne . Southern Crossroads:Perspectives on Religion and Culture. The University Press of Kentucky . 2008 . 67–68 . 978-0-8131-2494-0.
  5. Phillip Luke Sinitiere, Salvation with a Smile: Joel Osteen, Lakewood Church, and American Christianity, NYU Press, USA, 2015, p. 64
  6. News: Joel Osteen's Houston megachurch opens doors as shelter. Associated Press. August 29, 2017. The Denver Post. September 6, 2017.
  7. News: Faithful return to Houston church to worship and to help storm's refugees. June 18, 2001. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Associated Press. September 6, 2017.
  8. News: Joel Osteen calls claim he shut church doors on Harvey victims 'a false narrative' . Kuzydym. Stephanie. Phillips. Kristine. August 30, 2017. The Washington Post . September 6, 2017.
  9. Web site: Nation's largest church opens in stadium. NBC News. July 16, 2005. February 25, 2007.
  10. "Contact Information." Lakewood Church. October 18, 2000. Retrieved on April 8, 2009.
  11. "Contact Us." Lakewood Church. June 23, 2003.
  12. News: A Sports Arena Gets Religion. The New York Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20090424123021/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/10/business/10prop.html?ex=1172552400&en=c8cb3279d9f71269&ei=5070 . dead . April 24, 2009 . February 25, 2007 . Terry . Pristin . March 10, 2004.
  13. Lonsway, Brian. “Spiritual Summit.” The Houston Journal of Architecture. 74 (2008): 14–19.
  14. Web site: Dawson. Jennifer. New life for former Lakewood Church. Houston Business Journal. 2005-10-17. 2021-03-30.
  15. Bradley Olson and Moises Mendoza. "City Council OKs sale of ex-Compaq to Lakewood." Houston Chronicle. March 31, 2010.
  16. News: Plumber finds cash, checks behind loose toilet in wall at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church. NBC News.
  17. News: Killelea . Eric . Tearful Joel Osteen rips up $100M loan on Lakewood Church stage . 2024-02-08 . Chron . en.
  18. News: Briggs . Shakari . Joel Osteen says he's paid off $100 million debt from Lakewood Church renovations . 2024-02-08 . Houston Chronicle . en.
  19. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/shooting-joel-osteen-church_n_65c93fdbe4b067c6b73d4836 Woman Firing Rifle Killed By 2 Off-Duty Officers At Joel Osteen's Church, 2 Others Hurt, Police Say
  20. Web site: Shooter at Houston megachurch had lengthy criminal history including weapons charges, police say. Christina . Maxouris . Lauren . Mascarenhas . John . Miller . CNN. February 12, 2024.
  21. Web site: What We Believe. September 20, 2014.
  22. Web site: This Is My Bible . March 19, 2018 . March 20, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180320043734/https://www.joelosteen.com/downloadables/Pages/Downloads/ThisIsMyBible_JOM.pdf . dead .
  23. http://lakewood.cc/pages/ministries/Ministry.aspx?mid=8 Compass Bible Studies
  24. Daystar is the only network to broadcast the one-hour Lakewood service, which features not only Joel Osteen's sermons but music and other pronouncements from Lakewood, on Tuesday evenings at 10PM Eastern Time.
  25. Web site: Interview: Joel Osteen on the Future of America's Churches and Him Pastoring One. The Christian Post. February 25, 2007. February 24, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070224220453/http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070215/25806_2_Interview%3A_Joel_Osteen_on_the_Future_of_America%27s_Churches_and_Him_Pastoring_One.htm. dead.
  26. Web site: No Politics From This Pulpit . Newsweek . January 24, 2008 . April 11, 2010.
  27. Web site: Horario de servicios . September 20, 2014 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120828013504/http://espanol.lakewood.cc/pages/nuevo-aqui/horario-de-servicios.aspx. August 28, 2012.
  28. Web site: Marcos Witt . September 20, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120829161938/http://espanol.lakewood.cc/pages/nuevo-aqui/marcos-witt.aspx. August 29, 2012.
  29. News: Lawson . Melanie . Paul Osteen: How letting go led him to his true calling . ABC13 Houston . February 8, 2016.
  30. News: Amid shortage caused by COVID-19 pandemic,Lakewood Church hosts emergency blood drive . Chron .
  31. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-osteen-church-texas-cold-idUSKBN2AJ1WP “Fact check: Pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church did open its doors to shelter Texans from the cold,”
  32. News: Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church shelters over 100 evacuees of Hurricane Ida . The Christian Post .
  33. News: Staff . Lakewood Church pastors recognized for work during Hurricane Harvey . FOX 26 Houston . 14 August 2018.
  34. News: Blumenthal. Ralph. Joel Osteen's Credo: Eliminate the Negative, Accentuate Prosperity. The New York Times . March 30, 2006 . January 5, 2014.
  35. News: Transcript: Pastor Joel Osteen on 'FNS'. December 23, 2007 . May 13, 2011 . Now, as with most successful people, you have critics who say that what you offer is gospel 'lite,' the prosperity gospel. . FOX News.
  36. News: Joel Osteen: The Man Behind America's Largest Church. CBN.com. November 16, 2013.
  37. Web site: Interview: Joel Osteen on Life, Tragedy and Why He Shuns 'Prosperity Gospel' Label. Christian Post. April 21, 2013 .
  38. News: Joel Osteen Answers his Critics. October 14, 2007 . May 13, 2011 . CBS News 60 Minutes.
  39. News: 2019-04-18 . A preacher for Trump's America: Joel Osteen and the prosperity gospel . Financial Times . 2023-01-31.
  40. News: Kuzydym. Stephanie. Joel Osteen calls claim he shut church doors on Harvey victims 'a false narrative'. September 8, 2017. Washington Post. August 30, 2017.
  41. News: Bromwich. Jonah Engel. Joel Osteen Says Lakewood Church Is Open to Harvey Victims After Criticism. September 8, 2011. New York Times. August 29, 2017.
  42. Sinclair. Harriet. Is Joel Osteen's megachurch too flooded to help hurricane Harvey victims?. September 8, 2017. Newsweek. August 8, 2017.
  43. News: Associated Press. After criticism, televangelist Joel Osteen denies closing Houston megachurch to people seeking shelter. September 8, 2017. Los Angeles Times. August 29, 2017.
  44. Web site: Joel Osteen pushes back against accusations he closed his megachurch to Harvey victims . Kuzydym, Stephanie . Phillips, Christine . The Chicago Tribune . August 30, 2017 . August 30, 2017.
  45. Web site: Joel Osteen's megachurch blasted for lack of outreach during Houston flooding . Fox 13 News . August 29, 2017 . August 30, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170829225240/http://www.fox13news.com/news/277145632-story . August 29, 2017 . dead .
  46. Web site: KWalking - Should Osteen have opened church as a shelter sooner?. FOX. KRIV. September 4, 2017 . 2019-09-01.
  47. News: Was Joel Osteen's Houston 'Megachurch' Affected By Hurricane Harvey?. Snopes. Aug 29, 2017.
  48. News: Joel Osteen calls claim he shut church doors on Harvey victims 'a false narrative'. Washington Post. September 9, 2017.
  49. Web site: Pastor opens his megachurch for shelter after video showing it empty. Metro.co.uk. Oliver McAteer for. August 29, 2017 . Metro. September 9, 2017.
  50. News: PHOTO: Joel Osteen's Wikipedia Trolled Over Church's Response to Hurricane Harvey. Prince. S.J.. August 29, 2017 . Heavy.com . en-US . September 9, 2017.
  51. News: Joel Osteen honored by city of Houston for post-Harvey help. August 14, 2018 . ABC13 Houston . en-US . August 15, 2018.
  52. News: Lakewood Church Receives Mayor's Proclamation for Harvey Support – After Initial Criticism . Martin. Florian. August 14, 2018 . Houston Public Media . en-US . August 15, 2018.
  53. News: Lakewood Church pastors recognized for work during Hurricane Harvey . FOX . KSAZ . en-US . August 15, 2018 . August 15, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180815164611/http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/pastor-osteen-recognized-for-his-work-during-hurricane-harvey-with-surprise-proclamation . dead .