Joel Osteen’s church responds to criticism, opens to flood victims

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On Tuesday, Pastor Joel Osteen’s Houston megachurch opened its doors to people who had been displaced by the devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.

On Monday, Osteen posted that the Lakewood Church was “inaccessible due to severe flooding” and posted a list of shelters where people could go, along with a hotline to the National Guard rescue service.

However, when social media users began to criticize Osteen and call for the church to open its doors, the church responded.

— Pastor Joel Osteen slammed for praising Donald Trump in past interview — 

“We have never closed our doors. We will continue to be a distribution center for those in need,” church spokesman Donald Iloff, who is also Osteen’s father-in-law, said. “We are prepared to shelter people once the cities and county shelters reach capacity. Lakewood will be a value to the community in the aftermath of this storm in helping our fellow citizens rebuild their lives.”

Photos of the church showed standing water in the halls, but Iloff said that some victims could be housed on the second floor.

The church is set to be used as a donation center and was scheduled to open at noon on Tuesday.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by Hurricane Harvey, and four people thus far have been confirmed dead.