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Lakewood Church

Coordinates: 29°43′48″N 95°26′4″W / 29.73000°N 95.43444°W / 29.73000; -95.43444
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Lakewood Church
Map
Country United States
DenominationNon-denominational, Evangelical
Websitewww.lakewood.cc
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)Joel and Victoria Osteen
File:Lakewoodchurchlogo.jpg

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 services and two Spanish language services 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]

History

Joel Osteen at Lakewood Church, December 8, 2007

Lakewood Church was founded by John Osteen and his second wife, Dodie in 1959 inside an abandoned feed store in northeast Houston.[5] Previously, John Osteen had been a Southern Baptist minister; however, after experiencing a self-described baptism in the Holy Spirit, he withdrew from his Baptist fellowship and began Lakewood Church. From the beginning, Lakewood was non-denominational and racially inclusive. In 1979, attendance was over five thousand, and the church was becoming prominent among Pentecostals and charismatics. 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 after suffering from a heart attack, his youngest son, Joel, became pastor.

Under the leadership of Joel Osteen, Lakewood's congregation increased almost fivefold.[6] Attendance increased to 30,000 weekly, prompting a move from its location at 7317 East Houston Road[7][8] 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.[9] 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, a 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,[9] and renovated the new campus at an estimated cost of $75 million.[6]

On March 31, 2010, the Houston City Council voted 13–2 to sell the property to Lakewood for $7.5 million.[10]

In 2011 Joel and Victoria were sued for $3 million for using a piece of music without permission in the marketing campaign for a church DVD.[11] The lawsuit was struck down in 2012.[12] In 2012, Daniel Alvaro Guzman, a former Lakewood Church volunteer, sued the church for $10 million for having been wrongly accused of child molestation.[13]

Beliefs

Lakewood Church believes 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.

From the commands found in the Bible, the church practices the following:

  • Salvation: Each service offers an Altar call at the end in order for people to accept Christ as Lord and Savior.
  • Water Baptism: The church believes this as a symbol of the cleansing power of the blood of Christ and a testimony to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism is practiced every Saturday night in the church's Chapel.
  • Communion: The church deems this as an act of remembering what the Lord Jesus did on the cross. It is offered once a month.
  • Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ: Lakewood believes that every believer should be in a growing relationship with Jesus by obeying God's Word, yielding to the Holy Spirit and by being conformed to the image of Christ.[14]

Lakewood is known for its Word of Faith teaching.[5]

Church organization

Lakewood offers different types of ministries, fellowships, and services depending on the age, marital status, and need of its members.

Services

  • Kidslife: Children
  • Canvas: Students/Young Adults
  • Main Service: All Adults
  • C/30 The Journey: Post-college Young Adults

During Sunday services, Pastor Joel, Paul, or Marcos will preach. On Wednesday nights, the associate Pastors or guest speakers will preach.

Community

Even though the membership is very large, members connect through the LifeGroups ministry. This is the cell group version for Lakewood where 8-12 members meet in homes to fellowship, study the Bible in depth, and pray.[15]

Encounters are another way the church leads its members to have a deeper relationship with Christ. During these retreats, members attend a Christian Camp where they pray, worship, and study the Bible, but away from everyday life for 24 hours.[16]

Learning

The church provides a variety of ways to grow and learn the Bible. Various classes are offered through the Compass Classes ministry, meeting before and after every weekend service.[17] The mid-week Wednesday night service provides a more in depth Bible study time than the Sunday service, which is geared towards the unsaved.

Other classes offered at Lakewood include those designed for new believers like New Beginnings[18] and Foundations[19] and other life developing classes like Financial classes providing Bible based help in financial situations.[20]

Providing help

Lakewood provides help to members and non members in various ways. Celebrate Recovery and the Freedom Series offer help classes and fellowship to members who have a need in areas like addictions, hang ups, hurts, sexual issues, and chemical dependency.[21]

Other help is provided to members through counseling by on call Pastors during the week. Prayer is offered during each service or through the prayer line where both members and non members alike can receive help.[22]

Hospital visits and funeral services are also provided to anyone who is in need. Hospital ministers visit with people throughout the Houston area and Texas Medical Center providing prayer and encouragement.[23]

Lakewood is also a member of Stephen Ministries who has further Christian counseling.[24]

Church leadership

During the history of Lakewood Church, John Osteen served as senior pastor until his death in 1999, when Pastor Joel Osteen became senior pastor.

Present Leadership:

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, ABC Family, and USA Network. In 2007, Lakewood reported spending nearly $30 million every year on its television ministry.[25] Osteen's sermons are also televised in more than 100 countries, with an estimated 7 million viewers each week.[26]

Music

Worship leaders include:

Famous visitors

The church has been visited by Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry[27] and Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell,[28] among other celebrities.

Hispanic ministry

In 2002, Lakewood began a large-scale Hispanic ministry, lead by Hispanic Pastor Marcos Witt and his wife, Miriam. Lakewood has two services each week in Spanish in the main auditorium and translates all English services into Spanish. The weekly attendance at the Spanish services is approximately 6,000 people.[29][30]

The director of the praise and worship of the Hispanic area is Coalo Zamorano, a Christian music leader from Mexico, who in 2007, together with his wife, Lorena Warren, was invited by Marcos Witt to be part of the music ministry of the Hispanic ministry of Lakewood.[31]

Therefore, the leadership in the Hispanic ministry is as follows:

  • Marcos Witt
  • Miriam Witt
  • Danilo Montero
  • Gloriana Montero

Music at Hispanic ministry

  • Job Gonzalez

Reception

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]

See also

List of the largest churches in the USA

Notes

  1. ^ Top 100 Churches
  2. ^ "Services". Lakewood Church. Retrieved 01-03-2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e "America's largest church opens in former arena". USA Today. July 14, 2005. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
  4. ^ "No Politics From This Pulpit". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
  5. ^ a b Conser Jr., Walter H. (2008). Southern Crossroads:Perspectives on Religion and Culture. The University Press of Kentucky. pp. 67–8. ISBN 978-0-8131-2494-0. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b "Nation's largest church opens in stadium". MSNBC. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
  7. ^ "Contact Information." Lakewood Church. October 18, 2000. Retrieved on April 8, 2009.
  8. ^ "Contact Us." Lakewood Church. June 23, 2003.
  9. ^ a b Pristin, Terry (March 10, 2004). "A Sports Arena Gets Religion". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-02-25. [dead link]
  10. ^ Bradley Olson and Moises Mendoza. "City Council OKs sale of ex-Compaq to Lakewood." Houston Chronicle. March 31, 2010.
  11. ^ Lakewood Church, Osteens Sued For $3M
  12. ^ Joel Osteen, Lakewood Church Win Copyright Lawsuit
  13. ^ Former volunteer files $10 million lawsuit against Lakewood Church
  14. ^ What We Believe
  15. ^ LifeGroups
  16. ^ Encounter Ministry
  17. ^ Compass Bible Studies
  18. ^ New Beginnings
  19. ^ Foundations
  20. ^ Financial Ministry
  21. ^ Celebrate Recovery
  22. ^ Care & Prayer
  23. ^ Hospital Care
  24. ^ Stephen Ministry
  25. ^ "Interview: Joel Osteen on the Future of America's Churches and Him Pastoring One". The Christian Post. Retrieved 2007-02-25.
  26. ^ "No Politics From This Pulpit". Newsweek. Retrieved 2010-04-11.
  27. ^ Oprah, Tyler Perry guests at Lakewood service
  28. ^ Backstreet Boy worships at Lakewood Church during Houston visit
  29. ^ Horario de servicios In Spanish
  30. ^ Marcos Witt In Spanish
  31. ^ Liderazgo In Spanish

29°43′48″N 95°26′4″W / 29.73000°N 95.43444°W / 29.73000; -95.43444

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