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Mega-Rich Pastor Joel Osteen Orders Doors Of Lakewood Church Shut To Public At Height Of Hurricane Harvey
Televangelist Joel Osteen canceled services at his Houston megachurch Sunday and has yet to reopen its doors despite thousands of desperate people in need.

Televangelist Joel Osteen canceled services at his Houston megachurch Sunday and just reopened his doors today — despite the fact that thousands of flooded-out residents were desperately seeking shelter.
“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:3 (KJV)
EDITOR’S NOTE: With all the tens of millions of dollars his followers give Lakewood Church every year, and because of it’s massive sports stadium size, it would be only natural to think that Joel Osteen would order his huge building to be a receiving zone for the many thousands of displaced people in Hurricane Harvey. Lakewood Church has 16,000 seats in it’s main arena. So why did Osteen order the doors to his millionaires monastery shut to the public? That’s what I would like to know. After a public outcry, he begrudgedly opened the church to the public late today. But please, don’t stop sending in your money to fund his lavish lifestyle, he counts on suckers like you to pay his bills.
The perpetually smiling pastor told followers on Twitter on Monday to lean on their faith. “Jesus promises us peace that passes understanding,” he wrote. “That’s peace when it doesn’t make sense.”
But Osteen’s comforting words didn’t sit well with critics, who want to know why the doors to his 16,800-seat arena at his Lakewood Church near downtown Houston are closed.
Joel Osteen opens Mega-church to flood victims amid criticism
“You have taken so much money away from your people to live like a king,” entertainment publicist Danny Deraney blasted. “It’s the least you could do.”
Washington, DC-based writer Charles Clymer tweeted pictures of Lakewood Church, which did not appear to be damaged by floods.
“It doesn’t make sense why you’re not opening up your mega church to house Houston citizens, help me understand that. Jesus,” according to Florida-based writer Emily Timbol.
While the church and its arena have not suffered any flood damage yet, ministry spokesman Donald Iloff said their property is inaccessible because of surrounding waters.
And it makes no sense to open church doors when the city and county are already treating thousands of flood victims at the nearby George R. Brown Convention Center, according to Iloff.
“It has everything inside there — medicine, doctors, places to sleep,” Iloff said of the convention center. “It’s amazing what they’re doing there to make people comfortable.” source
