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topic_name = Joel Osteen | topic_name = Joel Osteen | ||
Revision as of 15:20, 1 October 2015
| Joel Osteen | |
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| SERMONS, ESSAYS AND OPINIONS |
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| CONTENTS | Contents |
Joel Scott Hayley Osteen (born March 5, 1963) is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. He is married to Victoria Osteen, who also serves as a pastor. Joel Osteen was featured as one of Barbara Walters' "10 Most Fascinating People of 2006", and was named "Most Influential Christian in America" in 2006 by The Church Report. His second book, "Become a Better You", was released in October 2007 with a first printing of three million copies.
Biography
Born in Houston, Texas, Osteen married Victoria L. Iloff on 4 April 1987. They have two children, Jonathan and Alexandra.
Joel, son of John and Dodie Osteen, is one of six children. His elder siblings, Paul, Lisa, Tamara and his younger sister April, are also involved in full-time ministry. Joel's half-brother Justin, does missionary work out of New York. Joel's father, John Osteen, a former Southern Baptist pastor who became Charismatic in the late 1950s, founded Lakewood Church on Mother's Day, 1959. Osteen's father developed Lakewood into a body of approximately 6,000 members with an active television ministry, crusades, conferences, missionary support and food distribution. He died of a heart attack in 1999.
After 17 years with his father producing the church's television program, Joel succeeded his father on October 3, 1999 as pastor of Lakewood Church. Joel had only preached once in his life, the week before his father's death. Today, Lakewood Church services, led by Pastor Osteen, are seen in over 100 nations around the world. Joel Osteen's first book, Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential, was released in October 2004. In December 2006, he was named one of the year's "Ten Most Fascinating People" by Barbara Walters.
Presently, Osteen and several Lakewood Church team members travel across the nation, presenting programs in large stadiums to a paying public. The event titled "A Night of Hope," includes worship music led by the church's music ministry, a testimony by Joel's mother Dodie and a sermon from Pastor Osteen. In 2007, the tour expanded to include stops in several other countries, including Canada, England, Northern Ireland and Israel. Osteen released his second book, entitled Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day in October 2007 under Simon & Schuster publishing, which has also topped the New York Times Best Sellers List. Osteen told Larry King the new book will focus more on relationships and not getting stuck where we are in life. "Just my basic message of becoming all God's created you to be," he added.
Preaching Style
Osteen has said that he chooses to focus on the goodness of God rather than sin. In answer to questions raised over why he does not include many Bible verses in his books, he has said that he sees himself as more of a life coach, and thinks that there are probably others better qualified, or more gifted for explaining Bible verses. Osteen has explained that he tries to teach Biblical principles in a simple way, emphasizing the power of love and a positive attitude.
Criticisms
A number of criticisms have been levelled at Osteen including his lack of Biblical references ni his sermons and books, a prosperity-gospel message ad his lack of formal theological training.
Links
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