Lakewood Church
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lakewood Church is a non-denominational megachurch located in Houston, Texas, United States. As of 2007, it is the largest and fastest growing church in the United States[1] with more than 40,000 weekly attendees during its English and Spanish language services. [2]
Lakewood Church now occupies the arena previously home to the Houston Rockets. [3]
Contents |
[edit] Leadership
Joel Osteen, the youngest son of church founder John Osteen, is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church. Joel's wife, Victoria Osteen, serves as co-pastor.[4]
Osteen's older siblings, Paul Osteen, M.D. and Lisa Comes, serve as associate pastors and assist in leading the church's Wednesday night services. Marcos Witt is the associate pastor of the Hispanic congregation and also assists on Wednesday nights. [4]
[edit] History
Lakewood Church was founded by John Osteen and his wife, Dodie, on Mother's Day of 1959 inside an abandoned feed store in northeast Houston. John and Dodie created and hosted Lakewood's weekly television program, which could be seen in 100 countries worldwide.[5] Upon his death in 1999, his youngest son, Joel, became pastor. [6]
Under the leadership of Joel Osteen, Lakewood's congregation increased almost five-fold. [7] Because of this large increase in attendance, church officials began searching for a new facility.
In late 2003, the church signed a long-term lease with the city of Houston to acquire the Compaq Center, a 29-year-old former sports arena. [8]. Before being acquired by Lakewood, tenants to the arena, once called The Summit, included the Houston Rockets, the Houston Aeros, and the Houston Comets.
Renovations to create the new Lakewood Church are estimated at $75 million. [9] The church was required to pay $11.8 million in rent in advance for the first 30 years of the lease. [10]
On July 16, 2005, Lakewood Church relocated from its old building in northeast Houston into its new home, the newly renovated 16,000-seat facility southwest of downtown Houston along U.S. Highway 59.
[edit] Television ministry
Lakewood reports spending nearly $30 million every year on its television ministry. [11]
The church's weekly television program airs weekly in over 100 nations and can be seen by nearly 200 million households in the United States. [12] Services are broadcast multiple times on Trinity Broadcasting Network and Daystar Television Network, as well as local channels in most major markets. Lakewood also appears on several secular networks, such as Black Entertainment Television, ABC Family, and USA Network.
[edit] Music ministry
Lakewood Church's Music Ministry is led by singer-songwriter Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff, who serves as Director of Music and Worship [13]. Cruse joined Lakewood in January 2000[14], becoming Osteen's first hire since becoming pastor[15]. Steve Crawford and Da'dra Crawford Greathouse, former members of the Contemporary Christian music duo Anointed, lead Wednesday night worship services as well as assist with weekend services. Singer-songwriter Israel Houghton also frequently assists in leading worship services.
The ministry has recorded and released four live worship albums. The first, Lakewood Live: We Speak to Nations, was released in May 2002. It featured the lead vocals of Cruse and Houghton, and also included guest duets with Marcos Witt and Alvin Slaughter [16].
Two years later, Lakewood released its second album, Lakewood Live: Cover the Earth. The album again featured lead vocals by Cruse and Houghton. It included well-known songs like Cover the Earth, Friend of God and He Lives [17].
In October 2006, Lakewood released its first Christmas album, a collaboration with the Houston Symphony. It featured the lead vocals of Cruse and Witt and included holiday classics like Do You Hear What I Hear and Some Children See Him [18].
The ministry's most recent release, Free to Worship, was released in October 2007 as part of an exclusive Wal-Mart DVD package. It was recorded during a live Wednesday night worship service in August 2007 and later touched-up in Lakewood's recording studio. It featured the lead vocals of Cruse and Houghton, as well as Steve Crawford and Da'dra Crawford Greathouse. Included are well-known songs like Everywhere that I Go, Still Standing and Turn It Around [19].
[edit] Notes
- ^ 100 Largest US Churches - 2007 (pdf). Outreach Magazine.com (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
- ^ Megachurch Megatech. CIO Insight. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ USATODAY.com - America's largest church opens in former arena
- ^ a b Our Leadership Team. Lakewood Church. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Church History. Lakewood Church. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Church History. Lakewood Church. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Nation’s largest church opens in stadium. MSNBC. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ A Sports Arena Gets Religion. New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Nation’s largest church opens in stadium. MSNBC. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ A Sports Arena Gets Religion. New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Interview: Joel Osteen on the Future of America's Churches and Him Pastoring One. The Christian Post. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ About Pastors Joel and Victoria. Lakewood Church. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Music Ministry. Lakewood Church. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
- ^ 10 Questions with Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff. Integrity Music. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
- ^ 'The Smiling Preacher' Builds on Large Following. Washington Post. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
- ^ We Speak to Nations. Amazon. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
- ^ Cover the Earth. Amazon. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
- ^ The Gift. Amazon. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
- ^ Free to Worship. Joel Osteen. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
[edit] External links
