Joel Osteen

==Biography==

==Biography==

Osteen married [[Victoria Osteen|Victoria L. Iloff]] on [[4 April]], [[1987]].<ref>[http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tx/harris/vitals/marriages/1987/harrm87u.txt Rootsweb.com] Vital Records - Harris County, TX - Marriage 1987</ref> They have two children, Jonathan and Alexandra. Joel, son of John and Dodie Osteen, is one of six children. His elder siblings, Paul, Lisa, Tamara and his younger sister April, are also involved in full-time ministry.<ref>Osteen, Dodie. "Choosing Life: One Day At A Time." New York: Free Press, 2001</ref> Joel's half-brother, Justin, does missionary work out of New York,<ref name="power">Mathieu, Jennifer. [http://www.houstonpress.com/2002-04-04/news/power-house/ Power House. HoustonPress News.] 4 April 2002</ref> is his father's son from his first marriage which ended in a divorce.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} Joel's father, [[John Osteen]], a former [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist]] pastor who became [[Charismatic movement|Charismatic]] in the late 1950s, founded [[Lakewood Church]] on [[Mother's Day]], [[1959]].<ref name=church-begin>[http://www.christnotes.org/_joel-osteen.asp Christ Notes, ''Joel Osteen Books and Ministry'']</ref> Osteen's father developed Lakewood into a body of approximately 6,000 members with an active [[television]] ministry, crusades, conferences, [[Mission (Christian)|missionary]] support and food distribution.<ref name="power"/> He died of a heart attack in [[1999]].

Osteen married [[Victoria Osteen|Victoria L. Iloff]] on [[4 April]], [[1987]].<ref>[http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tx/harris/vitals/marriages/1987/harrm87u.txt Rootsweb.com] Vital Records - Harris County, TX - Marriage 1987</ref> They have two children, Jonathan and Alexandra. Joel, son of John and Dodie Osteen, is one of six children. His elder siblings, Paul, Lisa, Tamara and his younger sister April, are also involved in full-time ministry.<ref>Osteen, Dodie. "Choosing Life: One Day At A Time." New York: Free Press, 2001</ref> Joel's half-brother, Justin, does missionary work out of New York,<ref name="power">Mathieu, Jennifer. [http://www.houstonpress.com/2002-04-04/news/power-house/ Power House. HoustonPress News.] 4 April 2002</ref> is his father's son from his first marriage which ended in a divorce.{{Fact|date=October 2007}} Joel's father, [[John Osteen]], a former [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist]] pastor who became [[Charismatic movement|Charismatic]] in the late 1950s, founded [[Lakewood Church]] on [[Mother's Day]], [[1959]].<ref name=church-begin>[http://www.christnotes.org/_joel-osteen.asp Christ Notes, ''Joel Osteen Books and Ministry'']</ref> Osteen's father developed Lakewood into a body of approximately 6,000 members with an active [[television]] ministry, crusades, conferences, [[Mission (Christian)|missionary]] support and food distribution.<ref name="power"/> He died of a heart attack in [[1999]].

Joel attended [[Oral Roberts University]] in [[Oklahoma]] but dropped out. Nonetheless, just recently in 2007, Mr. Osteen received an honorary doctorate degree, Ph.D. from a Board University of Alternative Medicines located in Boston Massachusetts. Joel was recognized by the Board due to his ministry work, for his much noted generous help to people in need, and for his steadfast commitment in helping millions of people through his best seller books.

Joel attended [[Oral Roberts University]] in [[Oklahoma]] but dropped out. Nonetheless, just recently in 2007, Mr. Osteen received an honorary doctorate degree, Ph.D. from a Board University of Alternative Medicines located in Boston Massachusetts. Joel was recognized by the Board due to his ministry work, for his much noted generous help to people in need, and for his steadfast commitment in helping millions of people through his best seller books.

After 17 years with his father producing the church's television program, Joel succeeded his father on [[October 3]], [[1999]] as pastor of Lakewood Church. Joel had only preached once in his life, the week before his father's death.<ref name="power"/> Today, Lakewood Church services, led by Pastor Osteen, are seen in over 100 nations around the world.<ref>[http://joelosteen.lakewood.cc/site/PageServer?pagename=JOM_aboutus Lakewood Church, Joel Osteen Ministries. About Pastors Joel & Victoria]</ref> Joel Osteen's first book, ''Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential'', was released in October 2004. Soon after publication, it was ranked at the top of the New York Times Bestseller's list and continues to be among the top 10 best selling books (as of [[May 28]], [[2006]]).{{Fact|date=October 2007}} As well as being the center of several print and television news stories, Osteen was featured as the cover story of ''Texas Monthly Magazine'' in August 2005.<ref name=texas-Monthly>[http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2005-08-01/feature Texas Monthly Magazine, ""Texas Monthly Article.]</ref> In December 2006, he was named one of the year's "Ten Most Fascinating People" by Barbara Walters.<ref>Kwon, Lillian. [http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061211/24002_Joel_Osteen_Dubbed_'Most_Fascinating'.htm ChristianPost.com. Joel Osteen Dubbed 'Most Fascinating'.] 11 December 2006.</ref>

After 17 years with his father producing the church's television program, Joel succeeded his father on [[October 3]], [[1999]] as pastor of Lakewood Church. Joel had only preached once in his life, the week before his father's death.<ref name="power"/> Today, Lakewood Church services, led by Pastor Osteen, are seen in over 100 nations around the world.<ref>[http://joelosteen.lakewood.cc/site/PageServer?pagename=JOM_aboutus Lakewood Church, Joel Osteen Ministries. About Pastors Joel & Victoria]</ref> Joel Osteen's first book, ''Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential'', was released in October 2004. Soon after publication, it was ranked at the top of the New York Times Bestseller's list and continues to be among the top 10 best selling books (as of [[May 28]], [[2006]]).{{Fact|date=October 2007}} As well as being the center of several print and television news stories, Osteen was featured as the cover story of ''Texas Monthly Magazine'' in August 2005.<ref name=texas-Monthly>[http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2005-08-01/feature Texas Monthly Magazine, ""Texas Monthly Article.]</ref> In December 2006, he was named one of the year's "Ten Most Fascinating People" by Barbara Walters.<ref>Kwon, Lillian. [http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061211/24002_Joel_Osteen_Dubbed_'Most_Fascinating'.htm ChristianPost.com. Joel Osteen Dubbed 'Most Fascinating'.] 11 December 2006.</ref>

Presently, Osteen and several Lakewood Church team members travel across the nation, presenting programs in large stadiums to a paying public. The event titled "A Night of Hope," includes worship music led by Lakewood Church Music leaders Cindy Cruse Ratcliff, Israel Houghton, Steven Crawford and Da'dra Greathouse as well as a sermon from Pastor Osteen. In 2007, the tour expanded to include stops in several other countries, including Canada, England, Northern Ireland and Israel.<ref>[http://joelosteen.lakewood.cc/site/PageServer?pagename=JOM_events Joel Osteen Ministries Events]</ref>. Osteen released his second book, entitled ''Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day'' in October 2007 under [[Simon & Schuster]] publishing, which has also topped the New York Times Best Sellers List.<ref>[http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=3&pid=537606 SimonSays.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/bestseller/index.html New York Times Bestseller List]</ref> Osteen told Larry King the new book will focus more on relationships and not getting stuck where we are in life. "Just my basic message of becoming all God's created you to be," he added.<ref>[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0612/22/lkl.01.html CNN Larry King Live: Interview With Joel and Victoria Osteen.] 11 December 2006.</ref>

Presently, Osteen and several Lakewood Church team members travel across the nation, presenting programs in large stadiums to a paying public. The event titled "A Night of Hope," includes worship music led by Lakewood Church Music leaders Cindy Cruse Ratcliff, Israel Houghton, Steven Crawford and Da'dra Greathouse as well as a sermon from Pastor Osteen. In 2007, the tour expanded to include stops in several other countries, including Canada, England, Northern Ireland and Israel.<ref>[http://joelosteen.lakewood.cc/site/PageServer?pagename=JOM_events Joel Osteen Ministries Events]</ref>. Osteen released his second book, entitled ''Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day'' in October 2007 under [[Simon & Schuster]] publishing, which has also topped the New York Times Best Sellers List.<ref>[http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=3&pid=537606 SimonSays.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/bestseller/index.html New York Times Bestseller List]</ref> Osteen told Larry King the new book will focus more on relationships and not getting stuck where we are in life. "Just my basic message of becoming all God's created you to be," he added.<ref>[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0612/22/lkl.01.html CNN Larry King Live: Interview With Joel and Victoria Osteen.] 11 December 2006.</ref>