About the Author

Having started Lakewood's television outreach ministry, Joel Osteen worked side-by-side with his father, founding Pastor John Osteen for 17 years, and took Lakewood's positive message of hope to over 100 million households throughout the United States and 100 countries worldwide.On October 3, 1999, Joel Osteen assumed the position of Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church. Under Osteen's leadership, Lakewood has grown in every area of ministry. Lakewood has added two additional worship services in order to accommodate its growth in an auditorium that seats 7,800. With nearly 30,000 adults in weekly attendance and over 2,500 children attending weekly children's programs, Lakewood has doubled in attendance in the last two years. In addition, Lakewood's weekly television program can now be seen in an additional 100 million households in the US and Canada.