Lakewood Church

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Lakewood Church
Lakewoodchurchlogo.jpg
Country  United States
Denomination Non-denominational, Evangelical
Website Lakewood Church
Clergy
Senior pastor(s) Joel Osteen
Lakewood Church exterior

Lakewood Church is a non-denominational Christian megachurch located in Houston, Texas. It is the largest congregation in the United States, averaging more than 43,500 in attendance per week.[1] The 16,800-seat Lakewood Church Central Campus, home to four English language sevices and one Spanish language service per week,[2] is located at the former Compaq Center.[3] Joel Osteen is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church with his wife, Victoria, who serves as co-pastor. Lakewood Church is evangelical in belief.[4]

Contents

[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.

Joel Osteen at Lakewood Church, December 8, 2007

Under the leadership of Joel Osteen, Lakewood's congregation increased almost five-fold.[5] Attendance increased to 30,000 weekly, prompting a move from its location at 7317 East Houston Road[6][7] to a larger facility.[3] 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.[8] Before being acquired by Lakewood, tenants to the arena, once called The Summit, included the Houston Rockets, the Houston Aeros, and the Houston Comets.

On July 16, 2005, Lakewood Church relocated from its old building in northeast Houston into its new home, the newly renovated 16,800-seat facility southwest of Downtown Houston along U.S. Highway 59, having twice the capacity of its former sanctuary.[3] The church was required to pay $11.8 million in rent in advance for the first 30 years of the lease,[8] and renovated the new campus at an estimated cost of $75 million.[5]

In 2009, the church was in negotiations with the city over the possibility of buying their current campus.[9]

[edit] Beliefs and practices

Lakewood is a church with the beliefs typical of evangelical Christians. Church members believe that the entire Bible is inspired by God, and the church bases its doctrine in this belief. The church also holds in account the belief in the Trinity, as well as the recognition of the death of Christ on the cross and resurrection [10].

The rite of communion is practiced at Lakewood, and church leaders promote the "regular taking of Communion as an act of remembering what the Lord Jesus did for us on the cross."[11] The sacrament of baptism is also practiced, and church members believe that "water baptism is a symbol of the cleansing power of the blood of Christ and a testimony to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." [12]

[edit] Music

Worship leaders include Cindy Cruise Ratcliff, Steve Crawford, Da'Dra Crawford Greathouse, and Israel Houghton. Micheal and Fiona Mellet also sing during services. The music genre leans towards the modern contemporary side as bass and drums are used. The church has produced some albums that feature live recorded worship music, including the musical collections We Speak To Nations, Lakewood Live, and Free To Worship.

Lakewood's music ministry is composed of church members, and the church website indicates that musicians and singers "must have been members of Lakewood for 3 months or longer, and musicians must be able to read chord charts."[13] Among the groups directed by the church's music ministry are the English Adult Choir, the Spanish Adult Choir, and the Children's Choir.[14]

[edit] Television

Lakewood Church interior

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 secular networks, such as Fox Network, and USA Network.[15] In 2007, Lakewood reported spending nearly $30 million every year on its television ministry.[16] The church claims that "its international media broadcast has expanded into over 200 million households in the United States."[17]

Joel Osteen, according to the Lakewood Church website, preaches approximately 75 percent of the Sunday morning services. His brother, Paul Osteen, M.D., sister, Lisa Comes and Marcos Witt preach the remaining services. However, since Lakewood Church has been at the location on Highway 59, Joel Osteen and wife Victoria are the only persons 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.

[edit] Criticism

Critics have said that Lakewood Church's ministry under Joel Osteen has de-emphasized traditional Christian teachings regarding the sinful nature of mankind and the need for repentance.[3] Some observers also criticize the absence of traditional religious symbols in the former Compaq Center, such as a cross or altar.[3]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Top 100 Churches
  2. ^ "Services". Lakewood Church. http://www.lakewood.cc/Services/Pages/LakewoodChurchServices.aspx. Retrieved 01-03-2010. 
  3. ^ a b c d e "America's largest church opens in former arena". USA Today. July 14, 2005. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-07-14-largest-church_x.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  4. ^ "No Politics From This Pulpit". Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/id/103290. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  5. ^ a b "Nation’s largest church opens in stadium". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8565629/. Retrieved 2007-02-25. 
  6. ^ "Contact Information." Lakewood Church. October 18, 2000. Retrieved on April 8, 2009.
  7. ^ "Contact Us." Lakewood Church. June 23, 2003.
  8. ^ a b "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 2007-02-25. 
  9. ^ Sarnoff, Nancy. "Lakewood may buy former Compaq Center." Houston Chronicle. December 3, 2009. Retrieved on December 4, 2009.
  10. ^ Beliefs[1]
  11. ^ "Our Beliefs". http://www.lakewood.cc/AboutUs/OurBeliefs/Pages/LCBeliefs.aspx. Retrieved 01-03-2010. 
  12. ^ "Our Beliefs". http://www.lakewood.cc/AboutUs/OurBeliefs/Pages/LCBeliefs.aspx. Retrieved 01-03-2010. 
  13. ^ "Music Ministry". Lakewood Church. http://www.lakewood.cc/MINISTRIES/Music/Pages/index.aspx. Retrieved 01-03-2010. 
  14. ^ "Music Ministry". Lakewood Church. http://www.lakewood.cc/MINISTRIES/Music/Pages/index.aspx. Retrieved 01-03-2010. 
  15. ^ "Television week". The Baltimore Sun: p. 2. July 19, 2009. 
  16. ^ "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 2007-02-25. 
  17. ^ "The Story of Lakewood Church". Lakewood Church. http://www.lakewood.cc/AboutUs/Our%20History/Pages/OurHistory.aspx. Retrieved 01-03-2010. 

[edit] External links

Houston portal

Coordinates: 29°43′48″N 95°26′4″W / 29.73°N 95.43444°W / 29.73; -95.43444

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