Reluctant pastor’s son to most-viewed preacher: Shooting puts new spotlight on Joel Osteen
The pastor who leads the Houston megachurch where a shooter opened fire on Sunday is one of the most familiar faces in American religion. Joel Osteen preaches to about 45,000 people a week in a former basketball arena. The 60-year-old had never preached until the Sunday before his father died in 1999. Known for a laid-back and positive style, Osteen has been nicknamed the smiling preacher. In the mid-2000s, Osteen was viewed by more people than any preacher in the United States. His services over the years have drawn an almost equal mix of whites, Blacks and Hispanics — a diversity not seen in most churches across the nation.
Joel Osteen is one of the most familiar faces in American religion.
The pastor who leads the Houston megachurch where a 5-year-old boy was critically wounded in a Sunday shooting that also hit a man in the hip — before the shooter was killed by off-duty police working security — is known for his megawatt smile, wavy hair and widely popular brand of Christianity.
The 60-year-old regularly preaches to about 45,000 people a week in a former basketball arena and he’s known to millions more through his television sermons.
Osteen inherited his calling from his father and increased the size of the congregation almost five-fold. His book, “Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living Your Full Potential” sold nearly 3 million copies. In the mid-2000s, Osteen was viewed by more people than any preacher in the United States, reaching 95 percent of all households, according to Nielsen Media Research.
His services over the years have drawn an almost equal mix of whites, Blacks and Hispanics — a diversity not seen in most churches across the nation.
Nicknamed the “smiling preacher,” Osteen told The Associated Press in 2004 that his message of hope and encouragement “resonates with people.”
But his laid-back preaching style has also drawn criticism for focusing on feel-good messaging over fiery sermons.
Osteen follows a thread of evangelical Christianity called the Prosperity Gospel, which believes that following God brings rewards to followers who devote themselves to him, said Mark Ward Sr., a professor of communication at the University of Houston-Victoria who writes about evangelical mass media.
