Biography of Joel Osteen
Joel Osteen Biography
Joel Osteen Biography – Joel Osteen is an American pastor, businessman, televangelist, and excellent author. Joel was born on March 5, 1963, and he is currently based in Houston, Texas. He is famous for his television programs and his highly-rated books. He is a voice in the prosperity theology.
Early Life
He was born in Houston, Texas, to the family of John Osteen and Dolores as one of the six children. His father was a former pastor at Southern Baptist and founded Lakewood Church where Joel Osteen is currently the Senior Pastor.
Joel graduated from Humble High School, Humble, Texas, in 1981. From there, he went to Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma to study radio and television communications but he didn’t finish the course.
He went back to Houston in 1982 to start Lakewood’s television program and began producing his father’s televised sermons for almost 17 years till January 1999 when he lost his father to a heart attack.
In 1983, he was ordained in his father’s church and preached his first message on 17 January 1999. He became the senior Pastor of Lakewood Church on October 3 of the same year. By the year 2003, the church obtained the Compaq Center, and the AHL Houston Aeros and afterward renovated it. He reported in 2008 that the church’s weekly Service TV program was viewed in more than 100 nations.
He was part of Barbara Walters’s list of the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006.
Preaching Method
Despite all the criticism he has faced with the way he preaches, he has affirmed that he chooses to focus more on the goodness of God and on living an obedient life rather than on sin. He simply preaches the Biblical truth, emphasizing the power of love and a positive attitude.
Books
He has written several books and his first book was titled Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living Your Full Potential was released in October 2004. The book reached the first position on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Below are the lists of some of Joel Osteen’s books:
- Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential (2004)
- Daily Readings from Your Best Life Now: 90 Devotions for Living at Your Full Potential (2005)
- Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day (2007)
- Your Best Life Begins Each Morning: Devotions to Start Every New Day of the Year (2008)
- It’s Your Time: Activate Your Faith, Achieve Your Dreams, and Increase in God’s Favor (2009)
- It’s Your Time: Finding Favor, Restoration, and Abundance in Your Life Every Day (2009)
- Everyday a Friday: How to Be Happier 7 Days a Week (2011)
- I Declare: 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life (2012)
- Break Out!: 5 Keys to Go Beyond Your Barriers and Live an Extraordinary Life (2013)
- You Can You Will: 8 Undeniable Qualities of a Winner (2014)
- Fresh Start: The New You Begins Today (2015)
- The Power of I Am: Two Words That Will Change Your Life Today (2015)
- Think Better, Live Better: A Victorious Life Begins in Your Mind (2016)
- Blessed in the Darkness: How All Things Are Working for Your Good (2017)
- Empty Out the Negative (2017)
- Next Level Thinking: 10 Powerful Thoughts for a Successful and Abundant Life (2018)
- The Power of Favor: The Force That Will Take You Where You Can’t Go on Your Own (2019)
- The Abundance Mind-Set: Success Starts Here (2020)
- Peaceful on Purpose: The Power to Remain Calm, Strong, and Confident in Every Season (2021)
- You Are Stronger than You Think: Unleash the Power to Go Bigger, Go Bold, and Go Beyond What Limits You (2021)
- Rule Your Day: 6 Keys to Maximizing Your Success and Accelerating Your Dreams (2022)
- Your Greater is Coming: Discover the Path to Your Bigger, Better, and Brighter Future (2022)
Relationship and Marital Status
He got married to Victoria Osteen on April 4, 1987, and she later became a co-pastor of Lakewood Church. The couple have a son, Jonathan (April 20, 1995), and a daughter, Alexandra (November 9, 1998).
Joel Osteen lives with his family in a mansion in River Oaks, which is estimated to be around $10.5 million.
