Joel Scott Osteen, an American lay preacher, televangelist, businessman, and author based in Houston, Texas, was born on March 5, 1963. Osteen is one of the more well-known figures associated with prosperity theology, famous for his weekly televised services and several best-selling books.
The prosperity gospel, or prosperity theology, which holds that the reward of material gain is the will of God for all devout Christians, is sometimes accused of being promoted in Osteen’s sermons and writings.
Born: March 5, 1963 age 59
Full name: Joel Scott Osteen
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Religion: Non-denominational Christianity, Word of Faith, Charismatic Christianity
Spouse: Victoria Osteen
Children: 2
Parents: John Osteen, Dolores Pilgrim Osteen
School: Humble High School
Reformed theologian Michael Horton told CBS News correspondent Byron Pitts during a 12-minute segment on Joel Osteen that aired on October 14, 2007, on 60 Minutes, that his message is heresy.
His Income
According to Horton, the issue with Osteen’s message is that it turns religion into something that is about us rather than God.
According to estimates, Osteen is worth more than $50 million, and his church collects $43 million annually.
His early Life
The youngest of John Osteen and Dolores Dodie Pilgrim’s six children, Osteen was born in Houston, Texas. Osteen is the current senior pastor of Lakewood Church, which was started by his father, a former Southern Baptist pastor, in the back of a disused feed warehouse. He attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he studied radio and television communications but did not complete it; he graduated from Humble High School, a public high school in the city of Humble, Texas, in 1981.
He didn’t graduate from a divinity college. He moved back to Houston in 1982, started the Lakewood television program, and for 17 years, up until his father’s sudden heart attack death in January 1999, produced his father’s televised sermons.
Osteen’s first sermon was delivered on January 17, 1999. He was welcomed to Lakewood Church on October 3, 1999, as its new senior pastor. The former home of the NBA Houston Rockets and the AHL Houston Aeros, the Compaq Center, was purchased by Lakewood Church in 2003, and it underwent renovation. Osteen claimed in 2008 that more than 100 countries watched the weekly service TV program from Lakewood Church. The services are watched by, according to Lakewood Church, 7 million people each week.
Osteen’s Career
Osteen was listed as one of the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006 by Barbara Walters. John McCain, a former candidate for president, cited Osteen as his favorite inspirational writer. In 2010, the Osteen family attended the Easter breakfast that President Barack Obama hosted at the White House.
From 5,000 to 43,000 people attended Lakewood as of 2014.
Family
Osteen wed Victoria Osteen on April 4, 1987; Victoria would go on to serve as a co-pastor at Lakewood Church.
Son and daughter are their children. His half-brother Justin was serving as a missionary in 2002, along with his older siblings Paul, Lisa, and Tamara, as well as his younger sister April, who were all actively engaged in full-time ministry.
The 17,000 square-foot, $10.5 million mansion that Osteen and his family reside in is in River Oaks. Osteen claims that despite the church’s $70 million annual budget, the senior pastor does not receive a salary from it and instead depends on proceeds from book sales.
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