Mega-pastor Joel Osteen may not know theology very well, but he sure knows how to rake in the bucks. To put it another way, Osteen is an expert at getting your down-on-their-luck relatives to hand over their money to his “ministry.” The proof is in the pudding, so they say, because the Houston Chronicle is reporting that Lakewood Church’s annual budget is around 90 million dollars a year.
Lakewood Church’s fiscal budget was revealed during the newspaper’s series titled “The Preacher’s Son.” The series “explores the origins and spectacular growth of Houston’s Lakewood Church under pastor Joel Osteen.” However, the Chronicleand writer Katherine Blunt decided to run a separate piece breaking down the church’s budget.
According to the article, here’s a rough breakdown of how Lakewood Church uses that 90 million dollar budget:
- Weekly services and programs: $31.7 million
- Night of Hope events: $6.7 million
- TV ministry: $25.1 million
- General and administrative: $11.5 million
- Fundraising: $11.9 million
- Mission and outreach: $1.2 million
There are two related things that I find sad, albeit not surprising, about how Osteen and company spend their many millions. Most of that big pile of money is spent on furthering Osteen’s brand while a tiny fraction of it is spent on evangelizing the lost. And by a tiny fraction, I mean just a bit over 1 percent.
With 90 million dollars at their disposal, it’s disgusting that a church that professes to believe and teach the Bible only manages to give 1.2 million dollars to missions and outreach.
Before ascending back to heaven, Jesus’ final earthly command to his disciples was to go and preach the gospel and make more disciples. Lakewood Church’s budget proves that Osteen’s priorities are not Jesus’ priorities. When looking at the budget, and while that measly 1.2 million dollars for missions and outreach is staring at you, it’s nigh unto impossible to deny that Osteen is more concerned about Osteen than he is about seeing lost souls saved. As the Houston Chronicle pointed out in another article,
Lakewood Church is a sophisticated business enterprise. That’s been a big part of Osteen’s success: his adept use of corporate-style marketing and brand-building. His message is available on almost every possible platform – TV, radio, social media, books, magazines, merchandise. Even more striking is the size of the market for this product. It’s a simple philosophy with a very diverse appeal.
To be clear, when the Houston Chronicle refers to Osteen’s “message,” they’re not talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ that reveals how lost sinners can be reconciled back to their Creator God by repenting of their sins and placing their faith in Jesus. No, by Osteen’s “message” the Chronicle is referring to his prosperity gospel that takes advantage of hurting people.
God hasn’t called His people to live their best life now. He’s called His people to take up their cross and follow Jesus, expecting persecution and hardship. On the final day of the Lord when Jesus returns, that’s when Christians’ “best life now” will begin.
Lakewood Church’s budget is further proof that Joel Osteen is a wolf preying on Christians. His concern is for his brand and making sure the show goes on. Pouring money into reaching lost sinners around the globe is barely a blip on Osteen’s radar as evidenced by the amount of money allocated to missions.
Our first parents Adam and Eve failed to run from the first false prophet named Satan in the Garden of Eden. Christians should be warning people to run from Joel Osteen, who is one of Satan’s most successful false prophets.
https://pjmedia.com/faith/joel-osteens-church-has-a-90-million-annual-budget/
Definitely Lucifer osteens church.
It certainly does not belong to the Lord in any meaningful way.
Do you think this piece of shit would help one of his flock of they fell ill? LMAO
Mark, you might remember the scandal Osteen caused during Hurricane Harvey about how he wouldn’t open up his church without donations…
😉
http://fromthetrenchesworldreport.com/joel-osteen-shuts-megachurch-amid-flooding-crisis/206573
http://fromthetrenchesworldreport.com/fellow-pastor-unleashes-holy-hell-joel-osteen-disgraceful-response-hurricane-harvey/207107
http://fromthetrenchesworldreport.com/joel-osteen-says-megachurch-didnt-open-earlier-houston-didnt-ask/206737
good job Angel. Hope your doing o.k. 🙂 <3
Tough time but holding on, one day at a time. 🙂 <3
Keep the faith Angel. Time moves slowly but it will heal.
People will give their last dime for that feel good “gospel.”
One of many false teachers.
Galatians 1: 8-9
” But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
Amen Katie
Romans 3:4 King James Version (KJV)
4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
This sadly shows us the stupidly we’re up against
You’d think people would learn not to follow these con men. Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Baker etc. They seem to be still out there doing business. What’s sad is a lot of folks that don’t have the money will send their last nickel to these crooks.
And Jesse DuPlantiss…etc. etc. etc.
yep, yep, yep, DL
Did Jesse get his jet?
When I think about how much could be accomplished in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ with such a large sum, I am sorely grieved. God’s righteous judgement shall come upon false teachers like this, who’s god is Mammon and not the Saviour of all men.
” But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
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: 1-3
Darzak, if I had that kinda money I’d make printed copies of my free PDF e-book in print (see side ad), buy a jet, then hand everyone a printed copy (in many languages, after all only about half the planet has internet…In Greenland, they only have dialup, for instance)…Or doing the same with Bibles. When you have 90 million dollars you have no excuses as to why you aren’t bringing Christ to millions of people…the true Word, not his prosperity gospel nonsense.
I missed my calling. I can whip up a rousing sermon with the best of them, but I’m not into squeezing choir boys.
“But the anointing which ye have received from Him abideth in you, and YE HAVE NO NEED THAT ANY MAN TEACH YOU. But as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.”
-1 John 2:27
“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, DWELLETH NOT in temples made with hands;…”
– Acts 17:24
Why would a Bible believer violate these two Scriptures (just to name a couple)?
Answer: Because they are being taught by ‘men’, in a building ‘made by men” !
All roads STILL lead to Rome!!!
And THAT ‘church’ was created by apostate Jews!
When one receives the BAPTISM of the Holy Spirit then that person will stop listening to these wolves in sheep’s clothing and stop going to ‘church’ !
Ever do a word study on the word, ‘church’ ?