Many Americans have been fascinated by the life of American televangelist The Smiling Preacher, who has been dubbed “The Smiling Preacher” due to his infectious smile. Unlike most religious preachers, Joel Osteen has a unique style and charisma that has endeared him to many of his listeners. Also, his preaching style has been questioned by many, but his success in the pulpit continues to baffle even his harshest detractors, despite these criticisms and controversies. What is Joel Osteen’s personal life like outside of his work as a pastor, including his way of living, his spouse, and his children? His net worth is unknown at this time. The actual tale about Joel Osteen, one of the most well-known preachers of our time, is revealed as we take you behind the scenes of his ministry.
Who is Joel Osteen?
Many Lakewood Church members look up to him as a preacher, author, and source of inspiration. He is an American citizen of white ethnicity and the son of John Osteen, the well-known pastor and founder of Lakewood Church, and Lisa Osteen.
Early life
Joel Scott Osteen was born on March 5, 1963, in Houston, Texas, and grew up with his six siblings – Justin, Tamara, April, Paul, and Lisa Osteen – in a large family. As he grew older, he joined the rest of his family in volunteering at church.
Education
It was at Oral Roberts University (Tulsa, Oklahoma) that Joel studied radio and television communications; he dropped out of college to join his father in the church’s mission, but did not complete his education since he was too young.
Joel Osteen Career
Upon Joel’s return to his father’s church after college, he toiled behind the scenes as a televised sermon supporter for 17 years, eventually succeeding him as the pastor.
Even though Joel’s father was a well-known preacher, Joel never took the pulpit during his father’s time on the stage. However, he only had one opportunity to get the position when his father was unable to perform on 17 January 1999 due to illness. When John Osteen, the founder and lead senior pastor of Lakewood Church, suffered a heart attack six days after that momentous day, Joel was unwittingly commissioned to take his father’s place.
During the years following the death of his father, he grew spiritually, and his teaching style was markedly different from that of his father and traditional Christian theology. Many of the faithful were moved by Joel’s lecture and preaching style, which he delivered in a straightforward, upbeat, and unassuming manner. Prosperity preacher Joel modified the tempo and beat of the sermons at Lakewood Church to promote God’s goodness, which earned him the title!
On October 3, 1999, he was appointed as the senior pastor of Lakewood Church, and he proceeded to lead the church to glory as the membership rose from 5000 to 43,000 in a short period of time.
The Lakewood Church expansion
The church purchased the Compaq Center, the former home of the Houston Rockets basketball club, and restored it at a cost of $105 million, with a capacity of 16,000 seats, in 2003, as its membership and national following grew. The Lakewood Church’s new nest was inaugurated in 2005 with more than 56,000 people in attendance, including the governor of Texas, Rick Perry, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
Lakewood Church’s expansion and astute administration by Senior Pastor Joel Osteen and dedicated members of the church management drew additional donations from its worldwide church outreaches. Indeed, Joel’s Lakewood church became one of the most talked about and followed churches in the United States.
Joel Osteen messages
Sermon
They fall in love with Joel because of his unique preaching style. He prefers to focus on God’s goodness rather than on what may be used to condemn individuals or their behavior. Listeners should perceive God as good and always on their side, according to his message. He encourages people to think positively about themselves, and he wants them to do the same. In his teachings, he encourages his followers to see the bright side of life and to reject the concept of evil and sin that has permeated our society for too long. They are a message of God’s grace, which can pardon sins and alleviate pain.
His Net Worth and Lifestyle
Joel Osteen is one of America’s wealthiest pastors. As of 2017, his net worth was estimated at $40 million. Joel is living the life he preaches, and this can be seen in his extravagant spending habits. In his own words, “God wants you to live in affluence instead of poverty,” and he’s one of the country’s wealthiest pastors. He owns a $10.5 million mansion and a fleet of high-end automobiles.
Joel Osteen does not possess a yacht, according to our research, which shows that it is just a part of the controversy surrounding him.