Prosperity gospel preacher Joel Osteen took to Twitter on Saturday to express his prayers and condolences to all those who had been affected by Hurricane Harvey over the weekend, but social media is now taking him to task and urging him to practice what he preaches.
Osteen said that church services would not be held at his 16,800-seat arena at Lakewood Church on Sunday and claimed that the church was inaccessible due to flooding.
But social media users urged him to do more than just offer prayers. The urged him to open the church so that flood victims could stay there.
— Queens men sexually assault 50-year-old woman as she’s leaving church —
Victoria & I are praying for everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey. Please join us as we pray for the safety of our Texas friends & family.
— Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) August 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/HolaYoSoyFiesta/status/901529657622835200
Osteen has not publicly made any statements about the possibility of using his church as a refuge for victims, nor has he said anything about making donations to those who have been affected or to organizations working for their relief.
Osteen and his wife live in a mansion worth $10.5 million in the River Oaks neighborhood. It is not clear whether his home was affected by the flooding and damage from the hurricane, but people in the neighborhood, and their dogs, had to be rescued from the floodwaters when Hurricane Harvey hit.
The hurricane has caused massive devastation, with three people dead thus far, and with some drawing comparisons to Hurricane Katrina.
https://twitter.com/Mozez713/status/901966780318580736
Put your money where your mouth is. Houston has been unfathomably good to you. Time to pay it back. Literally
— justamom (@justamom24114) August 28, 2017