Joel Osteen, famed pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, has come under fire on social media for not offering shelter at the megachurch to victims of Hurricane Harvey.
In a post on Twitter Saturday, Osteen said he was praying for those affected by the storm, which has dumped 20 to 40 inches of rain on the Houston area alone, with more on the way.
But on Sunday, in response to requests that the church, which can hold more than 16,000, be opened for evacuees, Lakewood Church posted on Facebook that it is “inaccessible due to severe flooding” and subsequently directed displaced residents to nearby Houston shelters.
The Facebook post courted criticism on social media, where photos appeared to suggest that the massive building, which was once home to the NBA’s Houston Rockets, had not been damaged by the torrential rains afflicting the area. It’s unclear if the church was damaged in the storm.
See Heartbreaking Photos From Hurricane Harvey In Texas
John Gray, an associate pastor at the Lakewood Church, defended it on Instagram, insisting that They couldn’t open because flooded highways were blocking their access to the building.
See reactions below;
Joel Osteen won’t open his church that holds 16,000 to hurricane victims because it only provides shelter from taxes. #HoustonStrong
— Alan Spencer (@MrAlanSpencer) August 28, 2017
Does anyone else feel like Joel Osteen finally opened his doors only after being shamed and dragged all day?🤔
— des (@desdunlap) August 29, 2017
Joel Osteen & people were saying the entire church is under water, photos and videos popped up, now its open. When you get caught in a lie.
— Mr. Weeks (@MrDane1982) August 29, 2017
Good thing Jesus can walk on water because Joel Osteen wouldn’t help him.
— Dan (@Social_Mime) August 29, 2017
Joel Osteen’s megachurch is designed for the rising tithe, not tide.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) August 28, 2017
Joel Osteen-“God opens his doors to everyone”
Hurricane Victims-“Can we use your church”
Joel Osteen: http://pic.twitter.com/UkYDlaL6x4
— Lil Pilot✈️ (@Saivvy7) August 29, 2017
Americans are criticising Joel Osteen for shunning flood victims but Nigerians in Nigeria are defending him…May God deliver us
— Sidney (@sidramatic1) August 29, 2017
Joel Osteen is literally almost every Nigerian Mega pastor
— kenna (@kennagq) August 29, 2017
Hey Joel Osteen, the thing about opening your church to help w/Harvey AFTER you get tweet shamed is that your reputation will NEVER recover.
— Frederick Douglass (@HITEXECUTIVE) August 29, 2017
Joel Osteen probably just doesn’t want to open up his church doors to all those black people.. Idk why y’all surprised
— Sunshine ☀️ (@TeeXoXoEmm) August 29, 2017
Joel Osteen is a jerk, who got so much from the community but refused to help the people when they’re at their vulnerability.
— Abhishek Pratap (@Abhi5hekk) August 29, 2017
The post Popular Televangelist, Joel Osteen Attacked For Closing Megachurch’s Doors To Victims Of Hurricane Harvey appeared first on LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS BREAKING HEADLINES NEWSPAPERS.
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