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55-512: Lakewood Church is a non-denominational evangelical Christian megachurch located in Houston, Texas . It is among the largest congregations in the United States, averaging about 45,000 attendees per week. The 16,800-seat Lakewood Church building , home to four English-language services and two Spanish-language services per week, is located at the former Compaq Center. Joel Osteen

110-615: A Night of Hope every month. This is when the church hosts a Christian service event in one of the arenas or stadiums all across America. In 2002, Lakewood began a Hispanic ministry, Iglesia Lakewood, founded by Hispanic Pastor Marcos Witt and his wife, Miriam Witt. In September 2012, Danilo and Gloriana Montero assumed the role of associate pastors for the Hispanic ministry. Lakewood has two services each week in Spanish and translates all English services into Spanish. The weekly attendance at

165-627: A broader network of congregations. Many nondenominational churches can nevertheless be positioned in existing movements, such as Evangelicalism and Pentecostalism , even though they are autonomous and have no formal labels. Nondenominational churches are particularly visible in the megachurches . The neo-charismatic churches often use the term nondenominational to define themselves. Some non-denominational churches identify solely with Christianity. Most "other Christians" in America belong to nondenominational churches. Citing data from

220-631: A clause such as this from the First London Baptist Confession (Revised edition, 1646): Also we confess that we now know but in part and that are ignorant of many things which we desire to and seek to know: and if any shall do us that friendly part to show us from the Word of God that we see not, we shall have cause to be thankful to God and to them. Excommunication is a practice of the Bible to exclude members who do not respect

275-439: A distribution center for essential supplies during Hurricane Harvey . Osteen's sermons and writings are sometimes noted for promoting prosperity theology , or the prosperity gospel, a belief that material gain is a reward for pious Christians. However, when asked if he is a prosperity teacher, Osteen responded that if prosperity means God wants people to be blessed and healthy and have good relationships, then he considers himself

330-511: A form of evangelical Christianity . Nondenominational Christianity first arose in the 18th century through the Stone–Campbell Restoration Movement , with followers organizing themselves simply as " Christians " and " Disciples of Christ ". Congregations in this tradition of nondenominational Christianity often refer to themselves as Churches of Christ . Independent nondenominational churches continued to appear in

385-473: A plumber found cash and checks within a wall behind a toilet that was being repaired. They may have been related to a 2014 incident in which $ 600,000 in cash and checks disappeared from a safe. On February 11, 2024, a woman with a history of mental health issues, Genesse Ivonne Moreno, accompanied by her 7-year-old son, entered the church between services and began firing an AR-15 . Two off-duty police officers working security returned fire and killed her. Her boy

440-549: A prosperity teacher, but if it is about money, he does not. He has specifically stated that he never preaches about money because of the reputation of televangelists. In an interview with The Christian Post on April 21, 2013, Osteen expressed his sentiments on being perceived as being part of the prosperity gospel. "I get grouped into the prosperity gospel and I never think it's fair, but it's just what it is. I think prosperity, and I've said it 1,000 times, it's being healthy, it's having great children, it's having peace of mind. Money

495-528: A twelve-minute segment on Osteen, titled "Joel Osteen Answers his Critics", during which Reformed theologian Michael Horton told CBS News correspondent Byron Pitts that Osteen's message is heresy . Horton stated that the problem with Osteen's message is that it makes religion about us instead of about God. According to the Houston Chronicle Lakewood church’s income was $ 89m in the year ending March 2017. More than 90 percent of that

550-569: A whole. The creed was further affirmed in 431 by the Chalcedonian Definition, which clarified the doctrine of Christ. Affirmation of this creed, which describes the Trinity , is often taken as a fundamental test of orthodoxy by many Christian denominations , and was historically purposed against Arianism . The Apostles' Creed, another early creed which concisely details the trinity, virgin birth, crucifixion, and resurrection,

605-679: Is a statement of the shared beliefs of a community (often a religious community) which summarize its core tenets. Many Christian denominations use three creeds: the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed , the Apostles' Creed and the Athanasian Creed . Some Christian denominations do not use any of those creeds . The term creed is sometimes extended to comparable concepts in non-Christian theologies. The Islamic concept of ʿaqīdah (literally "bond, tie")

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660-484: Is averse to formal creeds which of necessity limit and restrain thought" and asserted in his book Basic Judaism (1947) that "Judaism has never arrived at a creed." The 1976 Centenary Platform of the Central Conference of American Rabbis , an organization of Reform rabbis, agrees that "Judaism emphasizes action rather than creed as the primary expression of a religious life." Still, the opening lines of

715-696: Is canonized along with the King James Version of the Bible , the Book of Mormon , the Doctrine & Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price , as a part of the standard works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . In Islamic theology, the term most closely corresponding to "creed" is ʿaqīdah ( عقيدة ). The first such creed was written as "a short answer to the pressing heresies of

770-526: Is most popular within western Christianity , and is widely used in Christian church services . In Islamic theology, the term most closely corresponding to "creed" is ʿaqīdah ( عقيدة ). The word creed is particularly used for a concise statement which is recited as part of liturgy . The term is anglicized from Latin credo "I believe", the incipit of the Latin texts of the Apostles' Creed and

825-694: Is often rendered as "creed". The earliest known creed in Christianity , " Jesus is Lord ", originated in the writings of Paul the Apostle . One of the most significant and widely used Christian creeds is the Nicene Creed , first formulated in AD 325 at the First Council of Nicaea to affirm the deity of Christ and revised at the First Council of Constantinople in AD 381 to affirm the trinity as

880-413: Is part of it; and yes, I believe God wants us to excel ... to be blessed so we can be a bigger blessing to others. I feel very rewarded. I wrote a book and sold millions of copies; and Victoria and I were able to help more people than we ever dreamed of. But when I hear the term prosperity gospel, I think people are sometimes saying, 'Well, he's just asking for money'." On October 14, 2007, 60 Minutes ran

935-455: Is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church with his wife, Victoria , who serves as co-pastor. It has 368 full-time and part-time staff. Lakewood Church, originally called Lakewood Baptist Church, was founded by John Osteen and his second wife, Dolores (Dodie) on Mother's Day , May 10, 1959, in a tent. The church then moved to an abandoned feed store in northeast Houston. John was a Southern Baptist minister, but after experiencing baptism in

990-499: The Christian churches and churches of Christ . Restorationists profess "no creed but Christ". The Seventh-day Adventist Church also shares this sentiment. Jehovah's Witnesses contrast "memorizing or repeating creeds" with acting to "do what Jesus said". Several creeds originated in Christianity . Protestant denominations are usually associated with confessions of faith, which are similar to creeds but usually longer. In

1045-539: The Churches of Christ ; in other cases, nondenominational churches are founded by individual pastors such Calvary Chapel Association established by Chuck Smith . Some non-denominational churches have grown quite recently within networks like Acts 29 . Certain nondenominational churches are associated with various movements in Christendom, such as evangelicalism or Charismatic Christianity , but many adhere to

1100-500: The Cooperative Congressional Election Study and General Social Survey , political scientist and statistician Ryan Burge noted that nondenominational Christians are very similar to Southern Baptists , but with some caveats. Burge writes, "Nondenominational churches are typically younger and more racially diverse than Southern Baptist churches. On religious matters, both groups attend church at

1155-767: The Nicene Creed . A creed is sometimes referred to as a symbol in a specialized meaning of that word (which was first introduced to Late Middle English in this sense), after Latin symbolum "creed" (as in Symbolum Apostolorum = the " Apostles' Creed ", a shorter version of the traditional Nicene Creed), after Greek symbolon "token, watchword". Some longer statements of faith in the Protestant tradition are instead called "confessions of faith", or simply "confession" (as in e.g. Helvetic Confession ). Within Evangelical Protestantism ,

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1210-534: The Swiss Reformed Churches , there was a quarrel about the Apostles' Creed in the mid-19th century. As a result, most cantonal reformed churches stopped prescribing any particular creed. In 2005, Bishop John Shelby Spong , retired Episcopal Bishop of Newark, has written that dogmas and creeds were merely "a stage in our development" and "part of our religious childhood." In his book, Sins of

1265-529: The United States in the course of the 20th century. Nondenominational congregations experienced significant and continuous growth in the 21st century, particularly in the United States. In 2010, there were 35,496 nondenominational churches in the US with over 12 million congregants. If combined into a single group, nondenominational churches collectively represented the third-largest Christian grouping in

1320-560: The 17th century and is similarly non-creedal. They believe that such formal structures, “be they written words, steeple-houses or a clerical hierarchy,” cannot take the place of communal relationships and a shared connection with God. Similar reservations about the use of creeds can be found in the Restoration Movement and its descendants, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) , the Churches of Christ , and

1375-659: The 18th century through the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement , with followers organizing themselves simply as " Christians " and " Disciples of Christ ". The nondenominational movement saw expansion during the 20th century Jesus movement era, which popularized contemporary Christian music and Christian media within global pop culture . Many nondenominational churches adhere to congregationalist polity , while others are governed by elders. Some nondenominational churches are independent, while others cooperate in loose associations such as

1430-722: The Bible/New Testament". This was a common reason for Anabaptist persecution from Catholic and Protestant believers. Anabaptist groups that exist today include the Amish , Hutterites , Mennonites , Schwarzenau Brethren ( Church of the Brethren ), River Brethren , Bruderhof , and the Apostolic Christian Church . The Religious Society of Friends , the group known as the Quakers , was founded in

1485-561: The Christian faith and to protect believers from false doctrines. Various Christian denominations from Protestantism and Evangelical Christianity have published confession of faith as a basis for fellowship among churches of the same denomination. Many Christian denominations did not try to be too exhaustive in their confessions of faith and thus allow different opinions on some secondary topics. In addition, some churches are open to revising their confession of faith when necessary. Moreover, Baptist "confessions of faith" have often had

1540-461: The Church's confession of faith and do not want to repent. It is practiced by most Christian denominations and is intended to protect against the consequences of heretics' teachings and apostasy . Some Christian denominations do not profess a creed. This stance is often referred to as "non-creedalism". Anabaptism , with its origins in the 16th century Radical Reformation , spawned a number of sects and denominations that espouse "No creed, but

1595-526: The City of Houston and Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed a "Lakewood Church Day" in honor of Lakewood's assistance in reconstruction efforts across the Houston area. It stated Lakewood has provided "assistance to more than 1,150 Houston-area families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by floodwaters" and bought "1.1 million dollars in building materials, furniture, appliances, and paid labor, as well as through

1650-627: The Compass Classes ministry, meeting before and after weekend services. The church's weekly services are broadcast on Trinity Broadcasting Network and Daystar Television Network , as well as local channels in most major U.S. markets. Lakewood also appears on secular networks, such as Fox Network , Freeform , and USA Network . In 2007, Lakewood reported spending nearly $ 30 million every year on its television ministry. Osteen's sermons are also televised in more than 100 countries, with an estimated 7 million viewers each week. Lakewood also hosts

1705-511: The Holy Spirit , he founded Lakewood as a church for charismatic Baptists. The church soon dropped "Baptist" from its name and became nondenominational . In 1961, John Osteen left the church and was called to missions. Marvin Crow became the pastor in his absence until John returned in 1969. In 1972, Lakewood broke ground for a new building that seated seven hundred people. By 1979, attendance

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1760-652: The Scripture , Spong wrote that "Jesus seemed to understand that no one can finally fit the holy God into his or her creeds or doctrines. That is idolatry." Within the sects of the Latter Day Saint movement , the Articles of Faith are contained in a list which was composed by Joseph Smith as part of an 1842 letter which he sent to "Long" John Wentworth , editor of the Chicago Democrat . It

1815-696: The Scriptures, lowering the overall religious literacy while increasing the potential for inter-religious misunderstandings and conflict. Steven R. Harmon, a Baptist theologian who supports ecumenism , argues that "there's really no such thing" as a nondenominational church, because "as soon as a supposedly non-denominational church has made decisions about what happens in worship, whom and how they will baptize, how and with what understanding they will celebrate holy communion , what they will teach, who their ministers will be and how they will be ordered, or how they relate to those churches, these decisions have placed

1870-414: The Spanish services is approximately 6,000 people. Since 2016, Lakewood Church organizes an annual Mobilizing Medical Missions Conference to equip doctors for on-field medical missions. The church has been active during natural disasters by organizing food distribution programs and blood donation drives during COVID 19, providing shelter services during Hurricane Ida and 2021 Texas Freeze , and serving as

1925-788: The United States in 2010, after the Roman Catholic Church and Southern Baptist Convention . In Asia, especially in Singapore and Malaysia , these churches are also more numerous, since the 1990s. Nondenominational churches are by definition not affiliated with any specific denominational stream of Christianity, whether by choice from their foundation or because they separated from their denomination of origin at some point in their history. Like denominational congregations, nondenominational congregations vary in size, worship, and other characteristics. Although independent, many nondenominational congregations choose to affiliate with

1980-408: The church and a Lakewood Church associate pastor's social media accounts stated that the church was "inaccessible due to severe flooding," and associate pastor John Gray posting further, "If WE could get there WE WOULD OPEN THE DOORS." However the area was not under flood warning and photos and videos posted on social media appeared to counter the church's claim. In a subsequent interview, Osteen denied

2035-524: The church signed a long-term lease with the city of Houston to acquire the Compaq Center , a 29-year-old former sports arena. Lakewood Church relocated to the Compaq Center on July 16, 2005. It is a 16,800-seat facility in southwest downtown Houston along U.S. Highway 59 , that has twice the capacity of its former sanctuary. The church was required to pay $ 11.8 million in rent in advance for

2090-655: The church within the stream of a specific type of denominational tradition". Harmon argues that the cause of Christian unity is best served through denominational traditions, since each "has historical connections to the church's catholicity ... and we make progress toward unity when the denominations share their distinctive patterns of catholicity with one another". Presbyterian dogmatic theologian Amy Plantinga Pauw writes that Protestant nondenominational congregations "often seem to lack any acknowledgement of their debts and ties to larger church traditions" and argues that "for now, these non-denominational churches are living off

2145-475: The claim that the church was closed during the flood, saying "the church has been open from the beginning," and, "We've always been open … How this notion got started, that we're not a shelter and we're not taking people in is a false narrative." He also said that "On the evening of August 28, it was announced by Lakewood that it would open at noon the next day as an available shelter, opening to storm victims and emergency personnel on August 29". On August 15, 2018,

2200-436: The contribution of more than 2,500 volunteers". The unconfirmed but oft mentioned reason for Lakewood not initially opening doors to hurricane survivors was the former basketball arena’s carpet had been recently replaced. 29°43′48″N 95°26′4″W  /  29.73000°N 95.43444°W  / 29.73000; -95.43444 Nondenominational Christianity In North America, nondenominational Christianity arose in

2255-489: The first thirty years of the lease. Lakewood renovated the new campus at an estimated cost of $ 100 million in loans, which was paid off in 2024. The church received $ 15 million after selling the former building to New Light Christian Center Church. On March 31, 2010, the Houston City Council voted 13–2 to sell the property to Lakewood for $ 7.5 million. On December 3, 2021, national news services reported that

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2310-728: The following, believing them to be commanded in the Bible: Lakewood Church is known for its Word of Faith teaching. It is also known, before every sermon, for a creed (originally led by John and continued by Joel) which the congregation repeats in unison. Lakewood offers different types of ministries, fellowships, and services depending on the age, marital status, and need of its members. During weekend services, Joel Osteen, Victoria Osteen, or Danilo Montero preach. On Wednesday nights, associate pastors Paul Osteen , Lisa Osteen Comes, Nick Nilson, and Craig Johnson, or guest speakers preach. Various classes are offered through

2365-447: The fundamental theological and spiritual issues that initially drove the division of Christianity into denominations behind a veneer of "Christian unity". He argues that nondenominationalism encourages a descent of Christianity—and indeed, all religions—into comfortable "general moralism" rather than being a focus for facing the complexities of churchgoers' culture and spirituality. Prothero further argues that it also encourages ignorance of

2420-416: The oligarchy. They all have a stake in it, and none of them have personal incentives other than principled theological convictions to actually hold their friends accountable, so that the incentives all push in the direction of abuse and cover-up rather than in the direction of accountability and exposure.” Creed A creed , also known as a confession of faith , a symbol , or a statement of faith ,

2475-412: The pastor that October. In 2001, Tropical Storm Allison caused flooding in the Houston area. Lakewood Church was opened as a shelter to approximately five thousand displaced persons . Under Joel Osteen, Lakewood's congregation increased almost fivefold. Attendance increased to thirty thousand  weekly, prompting a move from its location at 7317 East Houston Road to a larger facility. In late 2003,

2530-476: The prayer Shema Yisrael can be read as a creedal statement of strict monotheism : "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One" ( Hebrew : שמע ישראל אדני אלהינו אדני אחד ; transliterated Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad ). A notable statement of Jewish principles of faith was drawn up by Maimonides as his 13 Principles of Faith . Following a debate that lasted more than twenty years,

2585-583: The reason for the increase in the number of evangelical churches claiming to be nondenominational Christianity. Ryan Burge argues that nondenominational churches are less equipped to monitor or report sexual abuse cases because they lack national organizations to do so. Because of nondenominational churches lack of organizational structure, accountability is minimal. In an article on evangelical clergy sex abuse in The New Republic by Elle Hardy, religious studies scholar Matthew D. Taylor argues that

2640-561: The relative lack of accountability in nondenominational churches attract pastors "who are more megalomaniacal and authoritarian in their personality”. Since nondenominational churches lack a hierarchy to answer to, pastors with authoritarian personalities are given more opportunities to exert power and control over their congregants. Nondenominational preachers claim to have oversight from their boards and mentorship from "spiritual parents", but these are usually people they know. Taylor argues, “They’re incentivized to protect their friends and protect

2695-561: The same rate, yet nondenominationals are more likely to hold a moderate theological position on the Bible than SBC churchgoers. Finally, when it comes to politics it seems that Southern Baptists and nondenominational Christians are very similar. Nondenominational parishioners are slightly more supportive of same-sex marriage and slightly less supportive of abortion rights, but these differences are small." Boston University religion scholar Stephen Prothero argues that nondenominationalism hides

2750-541: The terms "doctrinal statement" or "doctrinal basis" tend to be preferred. Doctrinal statements may include positions on lectionary and translations of the Bible , particularly in fundamentalist churches of the King James Only movement . The first confession of faith established within Christianity was the Nicene Creed by the Early Church in 325 . It was established to summarize the foundations of

2805-487: The theological capital of more established Christian communities, including those of denominational Protestantism". Pauw considers denominationalism to be a "unifying and conserving force in Christianity, nurturing and carrying forward distinctive theological traditions" (such as Wesleyanism being supported by Methodist denominations). In 2011, American evangelical professor Ed Stetzer attributed to individualism

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2860-648: The time" is known as Al-Fiqh Al-Akbar and ascribed to Abū Ḥanīfa . Two well known creeds were the Fiqh Akbar II "representative" of the al-Ash'ari , and Fiqh Akbar III , "representative" of the Ash-Shafi'i . Iman ( Arabic : الإيمان ) in Islamic theology denotes a believer's religious faith. Its most simple definition is the belief in the six articles of faith , known as arkān al-īmān . Rabbi Milton Steinberg wrote that "By its nature Judaism

2915-431: Was critically injured with a gunshot to the head during the exchange of gunfire. Another man who was present was wounded in the hip, treated at a local hospital and released. Lakewood Church believes that the entire Bible is inspired by God , and the church bases its teachings on this belief. The church also believes in the Trinity , and recognizes the death of Christ on the cross and resurrection. The church practices

2970-497: Was over five thousand, and the church was becoming prominent among Pentecostals and charismatics. John and Dodie created and hosted Lakewood's weekly television program, which could be seen in one hundred countries worldwide. On February 15, 1987, a groundbreaking was held for a new eight-thousand–seat sanctuary, which was completed in April 1988. Following John Osteen's death on January 23, 1999, his youngest son, Joel Osteen , became

3025-410: Was raised from church followers and barely 1 percent of its budget went to charitable causes. During the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Osteen received significant criticism in response to not making Lakewood Church, a 606,000-square-foot (56,300 m), 16,000 seat, former basketball arena, available as an emergency shelter for those displaced by the storm. On August 27, posts from

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