2007-02-21 20:11:26 · 7 answers · asked by liveforever 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Go to www.joelosteen.com
Also, go to www.ask.com and when prompted type in joel osteen
Do a search for Lakewood Church
Joel, son of John and Dodie Osteen, is one of six children. His elder siblings, Paul, Lisa, Tamara and his younger sister April, are also all involved in full-time ministry. [3]. Joel's half-brother, Justin, is his father's son from his first marriage which ended in a divorce.[4].
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.[5] 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 attended Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma for a semester, but he chose to return home to continue working at the church. After 17 years of working side-by-side with his father producing the church's television program, Joel succeeded his father on October 3, 1999 as pastor of Lakewood Church. Ironically, Joel had only preached once in his life, the week before his father's death.
Today, Lakewood Church services, led by Pastor Osteen, are seen by nearly 200 million households in the United States and in over 100 nations around the world. [6]
Joel Osteen's first book, Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential, was released in October 2004. Soon after publication, it was ranked at the top of the New York Times Bestseller's list and continues to be among the top 10 best selling books (as of May 28, 2006).
As well as being the center of several print and television news stories, Osteen was featured as the cover story of Texas Monthly Magazine in August 02005.[7]
In December 2006, he was named one of the year's "Ten Most Fascinating People" by Barbara Walters.[8]
Presently, Osteen and several Lakewood Church team members travel across the nation, presenting programs in large stadiums to a paying public. The event titled "An Evening with Joel Osteen: A Night of Inspiration, Encouragement and Hope," includes worship music led by Lakewood Church Music Director Cindy Cruse Ratcliff as well as a sermon from Pastor Osteen. In 2007, the tour expanded to include stops in several other countries, including Canada, England, Ireland and Israel.[9].
Osteen is set to release his second book, tentatively titled Become a Better You, in October 2007 under Simon & Schuster publishing.[10] Osteen told Larry King the new book will focus more on relationships and not getting stuck where we are in life. "Just my basic message of becoming all God's created you to be," he added. [11]
2007-02-21 20:18:59 · answer #1 · answered by Rahab 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Joel is a nice guy and very appealing. His message is "the champion in you." There is a great truth in this message and it probably makes you feel better about yourself. However, there is a danger in constantly telling people how wonderful they are. The Bible has a lot more to say about this than Joel is saying. So I suggest you keep watching but look to the Bible as the final word on everything.
2007-02-21 20:29:55 · answer #2 · answered by rosecapusa 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He is a Faith Movement Pastor {you can do a google search on the Faith Movement yourself).
I have heard him before. He is a great motivational speaker, sharing things in a positive way. He does not seem to ask or demand for money to keep his church going, as do most preachers on T.V. Most christians would probably benefit much from listening to him on Sun Morning.
Sorry, I have no more input than this.
2007-02-22 08:56:17 · answer #3 · answered by Thomas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
want to know more about him? Call the better business bureau about him. you'll hear wonderful things. about how much church money he has spent on his 55 million dollar home... if you guessed 55 million your right.
2007-02-21 21:04:06 · answer #4 · answered by Tom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Re-mortgage your home and send him all your money immediately!
Sell everything else that you own to send him even more money and go live in a cardboard box on the street...Amen!
2007-02-21 20:15:44 · answer #5 · answered by CHEESUS GROYST 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've seen him on TV. He is good at what he does, but I think it's more self help than anything.
2007-02-21 20:19:16 · answer #6 · answered by tracy211968 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I love him. I believe that he teaches the way Jesus did! Lovingly!
2007-02-22 01:09:44 · answer #7 · answered by jomi 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋