Lakewood Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lakewood Church |
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Worship in 2013
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| Location |  Houston, Texas |
| Country |  United States |
| Denomination | Both Pentecostal (since 1979) and Word of Faith (since 1999) |
| Previous denomination | Baptist (from 1959 until 1961) Non-denominational Christianity (from 1961 until 1979) |
| Weekly attendance | 45,000 |
| History | |
| Founded | May 10, 1959 |
| Founder(s) | John Osteen and Dolores Osteen |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 16,800 |
Lakewood Church is a very large Christian church in Houston, Texas. It is known for its Pentecostal and Word of Faith teachings. This church is one of the biggest in the United States. About 45,000 people attend its services each week.
The main building, called the Lakewood Church Central Campus, can hold 16,800 people. It hosts four services in English and two in Spanish every week. Joel Osteen is the main pastor, and his wife, Victoria, is a co-pastor. The church has 368 staff members who help run everything.
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History of Lakewood Church
Lakewood Church started on May 10, 1959. It was founded by John Osteen and his wife, Dolores. They began the church in a tent. Later, they moved to an old feed store in Houston. John Osteen was a Baptist minister. He wanted to create a church where people could experience a special spiritual connection.
The church was first called Lakewood Baptist Church. But it soon dropped "Baptist" from its name. It became a non-denominational church, meaning it wasn't tied to one specific Christian group. In 1961, John Osteen left for a short time to do mission work. Marvin Crow became the pastor until John returned in 1969.
By 1972, Lakewood built a new church that could seat 700 people. The church grew quickly. By 1979, over 5,000 people were attending. John and Dodie Osteen also started a weekly TV show. This show was seen in 100 countries around the world. In 1988, a new building with 8,000 seats was finished.
After John Osteen passed away in 1999, his youngest son, Joel Osteen, became the new pastor.
In 2001, a big storm called Tropical Storm Allison caused floods in Houston. Lakewood Church opened its doors to about 5,000 people who needed shelter.
Under Joel Osteen's leadership, the church grew even more. The number of people attending each week increased to 30,000. This meant they needed a much bigger place. In 2003, the church leased the Compaq Center. This building used to be a sports arena.
Lakewood Church moved into the Compaq Center on July 16, 2005. This new building can hold 16,800 people. It is twice as big as their old church. The church spent about $100 million to renovate the building. These loans were fully paid off in 2024. In November 2018, Lakewood Church was named the largest megachurch in the U.S. It had about 43,500 weekly visitors at that time.
In December 2021, news reported that cash and checks were found in a wall during a repair. This discovery was linked to money that went missing in 2014. A church census in 2024 showed that weekly attendance reached 45,000 people.
Shooting Incident
On February 11, 2024, a woman entered the church between services. She began firing a gun. Two police officers who were working security quickly responded. They returned fire and stopped her. The woman's 7-year-old son was hurt during the event. Another man present was also injured but was treated and released from the hospital.
What Lakewood Church Believes
Lakewood Church believes that the entire Bible is inspired by God. All of their teachings come from the Bible. They also believe in the Trinity, which means God is one but exists as the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. They believe Jesus died on the cross and came back to life.
The church practices several things they believe the Bible teaches:
- Finding Salvation: At the end of each service, people are invited to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
- Water Baptism: This is a symbol of faith in Jesus Christ. It shows that a person believes Jesus cleanses them from their sins. Baptisms happen every Saturday night in the church's chapel.
- Communion: This is a way to remember Jesus' death on the cross. It is offered every week.
- Growing with Jesus: Lakewood believes that everyone who believes in Jesus should try to grow closer to him. This means following the rules in the Bible and listening to the Holy Spirit.
Lakewood Church is known for its "Word of Faith" teaching. This teaching focuses on the power of words and faith. Before every sermon, the church repeats a special statement of belief together.
How the Church is Organized
Lakewood Church offers different groups and services for people of all ages and life stages.
Church Services
- Kidslife: Services and activities for children.
- Champions Club for Special Needs: A special program for children with unique needs.
- Lakewood Next Gen: Programs for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and young adults.
- Main Service: Services for all adults.
On weekends, Joel Osteen, Victoria Osteen, or Danilo Montero usually preach. On Wednesday nights, other pastors like Paul Osteen, Lisa Osteen Comes, Nick Nilson, and Craig Johnson preach. Sometimes, guest speakers are invited.
Education and Classes
The church offers various classes through its "Compass Classes" ministry. These classes meet before and after weekend services.
Television Ministry
Lakewood Church's weekly services are shown on TV networks like Trinity Broadcasting Network and Daystar Television Network. They also appear on local channels in many U.S. cities. The church's sermons are broadcast in over 100 countries. An estimated 7 million people watch them each week. Lakewood also hosts "Night of Hope" events each month. These are Christian services held in large arenas or stadiums across America.
Hispanic Ministry
In 2002, Lakewood started a Spanish-speaking ministry called Iglesia Lakewood. It was founded by Pastor Marcos Witt and his wife. In 2012, Danilo and Gloriana Montero became the associate pastors for this ministry. Lakewood has two services in Spanish each week. All English services are also translated into Spanish. About 6,000 people attend the Spanish services weekly.
Charitable Work
Lakewood Church is involved in many charitable activities. Since 2016, it has hosted a conference to help doctors prepare for medical missions. The church has also helped during natural disasters. They have organized food distribution and blood drives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they provided shelter during Hurricane Ida and the 2021 Texas Freeze. They also served as a center for supplies during Hurricane Harvey.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia Lakewood para niños
- Christianity in Houston
- List of the largest churches in the US
- List of the largest evangelical churches
- List of the largest evangelical church auditoriums
- Worship service (evangelicalism)
