Joel Osteen’s Church in Houston to Begin Shelter Operations: Reports

Joel Osteen’s Church in Houston to Begin Shelter Operations: Reports
Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips
Breaking News Reporter
|Updated:

Joel Osteen, the pastor of a Houston-area megachurch, said he will take people in after receiving criticism for allegedly shutting his church doors amid Hurricane Harvey.

“Lakewood is receiving people who need shelter. We are also receiving supplies such as baby food, baby formula and other shelter needs,” Lakewood Church tweeted on Aug. 29.

Osteen added that “Victoria and I care deeply about our fellow Houstonians. Lakewood’s doors are open and we are receiving anyone who needs shelter.”

For the past two days, Osteen received criticism for not allowing people to use the church as a shelter.

In a statement, Osteen said that those allegations were false.

“We have never closed our doors. We will continue to be a distribution center for those in need. We are prepared to house people once shelters reach capacity. Lakewood will be a value to the community in the aftermath of this storm in helping our fellow citizens rebuild their lives,” Osteen told ABC13.

It also provided photos that show extensive flooding in and around the church.

Lakewood Church
Lakewood Church
Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips
Breaking News Reporter
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter who covers a range of topics, including politics, U.S., and health news. A father of two, Jack grew up in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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