Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Joel Osteen

Joel Osteen Preaching.jpg Photo by RobertMWorsham – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Joel Osteen

He is an American lay preacher, televangelist, and author born on March 5, 1963, in Houston, Texas. He is the son of John Osteen and Dolores “Dodie”. His father is the former Southern Baptist pastor and founder of Lakewood Church and Joel Osteen is the senior pastor currently. He is a graduate of Humble High School, a public high school situated in the city of Humble, Texas. Further, he studied radio and television communication at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma though he never graduated. However, in 1982, founded a television program in Lakewood and produced his father’s televised sermons for 17 years. He took over the Lakehood Church in January 1999 after the sudden death of his father. In addition, he preached his first sermon on January 17, 1999, later installed as the senior pastor on October 3, 1999.

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1. The Ownership of Compaq Center 

Lakewood church.jpg Photo by Hequals2henry – Wikimedia Commons

The leadership of Joel led to the purchase of Compaq Center in 2003. This is the former home of the NBA Houston Rockets and the AHL Houston Aeros. He renovated the building to accommodate the church’s congregants which have grown from 5,000 in 2014 to 43,000. As a Senior Pastor, Lakewood Church’s weekly TV program services are viewed by approximately 7 million people in the world and in over 100 countries.

2. Fascinating Preaching Style

Lakewood worship.jpg Photo by The original uploader was ToBeDaniel at Italian Wikipedia – Wikimedia Commons

Jeol has been on the world Christian Platform for preaching moving sermons where /many people have given their lives to God. However, the style of preparing his sermons is interesting! He memorizes his remarks and bible verses and also listens to himself on tape before he presents any preaching. His sermons, he says, focus more on the goodness of God and on living an obedient life rather than on sin. He further says that he tries to teach Biblical principles in a simple way that emphasizes the power of love and a positive attitude.

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3. His Fascinating Comment on His Preaching

In one of the interviews with CBN News, Joel stated the following:

“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”.

This is a very interesting text in that Joel emphasizes his faith and belief in God as the major point of contact..

4. America’s Night of Hope

Joel Osteen Preaching At Lakewood Church.jpg Photo by Justin Brackett – Wikimedia Commons

Together with his wife Victoria, have been hosting services to transform lives and America. To that effect, the host Night of Hope events and the annual stadium event called “America’s Night of Hope”, in the United States of America, events watched globally. Online audiences and the physically present in the events are treated to contemporary Christian music and inspirational messages not to mention but a few.

5. Interesting Kanye’s Sunday Service

In 2018, he hosted a very interesting event that was attended by approximately 17,000 people while others streamed online according to media reports. The event was in collaboration with rapper Kanye West, hence the name Kanye’s Sunday Service. He also hosted a similar service during the COVID-19 Easter service, with Mariah Carey and Typer Perry ministering to the physical and online audiences.

6. His Two Best-selling Books

Joel has authored various books. His first book called 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. 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. 

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7. Other Amazing Books He Authored

It is fascinating that his books are more focused on relationships and not on life matters. However, he has authored eighteen other books making a total of twenty. The books includeYour Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential (2004), Daily Readings from Your Best Life Now: 90 Devotions for Living at Your Full Potential (2005), Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day (2007), Your Best Life Begins Each Morning: Devotions to Start Every New Day of the Year (2008), It’s Your Time : Activate Your Faith, Achieve Your Dreams, and Increase in God’s Favor (2009), It’s Your Time: Finding Favor, Restoration, and Abundance in Your Life Every Day (2009), Everyday a Friday: How to Be Happier 7 Days a Week (2011), I Declare: 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life (2012), Break Out!: 5 Keys to Go Beyond Your Barriers and Live an Extraordinary Life (2013), You Can You Will: 8 Undeniable Qualities of a Winner (2014), Fresh Start: the New You Begins Today (2015), The Power of I Am: Two Words That Will Change Your Life Today (2015), Think Better, Live Better: A Victorious Life Begins in Your Mind (2016), Blessed in the Darkness: How All Things Are Working for Your Good (2017), Empty Out the Negative (2017), Next Level Thinking: 10 Powerful Thoughts for a Successful and Abundant Life (2018), The Power of Favor: The Force That Will Take You Where You Can’t Go on Your Own (2019), The Abundance Mind-Set: Success Starts Here (2020), Peaceful on Purpose: The Power to Remain Calm, Strong, and Confident in Every Season (2021), You Are Stronger than You Think: Unleash the Power to Go Bigger, Go Bold, and Go Beyond What Limits You (2021), Rule Your Day: 6 Keys to Maximizing Your Success and Accelerating Your Dreams (2022). Books are powerful and impact people in their daily lives.

8. He was Recognized by Houston Mayor

SylvesterTurner.JPG Photo by Traci Patterson – Wikimedia Commons

Mayor Sylvester Turner of Houston City declared a day in honor of Lakewood Church and Osteen on August 15, 2018, due to the assistance they accorded the Houston area after Hurricane Harvey. It was recorded that approximately 1,150 families whose homes were damaged by the floodwaters. Further, he spent 1.1 million dollars in the purchase of building materials as well as furniture and appliances and paid labor for the work done. Through him, people volunteered in large numbers which were estimated to be 2,500. 

9. He Does not Preach on Politics

Joel clearly stated that he supported Israel. On matters of homosexuality, he believes it is not Godly but welcomes those who practice it to church for salvation. Osteen has generally avoided preaching about controversial issues such as gay marriage, abortion, and politics. 

10. His Interesting Personal Life

He married Victoria Osteen (née Iloff) on April 4, 1987, and together were blessed with two children, a son, and a daughter. It is fascinating that his siblings namely Paul, Lisa, Tamara, and April were incorporated into the ministry in 2002. He has a half-brother called Justin who does missionary work. The most interesting part of his life is that he lives in a 17,000-square-foot mansion in River Oaks. The property is estimated to have a value of $10.5 million. He draws no salary from the Lakewood Church. However, the church has a budget of about $70 million. Basically, he depends on books sale for his expenditures.

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