Joel Osteen Ministries

We enjoyed Joel’s messages so much on TV and Sirius that we decided to attend Lakewood in person. We were NOT disappointed. Just like Joel always says, they truly do make you feel «right at home»! And the music — WOW!!! I just don’t understand the criticism that Joel gets, and the negative reviews. If emphasizing God’s Goodness, Love and Mercy in a positive and uplifting way is a crime, then Joel’s guilty as charged! Joel is the first to admit he’s not «theologically trained», but as a messenger of God’s love for us and His desire for us to love one other, Joel is peerless.

Used to be a huge fan of JO until I saw his radio interview praising Trump as a «good man». Sorry, but I cannot follow someone who thinks a man as un-​Christian, hate-​filled, and racist as Trump is, is a «good man». SMH goodbye JO.

Joel gives it his best every time I watch his show. He preaches the good news and does so by example and by story. What I like best is that he never puts anyone or any group down. Nothing wrong with prosperity and he takes no salary from the Church, instead writing books for income. I do wonder why he speaks about being born again at the end of each show, after describing how wonderful we are for 30 minutes!

Joel Osteen’s messages have really changed my life. I used to look at the world and only see the negative. I dwelled on the evils of humanity, and spent a lot of time being seriously depressed. Now I look for the positive, and do my best to be a person of excellence.
Although not a Christian, I started listening to Joel’s broadcast when a friend who is born again asked me to do a Bible study with her. She steered me away from Joel, saying his preaching wasn’t «true.» Since then, I’ve seen so many people who hate on Pastor Joel’s preaching for being a «prosperity Gospel,» To those people, I say you are obviously not comprehending his whole message. Yes, he says God loves us and wants to do right by his children, but Joel also spends a lot of time telling listeners/​followers to get over past hurts, to treat others with kindness, to focus on God instead of our problems, and to make the best of our current circumstances, but strive for more and work hard. I am listening to his newest audio book, Break Out, and it seems like a big part of his message here it to be the best you can be so God can elevate you — i.e. the old saying «God helps those who help themselves.»
I have been through some very difficult times in my life, and his messages (for FREE online) moved me so much that I began to give to his church. My minimal contributions are much less than therapy, and I am glad to support Lakewood. Lakewood gives out so many resources for free (newsletters, podcasts and articles); I find that really wonderful, especially to bring hope to people who are struggling financially. He’s human, not perfect, but more than any other preacher I’ve listened to (especially the rather boring messages of the In Touch ministry which my born-​again friend recommended), I really feel like he interprets the Bible in a positive, accessible way.
Everyone must follow their own spiritual path, and for people who want a more hard-​line Christian viewpoint, go to it. I don’t think that is my place to criticize others for trying to bring positivism others, and the Christians who do attack him make themselves and the path they follow seem intolerant and closed-​minded. Not the sort of church or people I’d like to associate with!

Joel and Victoria are so much a part of ours lives, I love them as family and they help me get started everyday with their emails of encouragement and I share them with others. Joel’s Ministries and books are a God send.
Thank you Joel and Victoria for sharing your kindness with the world and my family.
My dream is to move to Houston so that I can join your church and enjoy a live service on Sunday’s. God is good may his will be done!!!

what does his ministry do for humanity.

To follow Yeshua (Jesus Christ) means to repent daily and turn from your sins, to love one another and to not desire the things of this world, but to store your treasures in heaven. When Joel begins to preach this, then he is preaching the Truth.

A co-​worker and I were in town so we went to the Saturday night pre-​Easter service. I have watched Joel Osteen fairly regularly on tv for the past couple of years — but all I can say is WOW. This was truly one of the warmest and most welcoming places I have ever been. I have never been a «religious» person, but listening to Pastor Joel’s words make me want to be a better person. He offers hope in a world where a lot of people are hurting.

Joel, get your wife off the stage. People don’t go to hear any part of her. Your ministry has dulled due to her and as proof, our pastor no longer mentions your ministry.
Get back to your big tent style ministry Joel, you don’t want to ruin a good con.

Joel Osteen is the best preacher I have ever come across. His sermons have changed my life and outlook! I listen to Joel Osteen’s CD’s on a daily basis. I always feel better and renewed after! I agree with the person who said it sounds as though Joel is speaking to us, what God would want us to hear. We all know right from wrong, so Joel doesn’t focus on the negative, he focuses on the positive! I wish wish wish I lived in Houston so I could attend his church. All the negative reviews are from close-​minded, judgemental, unhappy people-​sorry to say. And just as Joel would say, may God bless them.

How lucky and fortunate Houston is to have Pastor Joel Osteen! Now I love The Rock Church I attend here in San Diego, but when Pastor Osteen brought his «Night of Hope,» I knew I had to go. And so did many other locals as well, since 14,000 of us defied traffic, parking woes, and a DUI checkpoint after the event to hear Lakewood’s best. Now 14,000 people is a drop in the bucket compared to Lakewood, but what a wonderful night it was.
I could care less about «prosperity preaching,» but what I wanted to hear was the Pastor offering that «hope» to a lot of people who have had it hard lately. After some great worship music, a powerful testimony from Dodie Osteen and inspiring words from Victoria Osteen, the Pastor came out with strong words of faith. I like how he really presses the point to get rid of the negativity in your life so you can move forward in a new direction. I love how boyish this Pastor is and I enjoy watching that toothy grin and the wholesomeness about him. The best part was when suddenly during the sermon Pastor Osteen put his head in his hands. People were wondering what he was doing. Apparently overcome with emotion, Pastor Osteen was weeping! I was astounded. He began to dab at his eyes with a tissue and noted that it was this crying part that is always edited out of his TV shows!
Local comments on TV news websites are complaining that the Night of Hope cost money to attend. Many compared Joel Osteen to Billy Graham and his Christian crusades which were always free.
One sneaky TV station tried to trick the Pastor into saying something sensational about Osama bin Laden’s death. It is a dangerous world out there for traveling preachers!
Now I know many find this preacher smarmy and akin to a snake oil salesmen. So he doesn’t name the actual Scriptures he talks about and never went to seminary-​big deal! Preachers come in all kinds of makes and models! We are all on the same God page here! Lots of people think his wife kind of plastic and phony. But I am most concerned with the message, not so much the messenger. And what is preached by Joel Osteen is positive, inspiring, helpful, Godly words of encouragement to the flock.
If I ever decided to ditch the good life in California, I would probably head straight ti Houston so I could become a Lakewood congregant.
Please Houston-​realize the evangelical jewel you have among you — 5 Unilocal STARS for The Night of Hope & Joel Osteen Ministries.
Amen and amen.

Any man or woman of God who can go on national television, more specifically Fox News, and publicly declare that Mormons are Christians too has a serious need to calibrate his or her religious compass. I’m not one to beat around the bush and sugarcoat the matter at hand. This guy is just dead wrong on a plethora of religious issues and facts. Sure, he knows the Bible and its teachings. But, he is dancing that fine line between becoming a prophetical genius and spreading eternal damnation. You don’t have to attend a southern baptist church and get that hellfire and brimstone Word of God in order to gain the knowledge that is so necessary to continue on after this life. But, you will have to go somewhere a little better than this. God doesn’t operate on a system of rewards and punishments. Yes, God does bless the faithful. But, expecting God to bless you with a nice, mortgage free home and more cash in the bank than you can spend in a year is a crock. Nowhere in my Bible is that teaching present. Be warned about his one.

Gateway Church? Hmmmm… I’ve listened to regular Christian pastors for about a quarter of my life… at «non-​gateway» churches that don’t give hope or show you how to have faith. Churches that are unlike Joel’s Outreach Ministries, where most people were not full of the spirit and were very judgemental. And I’ll be the 1^st to tell you that they sucked the life right out of me, so much that I had to stop going and became disullusioned with the Lord.
So to see this ministry be called a gateway, it’s like gateway to what? lol If you’ve been to those other so-​called «non-​gateway» churches, you have probably seen like I have, that they’re not anywhere you want to have a gateway to.
Joel has actual scriptures that are the sole basis for what he teaches. What I pay attention to the most are his messages not on that God wants you to prosper, which he does and says so in his word, but I focus on Joel’s messages on having peace & building your faith, and focusing on how God says we are more than conquerers and can do, & make it past anything by focusing on Him. Nothing is too big for Him. Those are the messages that really give one hope and genuine joy.
I have put Joel’s teaching to the actual test. And just like Joel mentions, the higher one goes, the more the critics will come out… yet it’s too late to jade me because I have seen his principals work in my life. They are so unlike any «regular» pastor or church.
What I luv about Joel Osteen Ministries is that when you tithe any amount, they send you 1 or 2 cd’s FREE that give you hope and make your thought life so much better. in an accepting, loving manner. That doesn’t happen at a «non-​gateway» church, lol.
My mom and I have even called their 800 number where they have great people to help you & pray for you when you’re struggling. It’s awesome, they sent us some cd’s for free specifically for our situation. I suggest Valerie to talk to, she’s extra special.
O.k. I’d better stop, I’m beginning to sound like a walking billboard for this place, but so far for me they have been such a blessing.

I was raised as a Buddhist and stumbled upon Joel Osteen when I was younger searching for self-​help.
Joel Osteen helped me change my life and really helped me during a difficult time in my life.
Don’t hate Joel Osteen. He is only out to help others. Why all the negativity? God bless him and god bless all of you for disliking a person trying to spread positivity, kindness, and helping others.

I can see where everyone is coming from. I used to think that Joel Osteen was kinda too prosperity gospel for me. Now I have mellowed out and realize that he is a decent gateway church. Just don’t be fooled that he preaches the Gospel of Christ. He preaches his unique brand of Christianity.
Orthodoxy may not work for you but you have to give it to him that he mentions Jesus Christ in a positive light. God can work in people through a minister and often in spite of a minister.

I think Joel Osteen is a good gateway church. Good for the beginner, whose starting their journey to find out who God and Jesus are. He is a tad watered down in terms of depth of the gospel that he speaks upon, but I think his messages certainly helped me out of my funk, a few years ago.

Bruce, your review was right on. Joel preaches Prosperity Gospel, which focuses on materialistic things for those who are believers. God doesn’t work that way. I will never watch him on TV or see him in person.

I finally took the time to try this guy out a while ago — and I was horribly disppointed and not only shocked, but sickened to my stomach — visibly sick was one way to put it. Had I known we reviewed this sort of thing, I would have reviewed it sooner. That being said, allow me to break this chap down a bit and let’s analyze the nuts and bolts.
First and foremost — this is not theological studies by any stretch of the imagination — this is trash gospel of the worst kind, the kind promulgated by people who are too scared, unable, or unwilling to invest actual theological concepts or precepts into their studies of the Bible as a religious experience to be learned from.
It is church for those who do not want to delve, either intellectually or philosophically, into their religion and would rather have that religion delivered like an order at McDondald’s: «I’ll take one order of feeling good along with a side of rewarding myself and can you mega-​size my thoughtless theology?»
I would receommend individuals NOT attend this if they want a religious experience. However, if you feel religion is best delivered by a slick guy in a suit who speaks well, has no actual theologically intellectual discussion other than somehow weaving materialistic greatness into the fact that Christ died on the cross for sinners, then this place is right up your mega-​church, McReligious alleyway.
The utter lack of religious discussion constructs — such as a true understanding of the spiritual nature of baptism in light of John the Baptist and its precepts onto a righteous path — are gone. Gone also is any understanding of the trinity in its scope to mankind, or the true nature of original sin and its impact on humanity, in fact, there ar no Biblical waxings beyond what Jesus can do for you and your bank account and how to succeed.
What this snake oil salesman has managed to create is to find within people too frightened to find Christ in an actual religious tenet — be it Catholicism, Methodism, Baptism, or Episcopal or even God through Judaism or peace and mental strength through Buddhism — and instead repalce the need to actually learn the Bible with a «hey, feel great!» philosophy.
On the face, this is a neat tactic. Grab the masses and preach how good and great you are, the world is, how business can be better through God, and how to pad your wallet through Christ. When, in fact, that is not what religion (any religion) should be teaching or is based upon. Religion is about sacrifice, religion is about caring, religion is about the movement of the soul through spiritual understanding with intellectual derivations — not about a mega-​church with 30,000 attendees, a theme park, a Walt-​Disney experience and ending about feeling good. You should walk out of a church asking more questions, asking more about life, and pondering the nature of the Almighty.
Not walking out with nothing to fill your soul other than the trip over to Houston’s. That is very much not religion — it is, in fact, a hollow feel-​good seminar that your company can send you to for motivation. It’s not religion, it’s not a deitiful experience. It’s hollow and shallow, like so many of its attendees.
You are better off being atheist than visiting this clown.

Hmmmm. .. a sarcastic (At least I hope it was.) 5 Stars like Peter M. or a true 1?
I have heard Joel on the Tele a few times and he preaches what is know as Prosperity Gospelese
«God wants you to be rich!»
«If you are faithful, you will be rewarded.»
Too much bad (I mean different than mine.) theology to even begin. I wanted to offer some witty critique but even as I write this, I am just sad that this is what so many believe that the entire Christian church is.