Joel Osteen is an American preacher, and televangelist and currently, he is the pastor of Lakewood Church. Joel Osteen, who is well known for his signature smile and his undoubted oratory talent is in no way an ordinary preacher.
He has taken over almost 7 million people through his skills as a preacher and is often regarded as a religious guru and a spiritual seminary himself.
Osteen emphasizes his messages like ‘living life to full potential,’ ‘seizing destiny, moments,’ and ‘living in victory.’
Apart from being a pastor, Joel Osteen is also an author and his multiple books have made it to the New York Times best-seller list. He has reportedly sold over three million copies of his books.
If you are interested to read more about the leader of one of the largest Church flocks in the United States, here is everything you need to know about Joel Osteen.
Who Is Joel Osteen?
Joel Osteen is an American lay preacher and televangelist who is the pastor at Lakewood Church.
Apart from the role of a preacher, Joel Osteen is also famous for being a successful businessman and also an author. His operations are mainly based in Houston, Texas, where he was born.
He is also one of the popular figures who support the idea of prosperity theology.
Joel Osteen and his televised services are very much popular among his followers, which reports suggest are around 7 million, and also his books which made it to The New York Times best-seller list.
Joel Osteen’s Early Life And Career
Joel Osteen is the son of John Osteen, who was also a pastor, and Dolores Pilgrim. He was born in Houston, Texas, on March 5, 1963. His father is credited as the founding pastor of the Lakewood Church in 1959.
John Osteen also had a television program that ran for almost 16 years and his program is said to have reached millions all across America and overseas.
Joel Osteen followed the steps of his father. He took over the position of a pastor from his father and also became a successful televangelist.
Born in Houston, Texas, Joel Osteen completed his formal education at Humble High School, a public school in the city of Humble, Texas.
After completing his high school education, Osteen enrolled at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. He took up radio and television communications as his major subjects but he did not graduate.
Dropping his course, Osteen returned to Houston and there he founded the television program for the Lakewood Church founded by his father. He produced the televised sermons of his father for almost 16 years.
Joel Osteen – Life As A Pastor
Joel Osteen took over the position of his father John Osteen who was also a pastor and the founder of Lakewood Church after his death. Joel Osteen’s father passed away in an unexpected heart attack in January 1999.
Joel Osteen preached his first sermon after the passing of his father, on January 17, 1999. Osteen took over the position held by his father in October of the same year.
After Joel Osteen was installed as the new senior pastor, Lakewood Church acquired the Compaq Center and turned it into the Lakewood Church central campus.
The television programs stated by father were continued by Joel Osteen and he has said that the programs had been viewed by people from over 100 countries.
The popularity of Joel Osteen grew over the years. He also expanded his name and fame through his books, which are said to have sold around 3 million copies.
Joel Osteen – As An Author
Apart from being the leader of the Lakewood Church, Joel Osteen is also a very successful author.
He has written around 20 books throughout his career and some of them have found their place on The New York Times best-seller list; reports suggest that he has sold around 3 million copies of his books.
Joel Osteen released his first book in October 2004 and the book was titled Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential.
The book was ranked at the number one position on The New York Times best-seller chart.
He released his second book after around three years, in 2007, which was titled Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Everyday. The book also was able to replicate the same success that he had with his first book.
Apart from these two, he has also written books like Blessed in the Darkness: How Everything is Working Good For You, Think Better, Live Better: A Victorious Life Begins in the Mind, Empty Out Negative: Create More Joy, Confidence, and New Levels of Influence and quite a few more.
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Joel Osteen – Net Worth
According to the available reports the head pastor of Lakewood Church, Joel Osteen is estimated to have a net worth which is over $50 million. There are reports and other information that suggest that the actual number can go up to around $100 million.
The major income for Osteen is from the Lakewood Church where he is the head pastor. With such a huge number as his income, Joel Osteen had been the center of different controversies too.
As he is an advocate of the ‘prosperity gospel,’ people accuse him of gathering and accumulating such huge numbers as personal wealth.
An example that points to the large wealth of Lakewood Church is the current building of the Church. The building which is around 600,000 square feet used to be a sports stadium with a seating capacity of 17,000.
As there had been many controversies regarding his wealth and the income of the Church, Joel Osteen made it clear that he had not taken any money as salary from the Church since 2005 and he has revealed that his personal wealth was from his income through his books – their advances and royalties, speaking fees and all other merchandises.
Joel Osteen – Personal Life And Family
Joel Osteen is a married man and his wife’s name is Victoria Osteen. After Joel Osteen was appointed as the head pastor of Lakewood Church, Victoria was eventually appointed as co-head pastor at the Church.
The couple had been together ever since their marriage and they both have two children from their marriage. Joel Osteen’s family, including his siblings Paul, Lisa, Tamara, and April are also involved in the functioning and management of the Lakewood Church.
He currently resides at River Oaks, in a 1700-square-foot mansion along with his family.
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