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Joel Osteen Says Megachurch Didn’t Open Earlier Because Houston ‘Didn’t Ask’
He is a goddamn CHURCH.
You shouldn't have to be *asked* to open your doors for people in need,
or you should stop pretending to be a religious institution.
There have been numerous rumors surrounding Lakewood Church in Houston,
Since that time, several photos and videos of the church
has been posted on social media.
Some people claim that the church did not suffer any flooding
and that the areas around the outside of the church prove
that the water levels didn’t get very high and that the church managed
to stay dry inside despite the severe weather.
You can see a couple of these photos and a video below.
Joel Osteen’s Church Issues Statement After Getting Backlash for Not Opening Doors to Hurricane Victims
Pastor Joel Osteen can’t seem to get his story straight about why he didn’t offer his 16,800-seat megachurch
in Houston as a shelter sooner for those displaced by Hurricane Harvey.
During an appearance on NBC’s “TODAY” show Wednesday,
the head of Lakewood Church said its doors have “always been open.”
Minutes later, he appeared to reverse course and admit that the church hadn’t initially
encouraged victims to seek shelter there.
“If people were here, they’d realize there were safety issues,”
Osteen said during the TV appearance. “We were just being precautious,
but the main thing is the city didn’t ask us to become a shelter then.”
Houston-based celebrity pastor Joel Osteen is coming under fire on
Twitter for not opening up the doors to his Church for storm victims to take shelter.
Osteen — pastor at Houston’s Lakewood Church —
has kept the doors closed even though pictures on
Twitter appear to show that the Church escaped the brunt of the storm.
Lakewood Church — which was formerly an NBA arena called The Summit,
home to the Houston Rockets — holds 16,800 people.
Lakewood Church posted on Facebook Sunday writing,
"Dear Houstonians! Lakewood Church is inaccessible due to severe flooding!"
The post received backlash on social media when photos were
posted that seemed to contradict those claims. The church,
home to one of the largest congregations in the country,
says its doors are now open and receiving anyone who needs shelter.
Osteen joined "CBS This Morning" from Houston to address the controversy and discuss
what his church is doing to help the city
Following claims from around the internet that Lakewood Church,
and its leader, Joel Osteen, weren't doing anything
for the victims of Tropical Storm Harvey,
the organization spoke out Monday night to try and set the record straight.
Two media giants, the New York Post and New York Daily News,
gave credence to angry Twitter users and other media personalities
questioning the megachurch for not opening its doors to people
forced from their homes from flooding.
Don Iloff, spokesman for Lakewood, told Chron.com late Monday
that the church has never been closed during Harvey and staff was instructed
to aid anyone who came to their doors looking for help.
"It's not our unwillingness, it's just practicality. It's been a safety issue for us,"
Iloff said, adding that Harvey's heavy rainfall almost spilled over Lakewood's
floodgate this past weekend. "Lakewood Church has a heart for this city."
None of that is true. There was flooding – if we didn't have our floodgates out back here, it was within one foot. This building flooded in 2001.
Osteen's comment stands in contrast to a church Facebook post and a since-deleted Instagram remark by Lakewood associate pastor John Gray,
who said flooded highways had made the church inaccessible. A spokeswoman for Osteen didn't immediately return a request for comment Tuesday.
Damage to a hotel in Victoria.
Destroyed houses in Rockport.
A burnt-out house that caught fire after Hurricane Harvey hit Corpus Christi.
Family disappear, nearly floods his truck as Hurricane Harvey comes ashore in Corpus Christi. Minutes later, high winds blew off the camper carrying all of his belongings.
Thank you LA PELIGROZA FROM HUSTON TEXAS.
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