![Joel Osteen Reacts to Floods Joel Osteen Reacts to Floods](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/031/233/Untitled-1.jpg)
Joel Osteen Reacts to Floods
Part of a series on 2017 Hurricane Harvey. [View Related Entries]
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About
Joel Osteen Reacts to Floods refers to controversial action taken by megachurch pastor Joel Osteen after tropical storm Harvey hit the Houston, Texas area in August 2017. Osteen's church Lakewood did not begin to open its doors as a shelter for victims until several days after the storm flooded the area. Many Twitter users criticized the Pastor for not opening the church as a shelter sooner and for years after Harvey Osteen had been referenced by Houston residents anytime a storm threatened the area.
Origin
On August 26th, 2017, the morning after Harvey first hit Houston, Joel Osteen[1] tweeted, "Victoria & I are praying for everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey. Please join us as we pray for the safety of our Texas friends & family" (shown below, left). The tweet gained over 3,500 retweets and 17,400 likes in two years. On August 27th, The Digg[2] reported that "the church’s official Facebook page posted that the building was inaccessible due to flooding and shared a list of shelters 'beginning to open up'" (the Facebook post has since been deleted). The next day, Twitter user @paleofuture[3] tweeted, "Lots of people online are wondering why @JoelOsteen hasn't opened his 16,000 seat megachurch in Houston to people" which garnered over 17,600 likes and "Descriptions from the church use strange language and don't actually say that the church itself has been flooded" which gained over 1,300 likes in two years (shown below, right).
![Pray Joel Osteen JoelOsteen Victoria & I are praying for everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey. Please join us as we pray for the safety of our Texas friends & family 3:39 PM Aug 26, 2017 Hootsuite](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/582/017/533.png)
![Wondering Matt Novak @pale ofuture Aug 28, 2017 Lots of people online are wondering why @JoelOsteen hasn't opened his 16,000 seat megachurch in Houston to people. Matt Novak epaleofuture Replying to @pale of uture and @JoelOsteen Descriptions from the church use strange language and don't actually say that the church itself has been flooded. Dear Lakewood Family, Due to the weather impact of Huricane Harvey and concern for the safety of our members, all Lakewood Church worship services for this weekend, Saturday, August 26th and Sunday, August 27th have been cancelled. 9:59 AM Aug 28, 2017 Twitter Web Client](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/581/956/ef5.png)
Spread
On August 28th, 2017, Twitter user @AnastasiaElyseW[4] tweeted a "New statement from @JoelOsteen and Lakewood Church in regards to Hurricane Harvey backlash" (shown below, left). The tweet accumulated over 1,100 likes in two years. That same day, Twitter user @cmclymer[5] posted images of the church seemingly unaffected by the flood (shown below, right). The tweet gained over 5,500 likes and 5,200 retweets in two years.
![Never Closed Anastasia AnastasiaElyseW New statement from @JoelOsteen and Lakewood Church in regards to Hurricane Harvey backlash "We have never closed our doors. We will continue to be a distribution center for those in need. We are pepared to house people once shelters reach capacty. Lakewood will be a value to the eommunty in the aftemath of this stem in hepingour felew cteens rebuld ther hves Joel Osteen/Lakewood Church 9:51 PM Aug 28, 2017 Twitter Web Client](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/581/963/fce.png)
![Street view Charlotte Clymer @cmclymer Houston's @indivisible_usa is acquainted with @JoelOsteen's Lakewood Church. They took these pics about an hour ago w/ commentary. Thans ure seme ef the cana parked at the harles. This is the Lakowood Church main ntrance. There are about 20 cars parked out ont. There is no flooding hare. There is no oding on the roads anywhere around the This is the loadng and unloading docks which belaw ground lvel and it is not floded The smamas n s akowood building. 2:20pm today 3:41 PM Aug 28, 2017 Twitter Web Client](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/581/966/002.png)
The next day, Lakewood Church[6] announced on Twitter that "Lakewood is receiving people who need shelter. We are also coordinating with the city as a collection site for distribution" (shown below). The tweet received ober 1,100 likes and 600 retweets in two years.
![Receiving people Lakewood Church @lakewoodchurch Lakewood is receiving people who need shelter. We are also coordinating with the city as a collection site for distribution. 11:00 AM Aug 29, 2017 Hootsuite](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/581/967/fbd.png)
On September 19th, 2019, new flooding affected the Houston area Twitter user @pumpkinking39[7] tweeted a picture of locked doors captioned, "Joel Osteen’s church doors rn " (shown below). The tweet gained over 13,500 likes and 4,200 retweets in four days.
![Doors RN Pumptin King epumpkinking39 Joel Osteen's church doors rn Mike Iscovitz @Fox26Mike Sep 19 "Worse than Hurricane Harvey", that's what Chambers County sheriff Brian Hawthorne tells Fox 26 this morning after more than 20" of rain fell overnight and continues to fall. Flash Flood Warning FOXAD 505 AM Type: Fissh Flend Waming Thernda 3 AM CO Covo Fralai Boha Fnrul Sirlan 11:27 AM Sep 19, 2019 Twitter for iPhone](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/581/968/835.png)
Various Examples
![Shelter christina applegate's emmy @dianelyssa joel osteen said "y'all not about to make a meme outta me this time" Imao boys, we got 'em ABC13 Houston @abc13houston Sep 19 .@GFToday and @lakewoodchurch open their doors as shelter options for victims of today's flooding emergency: abc13.com/5552870/ 2:54 PM Sep 19, 2019 Twitter Web App](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/581/969/96f.png)
![Imma Lock up Víctor @victor_solorio Joel Osteen sit ya ass down bruh When Joel Osteen sees the weather forecast IIGHT.. IMMA LOCK UP 2:03 PM Sep 19, 2019 Twitter for iPhone](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/581/970/ef0.png)
![My Ark Laura Mc @Txkidatheart Replying to @chingon_m and @MyRedBeetle Get the f--- off my ark. -Joel Osteen 7:20 PM Sep 19, 2019 Twitter for iPhone](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/581/971/b77.png)
![Listen closely Lex @prelude92 If y'all listen closely outside you can hear Joel Osteen locking his church doors #Imelda 1:28 PM Sep 19, 2019 Twitter for Android](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/581/972/5e9.png)
![Houston United grace @abstractneutral nothing brings houston together like clowning joel osteen anytime a drop of water hits the ground 3:11 PM Sep 19, 2019 Twitter for iPhone](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/581/974/6c6.png)
![Cold Sweat liz hebert @lizhebert joel osteen in a cold sweat watching the weather channel wondering if he's going to be bullied into being a christian again 1:19 PM Sep 19, 2019 Twitter for iPhone](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/581/975/bcb.png)
Search Interest
External References
[1] Twitter- JoelOsteen
[2] Digg – Joel Osteen Megachurch Harvey Victimes
[3] Twitter – paleofuture
[4] Twitter – AnastasuaElyseW
[6] Twitter – lakewoodchurch
[7] Twitter – pumpkinking39
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Top Comments
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Sep 24, 2019 at 01:30AM EDT
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