Lakewood Church
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Lakewood Church is a diverse, non-denominational megachurch located in Houston, Texas. As of 2007, it is the largest and fastest growing church in the United States with more than 40,000 attendees during its English and Spanish language services. [1]
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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, serves as co-pastor. [2]
Osteen's older siblings, Paul Osteen, M.D. and Lisa Comes, both serve as associate pastors and assist in leading the church's Wednesday night services. Latin Grammy award winning singer Marcos Witt is the associate pastor of the Hispanic congregation. [3]
Osteen's mother, Dodie, leads Lakewood's prayer ministry. [4]
[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.[5] Upon his death in 1999, his youngest son, Joel, became pastor. [6]
Under the leadership of Joel Osteen, Lakewood's congregation increased almost five-fold. [7] Because of this large increase in attendance, church officials began searching for a new facility.
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.
Renovations to create the new Lakewood Church are estimated at $75 million. [9] The church was required to pay $11.8 million in rent in advance for the first 30 years of the lease. [10]
On July 16, 2005, Lakewood Church relocated from their old building in northeast Houston into the newly renovated 16,000 seat worship facility. [11]
[edit] Outreach ministries
Lakewood spends nearly $30 million every year on its television ministry. [12] The church's weekly television program airs weekly in over 100 nations and can be seen by nearly 200 million households in the United States. [13] Services are broadcast multiple times on Trinity Broadcasting Network and Daystar Television Network, as well as local channels in most major markets. Lakewood also appears on several "secular networks," such as Black Entertainment Television, ABC Family, and USA Network.
Lakewood Church recorded two live worship CDs: We Speak to Nations and Cover the Earth, both featuring Director of Music and Worship Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff, the Lakewood Choir, Israel Houghton, and Marcos Witt.
In 2006, the Houston Symphony Orchestra joined Lakewood in their latest CD, a Christmas album, entitled The Gift.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Megachurch Megatech. CIO Insight. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Our Leadership Team. Lakewood Church. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Our Leadership Team. Lakewood Church. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Our Leadership Team. Lakewood Church. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Church History. Lakewood Church. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Church History. Lakewood Church. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Nation’s largest church opens in stadium. MSNBC. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ A Sports Arena Gets Religion. New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Nation’s largest church opens in stadium. MSNBC. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ A Sports Arena Gets Religion. New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ About Pastors Joel and Victoria. Lakewood Church. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Interview: Joel Osteen on the Future of America's Churches and Him Pastoring One. The Christian Post. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ About Pastors Joel and Victoria. Lakewood Church. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
