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 | Non-denominational, Evangelical, Charismatic Christianity, Pentecostal |
| Weekly attendance | 45,000 |
| History | |
| Founded | May 10, 1959 (64 years ago) |
| Founder(s) | John Osteen |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 16,800 |
Lakewood Church is a very large Christian church in Houston, Texas. It is known as a "megachurch" because so many people attend its services. About 45,000 people go to Lakewood Church each week, making it one of the biggest churches in the United States.
The church building used to be a sports arena called the Compaq Center. It can hold 16,800 people. Joel Osteen is the main pastor, and his wife, Victoria Osteen, is also a pastor there. The church has services in both English and Spanish.
Contents
History of Lakewood Church
Lakewood Church started small on May 10, 1959. It was founded by John Osteen and his wife, Dodie. They began holding services in a tent. Later, they moved to an old feed store in Houston.
John Osteen was a Baptist minister. However, he wanted to create a church that welcomed people who believed in a special spiritual experience called "baptism in the Holy Spirit." This led the church to become "non-denominational," meaning it doesn't belong to one specific Christian group.
In 1972, Lakewood built a new church that could seat 700 people. By 1979, over 5,000 people were attending. John and Dodie Osteen also started a TV show for the church. This show was seen in many countries around the world. In 1988, a new, larger building was finished, seating 8,000 people.
Joel Osteen Becomes Pastor
After John Osteen passed away in 1999, his son, Joel Osteen, became the new pastor. Under Joel's leadership, the church grew even more. The number of people attending weekly grew to about 30,000.
This growth meant the church needed an even bigger space. In 2003, Lakewood Church leased the former Compaq Center from the city of Houston. This building was a large sports arena.
The church spent about $100 million to make the old arena into a church. Lakewood Church moved into its new home in July 2005. This new building can hold 16,800 people, which is twice as many as their old church. In 2010, the city of Houston sold the property to Lakewood Church.
In 2024, Joel Osteen announced that the church had paid off the $100 million loan used for the building's renovation.
Safety Incident at the Church
On February 11, 2024, a woman entered the church building. She began firing a gun. Two police officers who were working security at the church quickly responded. They exchanged gunfire with the woman, and she was killed.
The woman's 7-year-old son was also injured during the event. Another person present was wounded in the hip but was treated and released from the hospital.
What Lakewood Church Believes
Lakewood Church believes that the entire Bible is inspired by God. Their teachings are based on what the Bible says. 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 asks Christians to do:
- Finding Salvation: At the end of each service, people are invited to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
- Water Baptism: The church believes this is a symbol of faith in Jesus Christ. It shows that a person believes Jesus cleanses them from wrongdoings. Baptisms happen every Saturday night.
- Communion: This is an act of remembering Jesus' death on the cross. It is offered every week.
- Growing with Jesus: Lakewood believes that Christians should always try to grow closer to Jesus. This means following the Bible's teachings and listening to the Holy Spirit.
Lakewood Church is also known for its "Word of Faith" teaching. This teaching focuses on the power of faith and positive speaking. Before every sermon, the church members repeat a special statement of belief together.
How Lakewood Church is Organized
Lakewood Church has many different groups and services for people of all ages and life stages.
Church Services and Programs
- Kidslife: Programs designed for children.
- Champions Club for Special Needs: A special program for children with unique needs.
- Lakewood Next Gen: Groups for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and young adults.
- Main Service: Services for all adults.
During weekend services, Joel Osteen, Victoria Osteen, or Danilo Montero usually preach. On Wednesday nights, other pastors like Paul Osteen, Lisa Osteen Comes, Nick Nilson, Craig Johnson, or guest speakers lead the service.
Learning and Education
The church offers "Compass Classes." These classes help members learn more about their faith. They 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 regular TV channels in many major U.S. cities. In 2007, the church spent about $30 million each year on its TV ministry. Joel Osteen's sermons are shown in over 100 countries. An estimated 7 million people watch them every week.
The church also hosts "Night of Hope" events. These are Christian services held in large arenas or stadiums across America.
Hispanic Ministry
In 2002, Lakewood Church started a special ministry for Spanish-speaking people called Iglesia Lakewood. It was founded by Pastor Marcos Witt. In 2012, Danilo and Gloriana Montero became the associate pastors for this ministry. Lakewood Church has two services in Spanish each week. All English services are also translated into Spanish. About 6,000 people attend the Spanish services weekly.
Helping the Community
Lakewood Church is involved in many charitable activities. Since 2016, they have held a conference to help doctors prepare for medical missions. The church has also helped during natural disasters. They have organized food distribution and blood donation drives. They provided shelter during Hurricane Ida and the 2021 Texas Freeze. They also served as a center for giving out 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)
Images for kids
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The current Lakewood Church building in Houston.
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Joel Osteen preaching at Lakewood Church in 2018.
