<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><title>Hurricane Harvey: Preacher Joel Osteen won’t open doors of megachurch to victims</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://resources.newscdn.com.au/cs/ncatemp/2.0.0/assets/css/newscomau/view/desktop.min.css">
<img class="tcog-pixel" src="https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/news/content/v2/?t_product=newscomau&t_domain=news.com.au&esi=true&td_part=css&td_device=desktop&td_section=lifestyle+real-life+news-life&t_template=s3/ncatemp/index@promo" style="opacity:0; height:0px; width:0px; position:absolute;" width="0" height="0" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://resourcesssl.newscdn.com.au/cs/video/vjs/stable/build/player.css"><script>window.ndm      = window.ndm        || {};
window.ndm.page = window.ndm.page   || {};
utag_data       = window.utag_data  || {};
</script><link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//s0.wp.com"><link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//s1.wp.com"><link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//s2.wp.com"><meta charset="utf-8"><meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width"><meta name="generator" content="tcog"><meta itemprop="identifier" name="articleid" content="5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050"><meta property="article:published_time" itemprop="datePublished" content="2017-08-29T00:51:00.000Z"><meta property="article:modified_time" itemprop="dateModified" content="2017-08-29T12:14:11.000Z"><link rel="canonical" href="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/texan-televangelist-joel-osteen-criticised-for-not-opening-doors-to-megachurch-for-harvey-victims/news-story/5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050"><link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://resources.newscdn.com.au/cs/nca/latest/public/img/favicons/favicon.ico"><meta name="description" content="HE’S the mega rich televangelist with the “perpetual smile”."><meta name="keywords" content="joel osteen,houston,texas,hurricane harvey"><meta property="og:image" content="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/3996e954d90413a56ec21e8d6fbd9cb4"><meta property="og:title" content="This mega rich televangelist is in serious trouble"><meta property="og:type" content="article"><meta property="og:url" content="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/texan-televangelist-joel-osteen-criticised-for-not-opening-doors-to-megachurch-for-harvey-victims/news-story/5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050"><meta property="og:site_name" content="NewsComAu"><meta property="og:description" content="HE’S the mega rich televangelist with the “perpetual smile”."><meta property="fb:app_id" content="113758722003364"><meta property="fb:admins" content="1533025129,653135158,737988273"><meta name="article:publisher" content="News Limited"><meta name="article:author" content="Matt Young"><meta name="article:publicationdate" content="29/08/2017"><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"><meta name="twitter:site" content="@newscomauHQ"><meta name="twitter:title" content="This mega rich televangelist is in serious trouble"><link rel="publisher" href="https://plus.google.com/+newscomauHQ"><meta name="google-site-verification" content="GWTbDFKaKnGKyk3q0Na5jIbWHZ4qXn-ibcfMayjSQA0"><meta name="robots" content="noarchive"><link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://resources.newscdn.com.au/cs/nca/latest/public/img/favicons/apple-touch-icon-260x260.png"><meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="news.com.au"><meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#ffffff"><meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://resources.newscdn.com.au/cs/nca/latest/public/img/favicons/mstile-144x144.png"><meta name="msapplication-config" content="https://resources.newscdn.com.au/cs/nca/latest/public/img/favicons/browserconfig.xml"><meta name="application-name" content="news.com.au"><meta name="referrer" content="origin"><script>var overrideNdmPageSite = "LIFESTYLE";
ndm.page.section = "LIFESTYLE.REAL-LIFE.NEWS-LIFE";
ndm.page.site = overrideNdmPageSite || "NEWS";
ndm.page.us = "ndmnews";
ndm.page.runads = true;
ndm.page.adstyles = "auto";
ndm.page.type = "story";
ndm.page.storyid = "5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050";
ndm.page.premiumstate = "NON_PREMIUM";
ndm.page.custom = "";
utag_data.ad_pagetype = "story";
utag_data.adsense_client = "ca-nd-news_js";
utag_data.adsense_client_intl = "ca-nd-news-st-intl_js";
utag_data.adsense_channel = "lifestyle";
</script><!-- all.esi prod 2018-01-17T23:36:41.510Z a59de7addb1b8d1238dd94fe02110c0d93f088e3 --> <!--    url empty ?: 0   --> <!--    ID:  5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050 --> <!--    ID_Type:  CAPIID --> <!--    Is mobile: false --><!-- 2018-01-16T00:14:17.090Z e7a1bddaee7ac1a8155c95697ba99a463d924494
 -->
<script type="text/javascript" src="//tags.news.com.au/prod/adblock/adblock.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
    !function(){function e(e){var t=window.googletag&&"object"==typeof window.googletag&&window.googletag.apiReady&&"boolean"==typeof window.googletag.apiReady?!0:!1;e(t)}function t(e){var t=!1,n=setInterval(function(){window.googletag&&window.googletag.apiReady&&window.googletag.cmd&&(clearInterval(n),window.googletag.cmd.push(function(){window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener("slotRenderEnded",function(n){t||(t=!0,e(!0))})}))},500);setTimeout(function(){clearInterval(n)},18e4)}function n(e){var t=window.utag_data&&window.utag_data.no_adblocker&&"boolean"==typeof window.utag_data.no_adblocker?!0:!1;e(t)}function o(e){window.metrics=window.metrics||{},window.metrics.defaultsReady=window.metrics.defaultsReady||[],window.metrics.defaultsReady.push(function(){e(!0)})}function a(e){e(!0)}function i(e,t,n,o,a,i){setTimeout(function(){var t=setTimeout(function(){i.result||n(a)},o);e(function(e){clearTimeout(t),e&&(i.result=!0),n(e)})},t)}function c(e,t){for(var n=e.length,o=function(e){return function(o){e(o),n--,0===n&&t()}},a=0;a<e.length;a++){var c=e[a];if(c.result=!1,i(c.func,c.wait,o(c.callback),c.timeout,c.def,c),c.retries)for(var u=0;u<c.retries.length;u++)i(c.func,c.wait+c.retries[u],o(c.callback),c.timeout,c.def,c)}}function u(e,t){var n,o;if(o=escape(t)+"; path=/",t===!1)n=new Date(0),o+="; expires="+n.toUTCString();else{var a=6048e5;n=new Date((new Date).getTime()+a),o+="; expires="+n.toUTCString()}document.cookie=e+"="+o}function d(e){var t=new RegExp("(?:^"+e+"|; *"+e+")=(.*?)(?:;|$)","g"),n=t.exec(document.cookie);return null===n?null:n[1]}window.utag_data=window.utag_data||{};var r=[],w=[0,0,0,0,0],l=function(){var e=w.join("");window.utag_data.cbd=e,parseInt(e,10)>0?u("cbd",e):u("cbd",!1),window.location.href.indexOf("debug=1")>=0&&console.log("cbd: ",e)},f=function(e){return function(t){w[e]=t?0:1,l()}};r.push({func:e,callback:f(0),wait:8e3,timeout:1e3,def:!1,retries:[3e4,6e4]}),r.push({func:t,callback:f(1),wait:0,timeout:11e3,def:!1}),r.push({func:n,callback:f(2),wait:0,timeout:3e3,def:!1}),r.push({func:o,callback:f(3),wait:1e4,timeout:1e3,def:!1}),r.push({func:a,callback:f(4),wait:0,timeout:0,def:!1});try{var g=d("cbd");g&&(window.utag_data.prev_cbd=g,window.utag_data.cbd=g),c(r,function(){})}catch(s){window.location.href.indexOf("debug=1")>=0&&console.error(s)}}();
</script>

    
        
    
    
        
    
    
        <!-- px2 not fired -->
    <script type="text/javascript">

window.utag_data = window.utag_data || {};
window.utag_data.backend_mobile_detect = false;


  
window.utag_data.backend_geo_country = "unknown";
  


  
window.utag_data.backend_geo_region = "unknown";
  


  
window.utag_data.backend_geo_city = "unknown";
  


  
window.utag_data.backend_geo_lat = "unknown";
  



  
window.utag_data.backend_geo_long = "unknown";
  


  
window.utag_data.backend_geo_tmz = "unknown";
  


  
window.utag_data.backend_geo_network = "unknown";
  

</script><script type="text/javascript">
                    
                    
                        utag_data.md_targeting = {"channels": ["6"], "storyid": "5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050"}
                        
                </script><script>bruce_rtget={"tmstamp": "2017-12-13 16:35:06.081920"};</script><script type="text/javascript">
                // news.com.au
                /* trending.esi prod 2015-11-22T23:33:42.049Z 91a8dc34e11c9303ac5e44deb84a0074ee67bbb2 */ (function() { var checkTrending = function() { var sections = [], tts = 'n'; for (var i=0; i<sections.length; i++) {/* Note: window.ndm is now deprecated */if (window.utag_data) { if(window.utag_data.net_sec1 && window.utag_data.net_sec1==sections[i]){ tts="y"; } else if(window.utag_data.net_sec2 && window.utag_data.net_sec2==sections[i]){ tts="y"; } else if(window.utag_data.net_sec3 && window.utag_data.net_sec3==sections[i]){ tts="y"; } else if(window.utag_data.net_sec4 && window.utag_data.net_sec4==sections[i]){ tts="y"; } } else { tts="err"; } } window.ads_extra=window.ads_extra || {}; window.ads_extra.tts=tts;/* Trending */window.ads_extra.ttm='n';/* Trending in top10 */ }; window.ads_core = window.ads_core || []; window.ads_core.push(checkTrending); })();
                </script> <!-- end of all.esi --><script>var nca = nca || {};
nca.environment = 'a.tcog.news.com.au';
nca.vertical = 'lifestyle';
nca.subsection = 'real-life';
nca.commentsAllow = false;
nca.commentsShow = false;
nca.device = 'desktop';

</script>
<script>!function(){function e(e){d.BOOMR_onload=e&&e.timeStamp||(new Date).getTime()}function n(e,n){var a=void 0!==window.aFeoApplied?"1":"0";BOOMR.addVar("ak.feo",a)}function a(e,n){var a=["ak.bpcip","ak.cport","ak.cr","ak.csrc","ak.gh","ak.ipv","ak.m","ak.n","ak.ol","ak.proto","ak.quicv","ak.r"];BOOMR.removeVar(a)}function t(){BOOMR.subscribe("before_beacon",n,null,null),BOOMR.addVar({"ak.v":1,"ak.cp":"400616","ak.ai":"228847","ak.ol":"0","ak.cr":8,"ak.ipv":4,"ak.proto":"","ak.rid":"364bf3c","ak.r":29533,"ak.a2":0,"ak.m":"b","ak.n":"","ak.bpcip":"128.173.49.93","ak.cport":39012,"ak.gh":"23.204.143.53","ak.quicv":"","ak.csrc":"-"}),BOOMR.subscribe("onbeacon",a,null,null)}if(!window.BOOMR||!window.BOOMR.version&&!window.BOOMR.snippetExecuted){window.BOOMR=window.BOOMR||{},window.BOOMR.snippetExecuted=!0;var o,i,r,c=document.createElement("iframe"),d=window;d.addEventListener?d.addEventListener("load",e,!1):d.attachEvent&&d.attachEvent("onload",e),c.src="javascript:void(0)",c.title="",c.role="presentation",(c.frameElement||c).style.cssText="width:0;height:0;border:0;display:none;",r=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0],r.parentNode.insertBefore(c,r);try{i=c.contentWindow.document}catch(e){o=document.domain,c.src="javascript:var d=document.open();d.domain='"+o+"';void(0);",i=c.contentWindow.document}i.open()._l=function(){var e=this.createElement("script");o&&(this.domain=o),e.id="boomr-if-as",e.src="https://s.go-mpulse.net/boomerang/LDYGA-PJX5N-CGXVD-7K668-VN5FR",BOOMR_lstart=(new Date).getTime(),this.body.appendChild(e)},i.write('<bo'+'dy onload="document._l();">'),i.close();"".length>0&&d&&"performance"in d&&d.performance&&d.performance.setResourceTimingBufferSize&&d.performance.setResourceTimingBufferSize(),document.addEventListener?document.addEventListener("onBoomerangLoaded",t):document.attachEvent&&document.attachEvent("onpropertychange",function(e){e||(e=window.event),e&&"onBoomerangLoaded"===e.propertyName&&t()})}}();</script></head><body class="tcog-v2 newscomau desktop lifestyle lifestyle-real-life lifestyle-real-life-news-life"><div id="skip-links"><dl class="skip"><dt>Skip to:</dt><dd class="first"><a href="#page">Main Content</a></dd><dd><a href="#nav">Site Navigation</a></dd><dd><a href="#footer">Site footer</a></dd><dd><a href="/more-information/site-map">Site Map</a></dd></dl></div><div id="page"><ul id="network-bar"><li class="lipos-1"><a href="http://www.hipages.com.au/#from=ninbar">Hipages</a></li><li class="lipos-2"><a href="http://www.foxsports.com.au/#from=ninbar">Fox Sports</a></li><li class="lipos-3"><a href="https://www.seek.com.au/?tracking=CBP-NES-HPG-NewsTopNav-7080">SEEK</a></li><li class="lipos-4"><a href="http://www.carsales.com.au/?utm_source=news.com.au&amp;utm_medium=referral-external&amp;utm_campaign=news.com.au&amp;utm_content=nav-link">Carsales</a></li><li class="lipos-5"><a href="http://www.realestate.com.au/buy#from=ninbar">RealEstate</a></li><li class="lipos-6"><a href="http://www.news.com.au/more-information/network#from=ninbar">News Network</a></li></ul><header><div id="header-logo"><a href="http://www.news.com.au/">news.com.au</a></div><div id="header-ads"><div id="ad-leader" class="ad-block ad-leader"></div></div></header><nav><div id="nav"><div class="nav-primary-nca-logo"><a href="/" class="homepage">News.com.au</a></div><ul id="nav-wrap"><li id="nav-level1"><ul class="nav-holder"><li class="nav-item nav-national "><a href="/national" class="national">National</a></li><li class="nav-item nav-world "><a href="/world" class="world">World</a></li><li class="nav-item nav-lifestyle active"><a href="/lifestyle" class="lifestyle">Lifestyle</a></li><li class="nav-item nav-travel "><a href="/travel" class="travel">Travel</a></li><li class="nav-item nav-entertainment "><a href="/entertainment" class="entertainment">Entertainment</a></li><li class="nav-item nav-technology "><a href="/technology" class="technology">Technology</a></li><li class="nav-item nav-finance "><a href="/finance" class="finance">Finance</a></li><li class="nav-item nav-sport "><a href="/sport" class="sport">Sport</a></li></ul><ul class="nav-list tier-1"><li class="nav-header-search last"><a href="#" class="search toggle">Search</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></nav><div class="group-billboard-970x250"><div class="ad-block ad-billboard"></div></div>
<img class="tcog-pixel" src="https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/news/content/v2/?t_product=newscomau&t_domain=news.com.au&esi=true&td_part=top&td_device=desktop&td_section=lifestyle+real-life+news-life&t_template=s3/ncatemp/index@promo" style="opacity:0; height:0px; width:0px; position:absolute;" width="0" height="0" />
<ul id="breadcrumbs" class="total-2"><li class="crumb level-1 "><a href="/lifestyle/real-life">real life</a></li><li class="crumb level-2 title"><h2><a href="/lifestyle/real-life/news-life">news life</a></h2></li></ul><h1 class="story-headline">Texan televangelist Joel Osteen criticised for not opening doors to megachurch for Harvey victims</h1><p class="intro">HE’S a megarich pastor with millions of fans and a megachurch that will blow your mind. But something is seriously wrong.</p><div id="story-info"><div class="author-block title-version"><div class="author-photo"><a href="/the-team/matt-young" title="More stories by Matt Young"><img src="https://s1.wp.com/wp-content/themes/vip/newscorpau-nca/assets/dist/img/common/headshots/mini/matt-young.png"></a></div><div class="author-info"><span class="author-name"><a href="/the-team/matt-young" title="More stories by Matt Young">Matt Young</a></span><span class="author-twitter"><a href="http://twitter.com/MattYoung">@MattYoung</a></span></div></div>
<img class="tcog-pixel" src="https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/author/710295aa609213191a54cd3f7218d130?t_product=tcog&t_template=s3/ncatemp/authorBlock@2.0.0" style="opacity:0; height:0px; width:0px; position:absolute;" width="0" height="0" />
<div class="other-info"><span class="credited-site"><a href="http://www.news.com.au/" class="logos logos-newscomau">news.com.au</a></span><span class="datestamp">August 29, 2017<span class="time">11:14pm</span></span></div></div><div id="story"><article><div class="tabbed"><ul class="tab-set"><li class="video tab active"><a href="#" class="active">Video</a></li><li class="image tab"><a href="#">Image</a></li></ul><div class="tabs"><div class="video media active primary-video"><div vms-embedcode="5348771529001-5555614506001" class="vms module"><div class="module-header vms-header"><h3 class="heading">People Displaced by Harvey Camp at Houston Convention Center. Credit - Instagram/lu0lu1 via Storyful<span class="time">0:29</span></h3></div><div class="module-content"><div class="poster"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/32243841b707f1cbaa9c60944a3363fb" alt=""/></div><div tabindex="-1" class="description"><p>Hundreds of people displaced by Tropical Storm Harvey were evacuated to Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center on Monday, August 28, Houston Chronicle reported. Floodwaters engulfed downtown Houston on Monday the former hurricane remained stalled just off the Texas coast. Forecasters expected additional rainfall of up to six inches on Monday evening. Credit: Instagram/lu0lu1 via Storyful</p></div></div><div class="module-footer vms-footer"><ul class="info"><li class="date">August 29th 2017</li><li class="age">6 months ago</li><li class="primaryCategory">/display/newscorpaustralia.com/Web/NewsNetwork/Network News/National/</li></ul></div></div>
<img class="tcog-pixel" src="https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/news/content/v2/8acbde0b683fc48c8c8731b72dc8cfed?t_product=newscomau&t_template=../video/player" style="opacity:0; height:0px; width:0px; position:absolute;" width="0" height="0" />
</div><div class="w650 h366 image media primary"><div class="image-wrapper"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/3996e954d90413a56ec21e8d6fbd9cb4" width="650" height="366"></div><p class="caption">Preacher Joel Osteen is a mega rich televangelist with a “perpetual smile”. Picture: Ray Tamarra<span class="image-source"><em>Source:Getty Images</em></span></p></div></div></div><p class="description">HE’S the mega rich televangelist with the “perpetual smile”.</p><div class="story-content"><p>But the quirky Texan celebrity has been criticised for refusing to open his megachurch to thousands of people made homeless as Houston is paralysed by one of the largest downpours in US history.</p><p>Floodwaters reached the rooflines of single-story homes in Texas&#x2019;s most populous city on Monday as Tropical Storm Harvey poured rain on the Houston area for a fourth consecutive day after a chaotic weekend of rising water and rescues.</p><p>Yet despite Joel Osteen - author, evangelist and senior pastor of the Lakewood Church - telling supporters he wanted to help, the doors of the church have remained - literally - closed.</p><div class="w650 h366 image media"><div class="image-wrapper"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/cc369ff8ab561c7b2966fb142e02ba62" width="650" height="366" alt="Lakewood Church Houston in Texas. Picture: Wikipedia Commons"></div><p class="caption">Lakewood Church Houston in Texas. Picture: Wikipedia Commons<span class="image-source"><em>Source:Supplied</em></span></p></div><div class="twitter media"><blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Download Joel’s PODCAST today and listen to “The God Who Goes Before You” Click here! <a href="https://t.co/eeXK2KQPk8">https://t.co/eeXK2KQPk8</a> <a href="https://t.co/h1vz4VCYTM">pic.twitter.com/h1vz4VCYTM</a></p>— Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen/status/901138096607174656">August 25, 2017</a></blockquote> </div><p>Osteen is one of the US state&#x2019;s most popular personalities. His televised sermons are watched by more than seven million people every week in more than 100 countries. His teachings stem from beliefs around karma. In essence do good things and good things will come back in return.</p><p>Osteen must have done a lot of good in his life; his Houston megamansion is worth a cool $10.5 million and his net worth in 2012 was $56 million.</p><div class="w650 h1000 image media"><div class="image-wrapper"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/899aa767d5ad9e89a9ca251898057557" width="650" height="1000" alt="Preacher Joel Osteen enters the &amp;quot;Today Show&amp;quot; taping at the NBC Rockefeller Center Studios on October 6, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra"></div><p class="caption">Preacher Joel Osteen enters the &quot;Today Show&quot; taping at the NBC Rockefeller Center Studios on October 6, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra<span class="image-source"><em>Source:Getty Images</em></span></p></div><p>He married wife and Lakewood Church co-pastor Victoria in 1987. They have a son and daughter, Jonathan and Alexandra. His smile is his best-known asset, described by <i><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/mar/07/joel-osteen-america-pastor" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Guardian </a></i>reporter Daniel Kalder as &#x201C;impeccable, white, ultra-regular, it never vanishes: it&#x2019;s the natural setting for his features, the default look to which his face always returns, as if illuminated from within by radiant joy&#x201D;.<br>And then, there&#x2019;s his Church. The 16,800 seat Lakewood Church.</p><div class="w650 h488 image media"><div class="image-wrapper"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/8c8a65656db166705ae3e26745dac9b9" width="650" height="488" alt="Pastor Joel Osteen and wife/co-pastor Victoria Osteen in 2016 in San Francisco, California. Picture: Cindy Ord"></div><p class="caption">Pastor Joel Osteen and wife/co-pastor Victoria Osteen in 2016 in San Francisco, California. Picture: Cindy Ord<span class="image-source"><em>Source:Getty Images</em></span></p></div><p>The &#x201C;mega church&#x201D; was formerly the site of the Compaq sports arena and sits alongside the Southwest Freeway, which is currently sitting under flood waters.</p><p>Osteen&#x2019;s teachings are on the softer side of conservative; he has avoided hot issues such as same-sex marriage and the Black Lives Matters movement, and is often criticised for not speaking out enough. Despite calling homosexuality a sin according to scripture, he has welcomed gay people into his church.</p>
<div class="ad-block ad-custom ad-unruly" data-ad-size="4x4" data-device-type="web"></div>
<div class="twitter media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joel Osteen has a HUGE church in Houston that would make a great shelter. <a href="https://t.co/byqHxXrHQn">pic.twitter.com/byqHxXrHQn</a></p>— Brasilmagic (@Brasilmagic) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brasilmagic/status/902013041142898689">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote> </div>
<div class="ad-block ad-custom ad-unruly" data-ad-size="4x4" data-device-type="web"></div>
<p>It is unclear exactly why Osteen has failed to open his church to the needy since he cancelled Sunday services. Even clergymen are stumped. Perhaps it was damaged or flooded during the storm? Representatives have remained quiet despite requests by <a href="http://www.wbaltv.com/article/houston-residents-ask-joel-osteen-to-open-lakewood-church-for-harvey-flooding-victims/12113547" rel="noopener" target="_blank">numerous media outlets</a> for updates.</p><p>Tropical Storm Harvey has been blamed for at least three confirmed deaths, including a woman killed Monday in the town of Porter, northeast of Houston, when a large oak tree dislodged by heavy rains toppled onto her trailer home.</p><p>A Houston television station reported Monday that <a href="http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/six-family-members-believed-to-have-drowned-in-van-as-they-tried-to-flee-aftermath-of-hurricane-harvey/news-story/9081943b2a32ef85fef04fb077edab74" rel="noopener" target="_blank">six family members were believed to have drowned when their van was swept away by floodwaters</a>. The KHOU report was attributed to three family members the station did not identify. No bodies have been recovered.</p><p>Police Chief Art Acevedo told the Associated Press that he had no information about the report but said he&#x2019;s &#x201C;worried about how many bodies we&#x2019;re going to find.&#x201D; According to the station, four children and their grandparents were feared dead after the van hit high water Sunday when crossing a bridge in the Greens Bayou area.</p><p>The driver of the vehicle, the children&#x2019;s great-uncle, reportedly escaped before the van sank by grabbing a tree limb. He told the children to try to escape through the back door, but they were unable to get out.</p><div class="twitter media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Maybe you can also open your gigantic church to shelter some of the victims?</p>— Lesley Abravanel (@lesleyabravanel) <a href="https://twitter.com/lesleyabravanel/status/902201739943739392">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote> </div><div class="twitter media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen">@JoelOsteen</a> why aren't you opening ur doors? Houston needs you. Practice what you preach</p>— sylvia flores (@sylflo) <a href="https://twitter.com/sylflo/status/902179677313347584">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote> </div><div class="twitter media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A message of Christian love to all those without shelter in Houston right now who seek refuge in Joel Osteen’s 16,800-seat Lakewood church: <a href="https://t.co/DDywqjA4HG">pic.twitter.com/DDywqjA4HG</a></p>— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/BettyBowers/status/902268592347107329">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote> </div><p>On Sunday evening local time, both Joel and Victoria Osteen and the Lakewood Church Twitter account, tweeted a link to a relief fund which raised money for communities affected by natural disasters on behalf of Samitan&#x2019;s Purse.</p><p>&#x201C;Over the last couple of days, as the enormity of this storm was being realised, we have been working to organise relief efforts for the Houston area with our friend Franklin Graham and the disaster relief organisation that he oversees, Samaritan&#x2019;s Purse,&#x201D; a statement on the <a href="https://www.lakewoodchurch.com/Pages/Hurricane-Relief.aspx?sourcecode=17DRLW" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Lakewood Church website read</a>.</p><p>&#x201C;We love you and we love this city. And we want to help.&#x201D;</p><div class="twitter media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our hearts break as we see the damage and destruction in our city. Please join us in helping Houston recover. Visit <a href="https://t.co/jXMX5VB3qS">https://t.co/jXMX5VB3qS</a> <a href="https://t.co/00HtzOmeQL">pic.twitter.com/00HtzOmeQL</a></p>— Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen/status/902287106969669633">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote> </div><div class="twitter media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joel Osteen, as a Pastor you have a huge obligation to show the love of Christ at this very moment. <br>OPEN THE DOORS. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HoustonStrong?src=hash">#HoustonStrong</a></p>— Pastor Greg Locke (@pastorlocke) <a href="https://twitter.com/pastorlocke/status/902256128578527233">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote> </div><p>Joel&#x2019;s Twitter account has also provided spiritual updates and asked followers to lean on their faith.</p><p>&#x201C;God is still on the throne. He brought you through in the past; He&#x2019;ll bring you through again&#x201D; and &#x201C;Jesus promises us peace that passes understanding. That&#x2019;s peace when it doesn&#x2019;t make sense&#x201D;.</p><div class="twitter media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There’s a simple phrase you have to get down in your spirit, “God’s got this.”</p>— Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen/status/901768844783616000">August 27, 2017</a></blockquote> </div><div class="twitter media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Give people the grace to change. Don’t judge their whole life on one season, one mistake.</p>— Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen/status/901602732171292677">August 27, 2017</a></blockquote> </div><div class="twitter media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Come into His presence with thanksgiving in your heart. Embrace His promises, give Him praise, and find the strength you need!</p>— Victoria Osteen (@VictoriaOsteen) <a href="https://twitter.com/VictoriaOsteen/status/901783947750858752">August 27, 2017</a></blockquote> </div><p>According to ministry spokesman Donald Iloff, the Church was forced to close due to flooded surroundings along the highway. Pictures posted to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BYWYoLuleyU/?taken-by=animonk" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Instagram have supported this theory, though others have claimed these are faked</a>.</p><p><i>Christian Today</i> <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2017/august/houston-churches-fight-flooding-hurricane-harvey-cancels-se.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">reports almost all Houston-area churches</a> surrounding Lakewood Chrcuh have also been forced to close their doors for Sunday service.</p><p>Mr Iloff told the <i><a href="http://nypost.com/2017/08/28/pastor-osteen-shuts-church-amid-flooding-crisis/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">New York Post</a></i> it would make no sense to open church doors when the needy were being treated at the nearby George R. Brown Convention Centre.</p><p>&#x201C;It has everything inside there &#x2014; medicine, doctors, places to sleep,&#x201D; Iloff said of the convention centre.</p><p>&#x201C;It&#x2019;s amazing what they&#x2019;re doing there the make people comfortable.&#x201D;</p><div class="twitter media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">. It doesn't make sense why you're not opening up your mega church to house Houston citizens, help me understand that. Jesus. <a href="https://t.co/CzCiEtbkgY">pic.twitter.com/CzCiEtbkgY</a></p>— Emily Timbol (@EmilyTimbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmilyTimbol/status/902215242951876609">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote> </div><p>Despite this, they have been &#x201C;prepping&#x201D; for the inevitable.</p><p>&#x201C;A source at Lakewood Church just told me they&#x2019;re planning to open their doors to Houston&#x2019;s homeless and displaced. Finally,&#x201D; Washington DC-based writer Charles Clymer tweeted.</p><p>But Mr Clymer tweeted pictures from other sources that claim to be taken at the time of the &#x201C;flooding&#x201D;, showing that in fact &#x201C;there is no flooding here&#x201D;.</p><div class="facebook media"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F100006838698089%2Fvideos%2F1937725793132025%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="373" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><p>Outside, there was no relief in sight from the storm that first spun into Texas as a Category 4 hurricane, then parked over the Gulf Coast. With nearly 61 centimetres of rain expected on top of the 76 centimetres in some places, authorities worried that the worst might be yet to come.</p><div class="twitter media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Front of <a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen">@JoelOsteen</a>'s huge Lakewood Church in Houston at 11 am. Closed due to "flooding". Person who took it asked to be anonymous. <a href="https://t.co/gOndOncFuC">pic.twitter.com/gOndOncFuC</a></p>— Charles Clymer🏳️‍🌈 (@cmclymer) <a href="https://twitter.com/cmclymer/status/902204084597469184">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote> </div><div class="twitter media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Houston's <a href="https://twitter.com/indivisible_usa">@indivisible_usa</a> is acquainted with <a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen">@JoelOsteen</a>'s Lakewood Church. They took these pics about an hour ago w/ commentary. <a href="https://t.co/YTWrD9UG1z">pic.twitter.com/YTWrD9UG1z</a></p>— Charles Clymer🏳️‍🌈 (@cmclymer) <a href="https://twitter.com/cmclymer/status/902254954181775360">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote> </div><p>The storm is generating an amount of rain that would normally be seen only once in more than 1000 years, said Edmond Russo, a deputy district engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers, which was concerned that floodwater would spill around a pair of 70-year-old reservoir dams that protect downtown Houston.</p><div class="facebook media"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbeyondtheindustry%2Fvideos%2F1291846137592072%2F&show_text=0&width=264" width="264" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><p>The flooding was so widespread that the levels of city waterways have equalled or surpassed those of Tropical Storm Allison from 2001, and no major highway has been spared some overflow.</p><p>Read more: <a href="http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/fire-ants-band-together-in-stinging-horror-rafts-to-escape-harvey-floodwaters/news-story/f1dc31de849be883e78f1f8c108f7547">Fire ants band together in stinging horror rafts to escape Harvey floodwaters</a></p><div class="twitter media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lakewood Church apparently bought countless air mattresses and are prepping to open their doors. Took a while but good news.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JoelOsteen?src=hash">#JoelOsteen</a> <a href="https://t.co/MYXf1HqAbF">pic.twitter.com/MYXf1HqAbF</a></p>— Charles Clymer🏳️‍🌈 (@cmclymer) <a href="https://twitter.com/cmclymer/status/902331820745924610">August 29, 2017</a></blockquote> </div><p><i>&#x2014; Share your story &#x2014; youngma@news.com.au</i></p><p><i>&#x2014; Additional Harvey reporting by Associated Press writer Juan Lozano in Houston.</i></p></div>
<img class="tcog-pixel" src="https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/news/content/v2/?t_product=newscomau&t_domain=news.com.au&esi=true&td_part=bottom&td_device=desktop&td_section=lifestyle+real-life+news-life&t_template=s3/ncatemp/index@promo" style="opacity:0; height:0px; width:0px; position:absolute;" width="0" height="0" />
</article><aside><div id="sticky-module-1"><div id="ad-wrap-1"><div id="ad-halfpage" class="ad ad-halfpage"></div></div></div><div id="sticky-module-2"><div id="ad-wrap-2"><div class="module plmnt-trending-images"><div class="module-header"><h3 class="heading">trending in lifestyle</h3></div><div class="module-content"><ul class="trending-news-list"><li><div class="link-wrapper"><div class="count">141</div><div class="image"><a href="http://news.com.au/lifestyle/beauty/face-body/this-teenager-used-a-combo-of-two-pantry-items-to-cure-her-cystic-acne/news-story/0167f49d0b885bf9c424cc7c068df385"><img src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/1d2d39c726a1837645e8be7d928b58d2" width="149" height="86" alt="Pictures on Twitter show her skin before and after the treatment."/>
<img class="tcog-pixel" src="https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/article/0167f49d0b885bf9c424cc7c068df385?t_product=newscomau&t_domain=news.com.au&t_template=s3/ncatemp/bodyandsoul/fragment/thumbnail" style="opacity:0; height:0px; width:0px; position:absolute;" width="0" height="0" />
</a></div><a href="http://news.com.au/lifestyle/beauty/face-body/this-teenager-used-a-combo-of-two-pantry-items-to-cure-her-cystic-acne/news-story/0167f49d0b885bf9c424cc7c068df385">Acne treatment: Unexpected home remedy has amazing results </a></div></li><li><div class="link-wrapper"><div class="count">123</div><div class="image"><a href="http://news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/marriage/frances-abbott-marries-sam-loch-on-valentines-day/news-story/afbf2ec116ceaa27dc90494427a4c3cb"><img src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/20b9282bc9854d364ccd8c281bed7768" width="149" height="86" alt="Frances Abbott"/>
<img class="tcog-pixel" src="https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/article/afbf2ec116ceaa27dc90494427a4c3cb?t_product=newscomau&t_domain=news.com.au&t_template=s3/ncatemp/bodyandsoul/fragment/thumbnail" style="opacity:0; height:0px; width:0px; position:absolute;" width="0" height="0" />
</a></div><a href="http://news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/marriage/frances-abbott-marries-sam-loch-on-valentines-day/news-story/afbf2ec116ceaa27dc90494427a4c3cb">Frances Abbott, Sam Loch married on Valentine’s Day</a></div></li><li><div class="link-wrapper"><div class="count">112</div><div class="image"><a href="http://news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/sex/disturbing-advice-hidden-inside-300yearold-sex-manual/news-story/83ab85ae96f2c783ff20b530365df5c1"><img src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/8523b00e5f671b3cc3ad59c8a6af0bf2" width="149" height="86" alt="Shocking 'sex manual' from 1720 - banned until the 1960s - is unearthed by Hansons Auction House - https://hansonsauctioneers.co.uk/blog/2018/02/shocking-sex-manual-from-1720-unearthed-near-derby Picture: Hanson's Auction House"/>
<img class="tcog-pixel" src="https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/article/83ab85ae96f2c783ff20b530365df5c1?t_product=newscomau&t_domain=news.com.au&t_template=s3/ncatemp/bodyandsoul/fragment/thumbnail" style="opacity:0; height:0px; width:0px; position:absolute;" width="0" height="0" />
</a></div><a href="http://news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/sex/disturbing-advice-hidden-inside-300yearold-sex-manual/news-story/83ab85ae96f2c783ff20b530365df5c1">Sex manual: Disturbing advice inside 300-year-old ‘Aristotle...</a></div></li><li><div class="link-wrapper"><div class="count">405</div><div class="image"><a href="http://news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/wtf/time-traveller-man-from-2028-makes-specific-predictions-for-the-future/news-story/c410773ecf14d3b34df9deeeb5153b7a"><img src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/86ac307e72025092bf83042ea719fdff" width="149" height="86" alt="Anonymous time traveller from 2030"/>
<img class="tcog-pixel" src="https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/article/c410773ecf14d3b34df9deeeb5153b7a?t_product=newscomau&t_domain=news.com.au&t_template=s3/ncatemp/bodyandsoul/fragment/thumbnail" style="opacity:0; height:0px; width:0px; position:absolute;" width="0" height="0" />
</a></div><a href="http://news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/wtf/time-traveller-man-from-2028-makes-specific-predictions-for-the-future/news-story/c410773ecf14d3b34df9deeeb5153b7a">Time traveller man: Noah from 2030 future predictions</a></div></li><li><div class="link-wrapper"><div class="count">75</div><div class="image"><a href="http://news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/marriage/oliver-curtis-slams-roxy-jacenkos-exboyfriend-as-disgusting-human/news-story/4cb916b9f729820f84edd3f57e1c06de"><img src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/d1b42c7ba857dd3d549b9309bc537765" width="149" height="86" alt="4/11/17 Roxy Jacenko and Oliver Curtis in the Myer marquee on Derby Day at Flemington racecourse during the 2017 spring racing carnival. Aaron Francis/The Australian"/>
<img class="tcog-pixel" src="https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/article/4cb916b9f729820f84edd3f57e1c06de?t_product=newscomau&t_domain=news.com.au&t_template=s3/ncatemp/bodyandsoul/fragment/thumbnail" style="opacity:0; height:0px; width:0px; position:absolute;" width="0" height="0" />
</a></div><a href="http://news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/marriage/oliver-curtis-slams-roxy-jacenkos-exboyfriend-as-disgusting-human/news-story/4cb916b9f729820f84edd3f57e1c06de">Roxy Jacenko: Oliver Curtis labels ex-boyfriend ‘disgusting’</a></div></li></ul></div></div>
<img class="tcog-pixel" src="https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/chartbeat/live/toppages/v3/?section=lifestyle&t_product=newscomau&limit=5&host=news.com.au&sort_by=internal&type=article&t_template=s3/ncatemp/bodyandsoul/fragment/trending&td_showimages=true&esi=true&td_heading=trending%2520in%2520lifestyle&td_showcount=true" style="opacity:0; height:0px; width:0px; position:absolute;" width="0" height="0" />
<div id="ad-island-2" class="ad adisland"><div id="ad-mrec-2" class="ad-block ad-mrec"></div></div></div></div><div id="sticky-module-3"><div id="ad-wrap-3"><div class="module iframe affiliate-mrec-iframe affiliate-mrec-lifestyle iframe-300x237"><div class="module-content"><iframe src="http://www.eharmony.com.au/partner/news2/?cid=124163&amp;aid=100&amp;utm_source=news.com.au&amp;utm_medium=Widget&amp;utm_campaign=Kimmy_Widget" width="300" height="250" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div></div></aside></div><div class="bottom-share"><ul class="share-tools"><li class="share facebook"><div class="show-text">Share on Facebook</div><div class="arrow-fill"></div><div class="icon-hover-arrow"></div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=113758722003364&amp;href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Flifestyle%2Freal-life%2Fnews-life%2Ftexan-televangelist-joel-osteen-criticised-for-not-opening-doors-to-megachurch-for-harvey-victims%2Fnews-story%2F5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050%23sharehash&amp;redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Flifestyle%2Freal-life%2Fnews-life%2Ftexan-televangelist-joel-osteen-criticised-for-not-opening-doors-to-megachurch-for-harvey-victims%2Fnews-story%2F5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050%23sharehash" target="_blank">Share on Facebook</a></li><li class="share twitter"><div class="show-text">Share on Twitter</div><div class="arrow-fill"></div><div class="icon-hover-arrow"></div><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=This%20mega%20rich%20televangelist%20is%20in%20serious%20trouble&amp;via=newscomauHQ&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Flifestyle%2Freal-life%2Fnews-life%2Ftexan-televangelist-joel-osteen-criticised-for-not-opening-doors-to-megachurch-for-harvey-victims%2Fnews-story%2F5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050%23sharehash" target="_blank">Share on Twitter</a></li><li class="share email"><div class="show-text">Share via Email</div><div class="arrow-fill"></div><div class="icon-hover-arrow"></div><a href="mailto:?subject=news.com.au%20-%20This mega rich televangelist is in serious trouble&amp;body=Hi%2C%0A%0AI%20found%20this%20article%20from%20news.com.au%20that%20you%20might%20be%20interested%20in%3A%20%0A%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Flifestyle%2Freal-life%2Fnews-life%2Ftexan-televangelist-joel-osteen-criticised-for-not-opening-doors-to-megachurch-for-harvey-victims%2Fnews-story%2F5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050%23sharehash" target="_blank">Share via Email</a></li></ul></div><div id="bottom"><div class="inner-wrapper"><div id="polar-sponsored-content" class="polar-sponsored-content"><div data-ad-size="3x3,6x6" data-ad-tar="mvplacementkey=2&amp;pos=1" class="ad-block ad-custom ad-polar ad-polar-1"></div><div data-ad-size="3x3,6x6" data-ad-tar="mvplacementkey=2&amp;pos=2" class="ad-block ad-custom ad-polar ad-polar-2"></div></div><div class="promoted-stories"><div id="news-outbrain-widget" class="news-outbrain-widget"><div data-widget-id="AR_1" data-ob-template="Newsltd" async="async" data-src="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/texan-televangelist-joel-osteen-criticised-for-not-opening-doors-to-megachurch-for-harvey-victims/news-story/5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050" class="OUTBRAIN outbrain-ar-1"></div><div data-widget-id="AR_2" data-ob-template="Newsltd" async="async" data-src="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/texan-televangelist-joel-osteen-criticised-for-not-opening-doors-to-megachurch-for-harvey-victims/news-story/5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050" class="OUTBRAIN outbrain-ar-2"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="https://widgets.outbrain.com/outbrain.js" async></script></div></div><div data-widget="plista_widget_belowArticle_v1_lifestyle" class="plista-widget"></div><script>if (!window.PLISTA) {
	window.PLISTA = {
		publickey: 'f5b7a356d2c72fae225ac20a',
		item: {
			objectid: "5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050",
			title: "Texan televangelist Joel Osteen criticised for not opening doors to megachurch for Harvey victims",
			text: "HE’S the mega rich televangelist with the “perpetual smile”.",
			url: "http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/texan-televangelist-joel-osteen-criticised-for-not-opening-doors-to-megachurch-for-harvey-victims/news-story/5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050",
			img: "http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/3996e954d90413a56ec21e8d6fbd9cb4",
			category: "news-life",
			published_at: 1503967860,
			updated_at: 1504008851
		}
	};
	(function(){var n='script',d=document,s=d.createElement(n),s0=d.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];s.async='async';s.type='text/javascript';s.src=(d.location.protocol==='https:'?'https:':'http:')+'//static-AU.plista.com/async.js';s0.parentNode.insertBefore(s,s0)}());
}
</script></div><div class="bottom-bg"></div></div><div id="back-to-top"><a href="#page">Jump back to top</a></div></div><div id="module-more-in" class="module module-more-in sticky-hidden"><div class="module-header"><h2 class="heading"> 
MORE IN real life<div id="click-zone"></div><div id="more-in-arrow"></div></h2></div><div class="module-content"><ul><li class="sticky-article sbpos-1 sbrpos-8"><a href="http://www.news.com.au/sport/winter-olympics/jawdropping-sexual-harassment-allegations-emerge-against-shaun-white/news-story/1ec7d9afaf9557f5954a94fe14fbd48b" class="thumb-link"><div class="sticky-article-title"><h4 class="heading">Lurid claims against Olympic star</h4></div><div class="thumb-image"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/782cab18784ad2274daafe7f9785ddcd" width="149" height="86" class="more-in-article-image"/></div></a></li><li class="sticky-article sbpos-2 sbrpos-7"><a href="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/the-raw-deal-behind-year-of-the-dog/news-story/002765e63449297a3af1c43555366dd7" class="thumb-link"><div class="sticky-article-title"><h4 class="heading">Why this might not be your year</h4></div><div class="thumb-image"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/8379eb070716a0979f8f0a1a3ebd9c1e" width="149" height="86" class="more-in-article-image"/></div></a></li><li class="sticky-article sbpos-3 sbrpos-6"><a href="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/freelee-the-banana-girl-moves-to-the-jungle-and-off-the-grid/news-story/75e65b2416d6f41140c72e839bbfff16" class="thumb-link"><div class="sticky-article-title"><h4 class="heading">Banana Girl’s crazy new jungle life</h4></div><div class="thumb-image"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/d924c82429370490aa84081fc7308882" width="149" height="86" class="more-in-article-image"/></div></a></li><li class="sticky-article sbpos-4 sbrpos-5"><a href="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/how-the-metoo-movement-made-its-way-to-china/news-story/14a16c70ae17f95c8e7892c75cb66aaf" class="thumb-link"><div class="sticky-article-title"><h4 class="heading">#RiceBunny is taking over China</h4></div><div class="thumb-image"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/186b50ff267764edb38c30cb5cb1b1a7" width="149" height="86" class="more-in-article-image"/></div></a></li><li class="sticky-article sbpos-5 sbrpos-4"><a href="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/this-is-peak-mosman-campervan-owner-told-to-move-piece-of-st/news-story/bb606d37f4730473ae3a142d72876783" class="thumb-link"><div class="sticky-article-title"><h4 class="heading">Snooty neighbour’s note: ‘Move this s***’</h4></div><div class="thumb-image"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/b7872fd6dd3a5a39632f747cfeda9844?width=150" width="149" height="86" class="more-in-article-image"/></div></a></li><li class="sticky-article sbpos-6 sbrpos-3"><a href="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/person-of-interest-tony-jones-screams-at-a-current-affair-reporter-over-william-tyrell/news-story/3e8b2ffe6b59379416b23214bddac6ea" class="thumb-link"><div class="sticky-article-title"><h4 class="heading">Tyrrell case: ‘Never felt right from day one’</h4></div><div class="thumb-image"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/a946424d5a2b998e9f6d1b42cbfa9527" width="149" height="86" class="more-in-article-image"/></div></a></li><li class="sticky-article sbpos-7 sbrpos-2"><a href="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/trump-white-house-embroiled-in-domestic-abuse-controversy/news-story/02000f9c5c0aa42c35b53219c59663b1" class="thumb-link"><div class="sticky-article-title"><h4 class="heading">Shock as Trump defends accused abuser</h4></div><div class="thumb-image"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/c9973b44ebef98b5fb00206d6979acd2" width="149" height="86" class="more-in-article-image"/></div></a></li><li class="sticky-article sbpos-8 sbrpos-1"><a href="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/i-wanted-to-kill-him-james-bulgers-killer-attacked-in-prison/news-story/b8a55e322343ed5c43327e6140e96ace" class="thumb-link"><div class="sticky-article-title"><h4 class="heading">Bulger killer’s sickening boast</h4></div><div class="thumb-image"><img src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/102a3bd70140416286dc6aaffc5b8b5a" width="149" height="86" class="more-in-article-image"/></div></a></li></ul></div><div class="lined-background"></div></div>
<img class="tcog-pixel" src="https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/news/content/v2?t_product=newscomau&td_storyID=5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050&pageSize=8&includeRelated=true&td_module-header=real+life&t_template=s3/ncatemp/standalone/readnext/more-in&query=(contentType:NEWS_STORY%2520AND%2520paidStatus:NON_PREMIUM%2520AND%2520domains:news.com.au%2520AND%2520categories.value:%2522%252Fdisplay%252Fnewscorpaustralia.com%252FWeb%252FNewsNetwork%252FLifestyle%2520-%2520syndicated%252FReal%2520Life%252FNews%2520Life%252F%2522)" style="opacity:0; height:0px; width:0px; position:absolute;" width="0" height="0" />
<footer id="footer"><div id="footer-ads"><div class="ad ad-leaderboard"><div id="ad-leader" class="ad-block ad-leader"></div></div></div><div class="footer-content"><div class="content-item cipos-1 cirpos-3 nav-height"><ul class="footer-nav-social"><div class="nav-title">FOLLOW US</div><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/news.com.au" class="nav-icon nav-facebook"></a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/newscomauHQ" class="nav-icon nav-twitter"></a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/newscomauHQ" class="nav-icon nav-instagram"></a></li></ul><a href="http://www.newscorpaustralia.com/brand/newscomau" class="footer-nav-advertise"><div class="nav-title">ADVERTISE</div><div class="nav-icon nav-advertise"></div></a><a href="http://www.news.com.au/more-information" class="footer-nav-about"><div class="nav-title">ABOUT US</div><div class="nav-icon nav-about"></div></a><a href="https://www.newsletters.news.com.au/nca" class="footer-nav-newsletters"><div class="nav-title">NEWSLETTERS</div><div class="nav-icon nav-newsletters"></div></a><a href="http://connect.news.com.au/" class="footer-nav-connect"><div class="nav-title">CONNECT</div><div class="nav-text">Be rewarded <em>for your opinions</em></div><div class="nav-icon nav-connect">						</div></a></div><div class="footer-divider"></div><div class="content-item cipos-2 cirpos-2"><ul class="footer-legals"><li class="label-text">Legal:</li><li class="nav-privacy-policy nav-legals first"><a href="https://preferences.news.com.au">Privacy Policy</a></li><li class="nav-ads-opt-out nav-legals"><a href="https://preferences.news.com.au/##optout">Relevant Ads Opt-Out</a></li><li class="nav-cookie-policy nav-legals"><a href="https://preferences.news.com.au/##collect">Cookie Policy</a></li><li class="nav-terms-and-conditions nav-legals last"><a href="http://www.news.com.au/more-information/terms-conditions">Terms &amp; Conditions</a></li></ul></div><div class="content-item cipos-2 cirpos-2"><p class="mg-b-20">A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites.<a href="https://preferences.news.com.au/##collect"> Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. </a></p></div><div class="footer-divider"></div><div class="content-item cipos-3 cirpos-1"><div class="footer-copyright"><div class="float-left"><p>News Limited Copyright &copy; 2018. All times AEDT (GMT +11).</p></div></div></div></div></footer><div id="stats"><script>utag_data                           = window.utag_data || {};
utag_data.pn                        = "newscomau | lifestyle | story | Texan televangelist Joel Osteen criticised for not opening doors to megachurch for Harvey victims";
utag_data.responsive_platform       = "web";
utag_data.mp_story_id               = "5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050";
utag_data.mp_section_id             = "";
utag_data.mp_mlc_path               = "/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/story";
utag_data.net_content_type          = "story";
utag_data.net_sec1                  = "lifestyle";
utag_data.net_sec2                  = "real-life";
utag_data.net_sec3                  = "news-life";
utag_data.net_sec4                  = "";
utag_data.net_sec5                  = "";
utag_data.net_sec6                  = "";
utag_data.net_article_id            = "5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050";
utag_data.net_article_headline      = "Texan televangelist Joel Osteen criticised for not opening doors to megachurch for Harvey victims";
utag_data.net_article_byline        = "Matt Young";
utag_data.net_article_source        = "news.com.au";
utag_data.net_article_standfirst    = "HE’S a megarich pastor with millions of fans and a megachurch that will blow your mind. But something is seriously wrong.";
utag_data.net_article_thumbnail     = "http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/thumbnail/b696ac432e7af3eac893599119fe7896";
utag_data.net_template              = "tcog.2.0.0";
utag_data.net_platform              = "web";
utag_data.net_content_type          = "video+story";
utag_data.net_article_date			= "2017-08-29 23:14:11";
utag_data.net_article_updated_time	= "2017-08-29 23:14:11";
</script></div><div id="resources"><script src="https://resources.newscdn.com.au/cs/ncatemp/2.0.0/assets/js/ncadesktop.min.js"></script><script src="https://tags.tiqcdn.com/utag/newsltd/news/prod/utag.js"></script><script src="https://resourcesssl.newscdn.com.au/cs/video/vjs/stable/build/player.js"></script><script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div>
<img class="tcog-pixel" src="https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/news/content/v2/?t_product=newscomau&t_domain=news.com.au&esi=true&td_part=js&td_device=desktop&td_section=lifestyle+real-life+news-life&t_template=s3/ncatemp/index@promo" style="opacity:0; height:0px; width:0px; position:absolute;" width="0" height="0" />
<script>var imgs = document.querySelectorAll('img[data-src]');
for (var i = 0; i < imgs.length; i += 1) {
	imgs[i].setAttribute("src", imgs[i].getAttribute("data-src"));
	imgs[i].removeAttribute("data-src");
}</script></body></html>
<img class="tcog-pixel" src="https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/article/news/desktop/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/texan-televangelist-joel-osteen-criticised-for-not-opening-doors-to-megachurch-for-harvey-victims/news-story/5fa7565868ebc9be8e02c147e3588050?t_product=newscomau&t_template=s3/ncatemp/router@2.0.0&td_display=desktop&t_trouter=true" style="opacity:0; height:0px; width:0px; position:absolute;" width="0" height="0" />
