Patch

The Lakewood Church, led by televangelist and best-selling author, Joel Osteen, (with wife)shown here, held the grand opening of their new building, formerly the Compaq Center

In 2001, the church secured a 30-year lease to what was then the Compaq Center from the city for $11.8 million, paid up front, with an option to renew for another 30 years for $22.6 million.

The church took possession in December 2003 and began $95 million in renovations.
Osteen said if Jesus was alive today He would fly in a private jet, on explaining the money being spent on his church.
((I think if Jesus visted Cincinnati and called me for a lift, he would call from the Grayhound Station not the Airport. I'm a long way from being a bibilcal scholar but from what I know I would say Jesus would be against this mega-church stuff. Something about money corrupts. This is a World of Life Church which is a subject in itself.)

To begin with the church was originally started by John Osteen, who was originally a Southern Baptist pastor but after receiving the “baptism” in/with the Holy Spirit he became enamored with the charismatic renewal movement in its early stage and eventually became associated with the Word of Faith (WOF)

Some 30,000 members, a long way from the largest, there is a church in L.A. with 80,000 members.


Larry King CNN http://www.myfortress.org/JoelOsteen.html


The term megachurch is the name given to a cluster of very large, mostly Protestant congregations, that share several distinctive characteristics. These churches generally have:
Massive numbers of persons in attendance
A charismatic, authoritative senior minister
A very active 7 day a week congregational community
A multitude of social and outreach ministries,
and a complex differentiated organizational structure


ALBUQUERQUE — A fountain of flames spewed from the sanctuary at Wooden Oaks Community Church when the mega-church apparently grew one person too large and spontaneously combusted. "One minute we were singing, and the next there was a huge explosion," said one witness. Miraculously, nobody in the 15,000-seat sanctuary was hurt. Nurseries and child care rooms were evacuated immediately, and people ran for cover as the building was engulfed by fire. Investigators have ruled out terrorism or arson, and say it's "just one of those things that happens when you get a lot of people together." "I have never heard of rapid church growth resulting in spontaneous combustion, but we're talking about a church of 15,000 people," says fire marshal Bill Wilkins. "When you push the limit that far, you're inviting trouble." The church has recently tangled with the city government over plans to build a 2,000-acre theme park/shopping mall/air strip/professional baseball stadium/skating rink/water-ski lake and NASCAR race track just outside city limits. Those plans are on "indefinite hold," says pastor John Allen, 31, who started the church one year ago. •

Go here to read some commits on mega-churches
http://www.wesleyblog.com/2005/03/abc_news_report.html

America’s largest church
http://www.harpers.org/SoldiersOfChrist.html

Me, I think it's Money, Money, and more Money.