Joel Osteen: What You Need To Know

Joel Osteen: What You Need To Know

In the beginning there was (just for our purposes here) John Hillery Osteen.

Born in Paris Texas – home of a 65 foot replica Eiffel Tower topped with a cowboy hat. His date of birth was August 21, 1921. The story is that he was ordained before his 18th birthday as a Southern Baptist preacher.

He served as preacher at several congregations from Texas to California, accompanied by his wife, Emma Jean Shaffer.

(Don’t worry, Dodie, wife number two, comes later.)

In a few years John and Emma Jean divorced.

Love struck again, and John Osteen married Dolores “Dodie” Pilgrim on September 17, 1954.

On Mother’s Day May 10, 1959, John and Dodie opened their Lakewood Baptist Church is a “dusty, abandoned feed store.  (Not long after they dropped the Baptist and became non-denominational.

John and Dodie’s efforts at Lakewood were blessed with phenomenal. Lakewood Church grew to a congregation of well over 10,000 souls housed in a new building.

Meanwhile, the family of John and Dodie Osteen grew to include:

Paul, Lisa, April, Tamara, and Joel Osteen.

Joel began his college studies at Oral Roberts University but soon dropped out.

He then returned to Lakewood Church where he worked behind the scenes for seventeen years. Joel initiated the Lakewood Church television department and faithfully recorded his father’s services for a growing audience.

John Osteen, who dies in 1999, and his son Joel, who succeeded him come from the Word Of Faith or Prosperity Gospel tradition. Neither is without critics.

“They both teach a twisted form of Christianity that teaches obedience, giving, and faith as a way to get things from God. They are both products of what is known as the Prosperity Gospel and The Word of Faith Movement, or the Seed Faith Movement.”

— Rick Henderson

Joel reluctantly stepped into the role of Lakewood Church pastor. His stated preference was for the behind-the-scenes media work.

Reluctant or not, pastor televangelist is the role Joel Osteen was born to fill. Since becoming the head of Houston’s Lakewood Church, Osteen has grown the church’s membership to more than 40,000. Since becoming the head of Houston’s Lakewood Church, Osteen has grown the church’s membership to more than 40,000. The already very large Lakewood Church has grown to over 40,000 members.

And a new church building,  an NBA former basketball arena. Once home to the Houston Rockets it is now home to Joel Osteen and Lakewood Church.

The growth of the church led to the growth of Joel Osteen’s wealth — in the $50 million-plus range. But Joel is not ashamed of his wealth.

In Joel Osteen’s case this includes a $10. 5 million mansion, as well as a secondary $3 million dollar home.

Joel is married to the former Victoria Iloff who hales from Huntsville, Alabama. And yes, her father worked in the aerospace program there. When Victoria was two years old her father took a job with NASA and the family moved to Houston.

Victoria briefly attended the University of Houston but dropped out of college to work in her mother’s jewelry business. It was at the jewelry store that she met a customer who stopped in for a watch battery — Joel Osteen.

The couple married April 4, 1957. They have two children: Johnathan and Alexandra.

Joel’s preaching has made him beloved by millions. Still, critics criticize what they term Christianity Lite.

“I think it’s a cotton candy gospel,” the Rev. Michael Horton, professor of theology at Westminster Seminary in Escondido, California said.

“His core message is God is nice, you’re nice, be nice. It’s sort of a, if it were a form of music, I think it would be easy listening.

He uses the Bible like a fortune cookie. ‘This is what’s gonna happen for you. There’s gonna be a windfall in your life tomorrow.’ The Bible’s not meant to be read that way.”

Morgan Freeman, currently fascinating viewer with his “The Story Of God” is not a religious man. But of all the religious people with whom Freeman interacted in the making of the series, it was Joel Osteen who made the biggest impression on him.

 “In a Houston megachurch (Lakewood Church) I connected somewhat. Encouraged to think positive. You don’t just get some things just like that! You have to go do it to get it. God’s plan for us is to succeed. – Morgan Freeman

(To Be Continued)