| USA TODAY
The mega church in Houston becomes shelter from flood
Joel Osteen opened his mega-church in Houston to flood victims on Tuesday after critics on social media complained to the television expert that he did not want to house people in need. Osteen says the church was in danger of being flooded early in the storm. (August 30)
AP
The claim: Joel Osteen has closed his Lakewood church to those suffering from cold weather and power outages in Texas
Renowned pastor Joel Osteen has been criticized on social media for allegedly closing the doors of his Lakewood church in Houston and failing to provide shelter for those facing icy temperatures and glowing eclipses.
In a Facebook post on February 16, a user wrote: “In Houston, megapastor Joel Osteen is not opening his 18,000-seat arena for the icy homeless.” Some versions of the message misspelled his name as “Olsteen”.
In a similar version of the claim, which has more than 400 shares, a user claims that Osteen received $ 4.4 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans but did not open his church in Texas to ‘people who die freeze at his by ‘sheltering’. The post is accompanied by a statue of Osteen’s Lakewood Church, with thousands of worshipers.
Some users pointed to Hurricane Harvey in 2017, when Osteen was also accused of refusing to accept evacuees at his church immediately.
“While Texans need heat, food and shelter, Joel Osteen’s church remains closed … just like during and after Hurricane Harvey,” reads a text message.
USA TODAY targeted Facebook users for comment.
Fact check: Viral statement claiming to come from Texas power company is false
Lakewood Church is open
Osteen did not lock the doors of his Lakewood Church; according to local media reports, it remained open to assist people without power and shelter.
According to the Houston Chronicle, 300 people came in and out of the building, including those homeless and families wanting to escape the cold.
Church staff examine participants for COVID-19 symptoms, and also require masks and maintain proper social distance.
Lakewood Church provides beds, blankets and other supplies, and church officials have said no one will be turned away, Click2Houston reports.
“If you need a warm place to stay, Lakewood is open. Hundreds arrived last night and more due to power outages. Staff and volunteers are ready to help,” Osteen said. tweeted on February 16th. “We have beds, blankets, a hot meal and supplies for the needy. Stay safe, keep praying for Texas.”
The city of Houston too shared on Twitter that Lakewood Church is open as a center for those in need of a warm place.
Lakewood Church was formerly home to the Houston Rockets of the NBA. The church now attracts more than 45,000 participants per week. Osteen was spotted in December while Lakewood Church reportedly received a $ 4.4 million PPP loan.
Fact check: Meme of the frozen wind turbine contains the 2015 image from Sweden
Hurricane Harvey
This is not the first time that social media users have criticized the pastor for allegedly closing his church.
In 2017, Osteen came under fire when the church posted a notice that the building was closed due to ‘severe flooding’ after Hurricane Harvey, USA, TODAY.
Osteen refuted allegations that he dismissed flood victims, saying that “the church has always been open” and that “we received shelters the first day or two.” He added that the church initially flooded and could not immediately open its doors.
Fact check: No, the mega church of Joel Osteen does not ask for online prayer requests
Our rating: false
The claim that mega-church pastor Joel Osteen does not allow Texans to hide in his Lakewood church in Houston without heat and power is FALSE, based on our research. Tweets from Osteen, the church and the city of Houston all confirm that the church is open to those in need of shelter. Numerous local stores also reported on Lakewood opening its doors to Texas residents.
Our sources for fact checking:
- Houston Chronicle, February 16, “Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church opens doors in bitterly cold weather”
- Click2Houston, February 16, “Lakewood Church opens as a heating center as millions of days go by without power”
- Lakewood Church, February 14, tweet
- City of Houston, February 16, tweet
- Joel Osteen, February 16, tweet
- Joelosteen.com, about Joel
- KTLA5, December 15, 2020, “Pastor Joel Osteen Criticizes After Houston’s Mega Church Receives $ 4.4 Million COVID-19 Loan from CARES Act”
- USA TODAY, August 30, 2017, “Joel Osteen: ‘We never turn away’ Hurricane Harvey flooding victim”
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