WASHINGTON — Popular and often criticized Pastor Joel Osteen told thousands gathered at the Capital One Arena on Saturday that they need not waste energy worrying about what critics think as they “rise higher” in what God is calling them to be.
Osteen, pastor of the 45,000-member Lakewood Church in Houston whose television sermons are seen by millions worldwide each week, held his 189th “Night of Hope,” a two-and-a-half hour stadium event featuring worship music and messages from Osteen, his wife, Victoria, and other members of the Osteen family.
Osteen, the son of preacher and Lakewood founder John Osteen, told the crowd a little bit about how he used to be a “behind the scenes” person when he helped run the Lakewood television ministry while his father preached.
But after his father got ill and died in January 1999, Osteen took over as Lakewood’s pastor without having a theology degree.
As Osteen was pushed more into the national spotlight with the growth of his television ministry, he started gaining more supporters. However, he also had to “come to terms with” the fact that he was also…
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