: Joel Osteen Books and Ministry Osteen's father developed Lakewood into a body of approximately 6,000 members with an active television ministry, crusades, conferences, missionary support and food distribution.
Joel Scott Osteen (born March 5, 1963, in Houston, Texas) is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, North America’s largest and fastest growing church congregation,[1] averaging approximately 35,000 adult attendees every week in 2005. He is also the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Your Best Life Now.
Biography
Joel's father, John Osteen, a former Southern Baptist pastor who became Charismatic in the late 1950s, founded Lakewood Church on Mother's Day, 1959.[Christ Notes, Joel Osteen Books and Ministry] Osteen's father developed Lakewood into a body of approximately 6,000 members with an active television ministry, crusades, conferences, missionary support and food distribution. He died of a heart attack in 1999. Joel had previously attended Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma for a semester but chose to return to Houston to continue working at the church. Having produced his father's television program for years, Joel Osteen--despite having preached only one time in his life, the week before John Osteen's death--succeeded him on October 3, 1999.
Joel Osteen's book, Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential, has become a runaway success. Soon after publication, it was ranked at the top of New York Times Bestsellers list, and continues to be among the top 10 best selling books (as of May 28, 2006). According to one of the bo k's reviewers, Larry Trivieri Jr, "At the heart of the Osteen's message is that achieving a successful, prosperous life of fulfillment can only occur when we stop worrying about the past or future to make the most of each present moment by using our God-given strengths and talents to achieve our goals. The key to doing so are the seven steps Osteen outlines: (1) Enlarge Your Vision, (2) Develop a Healthy Self-Image, (3) Discover the Power of Your Thoughts and Words, (4) Let go of the Past, (5) Find Strength Through Adversity, (6) Live to Give, and (7) Choose to Be Happy. Mixing biblical teachings with his own personal experiences, Osteen explains each of these seven steps in an encouraging, optimistic manner that makes them accessible to anyone interested in principles of personal growth. Although written with a Christian slant, the seven steps Osteen shares will have value to anyone wanting to know more about practical steps of self-betterment, regardless of their denomination." He tours the country selling out stadiums to millions of fans who go to hear his speeches on faith and day to day life. His wife takes care of the children and may sometimes be seen at the stadiums in the center front row.
Victoria Osteen and the Osteen Family
Joel is married to Victoria Iloff Osteen (born March 29, 1962). Victoria occasionally gives the sermon at the church, which holds four services each weekend. Victoria and Joel have two children, Jonathan and Alexandra.
Victoria leads the Women's ministry at Lakewood. There are special programs presented each week with occasional guest speakers. She is a strong supporter of her husband and family, as evidenced by her references to them during the services and seminars, and through personal examples. (www.lakewood.cc, Saturday night and Sunday mornings.)
Joel and Victoria met when he came into her family's jewelry store to have his watch battery replaced. She sold him a watch. Later, for the first date, he invited her to a Rockets game in the Compaq Center, and they sat way up in the top section of the east side. Little did they know that the future would have them remodeling the building for their new church home.
Criticism
After an appearance on the Larry King Live show June 20, 2005, Joel Osteen faced much criticism from some evangelicals over uncertainty in his answers about the Christian faith. When Larry King asked "What if you're Jewish or Muslim, you don't accept Christ at all?", Osteen replied "You know, I'm very careful about saying who would and wouldn't go to heaven. I don't know ..."
The criticisms are based on this interview and a copy of the entire show's transcript is still available at Larry King's website.[2]
See also
References
External links
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia |
