Joel Osteen

Joel Scott Osteen is an American pastor, televangelist, businessman, and author based in Houston, Texas, United States.

Known for his weekly televised services and several best-selling books, Osteen is one of the more prominent figures associated with prosperity theology and the Word of Faith movement.

Osteen was born in Houston, and is one of six children of John Osteen and Dolores ("Dodie") Pilgrim.

His father, a former Southern Baptist pastor, founded Lakewood Church (of which Osteen is the current senior pastor) in the back of an old feed store.

He graduated from Humble High School, a public high school in the city of Humble, Texas, in 1981, and attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he studied radio and television communications but did not graduate.

In 1982, he returned to Houston, founded Lakewood's television program, and produced his father's televised sermons for 17 years until January 1999, when his father died of a heart attack.

On April 4, 1987, Osteen married Victoria Osteen (née Iloff), who later would become co-pastor of Lakewood Church.

They have two children.

Osteen was ordained through his father's church in 1983 and preached his first sermon on January 17, 1999.

By October 3, he was the new senior pastor of Lakewood Church.

In 2002, some of his siblings, including Paul, were also involved in full-time ministry.

Osteen lives with his family in a 17,000 square-foot mansion in River Oaks, with an estimated value of $10.5 million.

Osteen says that as senior pastor, he draws no salary from the church, which has an annual budget of $70 million, and that he instead relies on income from book sales.

Osteen has generally avoided discussing or preaching about controversial issues such as gay marriage, abortion, and politics.

Having gone on record saying homosexuality is "not God's best", he has stated he believes the church has a tendency to become overly focused on single issues (such as homosexuality) to the point of neglecting others.

In 2003, Lakewood Church acquired the Compaq Center, former home of the NBA Houston Rockets and the AHL Houston Aeros and subsequently renovated it.

Since 2004, Osteen, along with his wife, have hosted Night of Hope events, as well as their annual stadium event called "America's Night of Hope", in the U.S. and around the world.

The event incorporates contemporary Christian music and inspirational messages to reach the masses at the venue and others watching online.

Osteen's first book, Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential, was released in October 2004, and reached the number 1 position on The New York Times Best Seller list.

Osteen was included on Barbara Walters's list of the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006.

Former presidential candidate John McCain described Osteen as his favorite inspirational author.

He released his second book, titled Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day, in October 2007.

It also topped The New York Times Best Seller list and had a first printing of three million copies.

Osteen has said that the book focuses more on relationships and not getting stuck where we are in life.

Besides those two books, Osteen has written more than 18 others.

See, Book list.

According to Osteen, in 2008, Lakewood Church's weekly service TV program was viewed in more than 100 countries.

The Osteen family attended an Easter breakfast hosted by President Barack Obama at the White House in 2010.

Osteen memorizes his planned remarks before he delivers them, and listens back to previous ones on tape.

His sermons have been criticized as self-serving and revealing a poor command of Scripture.

Osteen says he chooses to focus more on the goodness of God and on living an obedient life rather than on sin, and that he tries to teach Biblical principles in a simple way, emphasizing the power of love and a positive attitude.

When asked why he does not focus more on sin, the devil, and hell in detail, Osteen stated in an interview with CBN News:

"When I grew up, the devil was a reason why I had a headache or the devil was the reason I got mad today. We always blamed the devil. I think today when I say the enemy, I like to make it broader. Sometimes the enemy can be our own thoughts. We've trained ourselves the wrong way. Or the enemy can be our own lack of discipline. Some people preach about hell like you're already going there, and to me the Gospel means 'Good News.' I'd rather say God is a God of mercy. So I think the people already know what they're doing wrong, and I certainly believe in hell. But to me, when I see thousands of people before me, it just doesn't come out of me to say, 'You guys are terrible, and you're going to hell.' I'd rather say that God is a God of mercy. You've got to live an obedient life, but for every mistake you've made, there's mercy there, and I believe we can do better."

Osteen also hosted an event at his Lakewood Church in 2018, in collaboration with rapper Kanye West, called Sunday Service.

According to media reports, the event was attended by 17,000 as well as joined by many people streaming online.

He also held his Easter service during COVID-19 with Mariah Carey and Tyler Perry.

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 son 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.