What is Joel Osteen?
[[File:Joel Osteen Preaching (cropped).jpg|thumb|Joel Osteen]] '''Joel Scott Osteen''' (born March 5, 1963)<ref name='rootsweb 2007-May-08'>{{cite web |url=http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tx/harris/vitals/births/1963/harrb63n.txt |title=Joel Birthday-1963-March-05 |accessdate=2007-05-08 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070830035734/http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tx/harris/vitals/births/1963/harrb63n.txt <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-08-30}}</ref> is an American author, [[televangelist]], and the senior [[pastor]] of [[Lakewood Church]] in [[Houston, Texas]]. His ministry reaches over seven million broadcast media viewers weekly in over 100 nations around the world. His first book, “Your Best Life Now” has sold 5 million copies. Lakewood Church now occupies the former Compaq Center, once home to the [[NBA]]’s Houston Rockets. The venue seats 16,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/05/osteen-still-the-name-leaders-know/|title=Joel Osteen's still the name leaders know|work=The Washington Times|date=2008-09-05}}</ref> Osteen was born on March 5, 1963 in Houston, Texas. He has been married to Victoria Osteen since 1987. They have two children. He lives in Houston, Texas. In August 2017, Osteen received significant backlash on social media after he did not initially open Lakewood Church as an emergency shelter following [[Hurricane Harvey]].<ref name=Tribune>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-joel-osteen-megachurch-harvey-victims-20170830-story.html |title=Joel Osteen pushes back against accusations he closed his megachurch to Harvey victims |author=Kuzydym, Stephanie; Phillips, Christine |work=The Chicago Tribune |date=August 30, 2017 |accessdate=August 30, 2017 |archive-date=August 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830220810/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-joel-osteen-megachurch-harvey-victims-20170830-story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> A post on the church's