Joel Osteen Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Family

Joel Osteen Biography (Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Family, Career & More)

Joel Osteen (born March 5, 1963, in Houston, Texas, United States) is an American televangelist, theologian, speaker, and author who has gained millions of followers with his simple and upbeat sermons and best-selling books.

In 1959, Osteen’s parents established the nondenominational charismatic Lakewood Church in Houston. His father, John Osteen, was a preacher who had amassed a regional following over the years. After less than a year of school, Osteen left Oral Roberts University to assist his father in developing Lakewood’s booming national television ministry, working behind the cameras as a producer of the church’s programs.

Osteen took over as lead pastor when his father died in 1999. Lakewood quickly became the largest and fastest-growing congregation in the United States under his leadership. He quickly increased the church’s media presence by purchasing billboards and other advertisements, doubling the church’s budget for television airtime, negotiating with different networks for optimal time slots, and targeting the largest media markets. Within a few years, his weekly television broadcast had reached households in over 100 countries and was the highest-rated inspirational program on the air.

Osteen went on a 15-city tour in the United States in 2005, preaching to large crowds at nearly every stop. Lakewood built a new 16,000-seat megachurch in Houston’s Compaq Centre, a former basketball and hockey arena, that year. Lakewood’s weekly attendance increased from 6,000 in 1999 to more than 50,000 by 2016. Furthermore, by 2018, the televised services had an estimated 10 million weekly viewers.

During this time, he wrote several books, including How to Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day (2007), Blessed in the Darkness: How Everything Is Working for Your Good (2016), Think Better, Live Better: A Victorious Life Begins in Your Mind (2016) (2017), Empty Out the Negative: Create More Joy, Confidence, and New Levels of Influence (2020), and Peaceful on Purpose: The Ability to Remain Calm, Strong, and Confident in Any Season (2020). (2021).

Osteen, an amiable young man who gained the moniker “the smiling preacher,” eschewed complex or traditional theology in his talks. Instead, he preached straightforward, uplifting themes emphasizing his oft-stated view that “God wants us to have a better life.” While this approach clearly resonated with the general public, it also brought harsh criticism from others who saw Osteen as nothing more than a motivational speaker giving a watered-down vision of Christianity. Others accused him of preaching a “prosperity gospel” to justify wealth growth.

Osteen stated that he wanted to emphasize the “goodness of God” and that he did not define success only in worldly terms. He defended Lakewood’s overtly commercial strategy to courting new members, claiming that churches who reject “moving with the times,” as he phrased it, risk losing members or collapsing entirely.

Personal Details

Physical Appearance

Personal Life (Family, Friends, Girlfriends, Children)

Early Life:

Osteen was born in Houston, Texas, to parents John Osteen and Dolores (“Dodie”) Pilgrim. In the rear of an old feed shop, his father, a former Southern Baptist minister, established Lakewood Church (of which Osteen is the current senior pastor).

He graduated from Humble High School, a public high school in Humble, Texas, in 1981, and went on to attend Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he studied radio and television communications but did not graduate; he did not attend a divinity school.

He relocated to Houston in 1982, launched Lakewood’s television program, and produced his father’s televised sermons for 17 years until his father died suddenly of a heart attack in January 1999.

Career:

Osteen delivered his debut sermon on January 17, 1999. He was inaugurated as the new senior pastor of Lakewood Church on October 3, 1999. Lakewood Church purchased and rebuilt the former home of the NBA Houston Rockets and the AHL Houston Aeros, the Compaq Center, in 2003. According to Osteen, Lakewood Church’s weekly service TV broadcast was seen in over 100 countries in 2008. Lakewood Church reports that 7 million people watch the services each week.

Osteen was named one of Barbara Walters’ 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006. Osteen was recognized as his favorite inspirational author by former presidential contender John McCain. In 2010, the Osteens attended an Easter luncheon sponsored by President Barack Obama at the White House. Lakewood’s attendance increased from 5,000 to 43,000 individuals by 2014.

Since 2004, Osteen and his wife have hosted Night of Hope events in the United States and around the world, as well as their annual stadium event called “America’s Night of Hope.” The event combines modern Christian music and inspiring messages to reach the crowds in attendance as well as those viewing online.

In 2018, Osteen hosted Kanye’s Sunday Service at his Lakewood Church in collaboration with rapper Kanye West. According to media reports, 17,000 people attended the event, with many more watching online. During COVID-19, he also held an Easter service with Mariah Carey and Tyler Perry.

Facts:

• According to CultureMap Houston, he resides in a $10.5 million property with six bedrooms, six bathrooms, three elevators, five fireplaces, a guest house, and a pool house, and he also owns his old home, which is worth $2.9 million. Some Osteen detractors object to this reality.
• His net worth is believed to be more than $40 million. “Joel Osteen, whose book sales and associated activities are estimated to be worth $55 million, argues that a person should not feel guilty for having a lot of financial prosperity.” Instead, one should appreciate and worship God for the obtained prosperity,” according to Celebrity Net Worth.
• He is no longer paid $200,000 by the Lakewood church
• According to Forbes magazine, Osteen had a dread of public speaking before becoming a preacher.

Joel Osteen Biography (Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Family, Career & More)