Lakewood Church
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| Lakewood Church | |
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| Country |  United States |
|---|---|
| Denomination | Non-denominational, Evangelical |
| Website | Lakewood Church |
| Clergy | |
| Senior pastor(s) | Joel Osteen |
Lakewood Church is a non-denominational Christian megachurch located in Houston, Texas, USA. It is the largest church in the USA, averaging more than 43,000 in attendance per week.[1] Lakewood now occupies the 16,000-seat arena previously home to the Houston Rockets. [2]
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[edit] Leadership
Joel Osteen, the youngest son of church founder John Osteen, is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church. Joel's wife, Victoria Osteen, serves as co-pastor.
[edit] History
Lakewood Church was founded by John Osteen and his wife, Dodie, on Mother's Day of 1959 inside an abandoned feed store in northeast Houston. John and Dodie created and hosted Lakewood's weekly television program, which could be seen in 100 countries worldwide. Upon John Osteen's death in 1999, his youngest son, Joel, became pastor.
Under the leadership of Joel Osteen, Lakewood's congregation increased almost fivefold. [3] Because of this large increase in attendance, church officials began searching for a new facility.[citation needed] Prior to its relocation the church was located at 7317 East Houston Road.[4][5]
In late 2003, the church signed a long-term lease with the city of Houston to acquire the Compaq Center, a 29-year-old former sports arena. [6]. Before being acquired by Lakewood, tenants to the arena, once called The Summit, included the Houston Rockets, the Houston Aeros, and the Houston Comets.
Renovations to create the new Lakewood Church are estimated at $75 million. [7] The church was required to pay $11.8 million in rent in advance for the first 30 years of the lease. [8]
On July 16, 2005, Lakewood Church relocated from its old building in northeast Houston into its new home, the newly renovated 16,000-seat facility southwest of Downtown Houston along U.S. Highway 59.[citation needed]
Lakewood Church provides Communion to all it's members every 3rd Sunday of every month during all weekend services. Communion begins during the praise and worship segment of the service and members do not need to go to the upper level to receive communion, it is brought to them in trays where quarter-sized wafers are in the center and small, individual plastic cups with grape juice surround the wafers.
[edit] Television
In 2007, Lakewood reported spending nearly $30 million every year on its television ministry. [9]
The church's weekly services are broadcast on Trinity Broadcasting Network and Daystar Television Network, as well as local channels in most major US markets. Lakewood also appears on several secular networks, such as Black Entertainment Television, TV Land[citation needed], Lifetime Television, ABC Family, Fox News Channel, and USA Network during paid advertising hours.[citation needed]
Joel Osteen, according to the Lakewood Church website, preaches approximately 75% of the Sunday morning services. His brother, sister, and Marcos Witt preach the other 25%. However, since Lakewood Church has been at the location on Highway 59, Joel Osteen is the only person to be seen from the Lakewood staff or directorship to preach in English on their television program. Marcos Witt preaches in Spanish, but he is not shown preaching in English.
Since Lakewood Church has been televising from the former Compaq Center, Joel Osteen has not had what would be considered a service that highlights major Christian events in history. Lakewood Church has not had what most Christians would consider an Easter or Christmas service. During the Christian holidays, he continues to preach the power of positive thinking, wealth, and prosperity.
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Top-100-Largest-Churches
- ^ USATODAY.com - America's largest church opens in former arena
- ^ "Nation’s largest church opens in stadium". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8565629/. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ "Contact Information." Lakewood Church. October 18, 2000. Retrieved on April 8, 2009.
- ^ "Contact Us." Lakewood Church. June 23, 2003.
- ^ "A Sports Arena Gets Religion". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/10/business/10prop.html?ex=1172552400&en=c8cb3279d9f71269&ei=5070. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ "Nation’s largest church opens in stadium". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8565629/. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ "A Sports Arena Gets Religion". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/10/business/10prop.html?ex=1172552400&en=c8cb3279d9f71269&ei=5070. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ "Interview: Joel Osteen on the Future of America's Churches and Him Pastoring One". The Christian Post. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070215/25806_2_Interview%3A_Joel_Osteen_on_the_Future_of_America%27s_Churches_and_Him_Pastoring_One.htm. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
