<!doctype html><!--[if lt IE 7]>
<html class="lt-ie9 lt-ie8 lt-ie7 no-js" lang="en">
<![endif]--><!--[if IE 7]>
<html class="lt-ie9 lt-ie8 no-js" lang="en">
<![endif]--><!--[if IE 8]>
<html class="lt-ie9 no-js" lang="en">
<![endif]--><!--[if IE 9]>
<html class="ie9 no-js" lang="en">
<![endif]--><!--[if gt IE 9]><!-->
<html class="no-js" lang="en">
<!--<![endif]-->
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge" />
  <meta name="description" content="Joel Osteen, who runs the 16,000-capacity Lakewood Church, has been criticized on social media for not opening his doors to Hurricane Harvey victims.">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <meta property="fb:app_id" content="10150138890205613"/>
  <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/">
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="155869377766434" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="114288853688" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="273864989376427" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="25987609066" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="103708747870" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="117112876419" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="493352494017633" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="143109582453645" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="153005644864469" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="598356233569407" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="62499551911" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="90692553761" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="108546889203630" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="154957517930371" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="114945745226947" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="164878620263509" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="219012311450917" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="280920811923248" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="358279854182174" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="809948162383434" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="864302923644949" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="868876563129583" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="1508175089456029" />
  <meta property="og:site_name" content="NBC News"/>
  <meta property="og:description" content="Joel Osteen, who runs the 16,000-capacity Lakewood Church, has been criticized on social media for not opening his doors to Hurricane Harvey victims."/>
  <meta property="og:title" content="Joel Osteen defends not opening megachurch to Harvey victims"/>
  <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036"/>
  <meta property="og:type" content="article"/>
  <meta property="og:image" content="https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2017_35/2136261/170829-joel-osteen-mc-900_efc9b4cc78453724cd04214c64425a77.nbcnews-fp-1200-630.jpg"/>
  <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
  <meta name="twitter:site" content="NBCNews"/>
  <meta name="twitter:title" content="Joel Osteen defends not opening megachurch to Harvey victims"/>
  <meta name="twitter:description" content="Joel Osteen, who runs the 16,000-capacity Lakewood Church, has been criticized on social media for not opening his doors to Hurricane Harvey victims."/>
  <meta name="twitter:creator" content="NBCNews"/>
  <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2017_35/2136261/170829-joel-osteen-mc-900_efc9b4cc78453724cd04214c64425a77.nbcnews-fp-1024-512.jpg"/>
  <link rel="alternate" href="android-app://com.zumobi.msnbc/http/www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036"/>
  <meta name="apple-itunes-app" content="app-id=319740707, app-argument=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036">
  <meta name="google-site-verification" content="dMf4cxtcxKlWchKvPlULwDZi8XpI9-ARqe8j2mGmi4Y"/>
  <meta name="google-site-verification" content="K8bowvEbzWfPQ76x6f9SCxMVwicVXrhiClRg80ak8ZA" />
  <meta name="google-site-verification" content="G4SGIUDh2TcgDVNjuleQ-Humwb3JAZaQD9Vg42Stfn8" />
  
  <meta name="news_keywords" content="Pop Culture,Celebrity,Pop Culture News,Religion,U.S. news,Weather"/>
  <link rel="amphtml" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/amp/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036" />
    <link rel="next" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/harvey-hit-texans-still-struggle-recovery-amid-housing-challenges-n833291">
    <meta property="article:author" content="https://www.facebook.com/NBCNews"/>
  <link rel="standout" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036"/>
    <meta name="DC.date.issued" content="2017-08-29">
    <meta name="published" content="2017-08-29T19:56:00.000Z"/>
    <title>Joel Osteen Defends Not Opening Lakewood Church in Houston to Harvey Victims - NBC News</title>
    <script type="application/ld+json">
     {
          "@context": "https://schema.org/",
          "@type": "Organization",
          "url": "https://www.nbcnews.com",
          "logo": {
                  "@type": "ImageObject",
                  "url": "https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/site-images/nbcnews-logo-white.png",
                  "width": 166,
                  "height": 24
          },
          "sameAs": [
                    "https://twitter.com/NBCNews",
                    "https://www.facebook.com/NBCNews",
                    "https://plus.google.com/+NBCnews",
                    "https://www.instagram.com/nbcnews",
                    "https://www.youtube.com/nbcnews"
                    ]
     }
    </script>
    <script type="application/ld+json">
          {
            "@context" :{
                "@vocab": "https://schema.org",
                "articleId": {
                    "@id": "Text",
                    "@type": "@id"
                }
            },
            "@type": "NewsArticle",
            "headline": "Joel Osteen Defends Not Opening Lakewood Church in Houston to Harvey Victims",
            "url": "https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036",
            "thumbnailUrl": "https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2017_35/2136261/170829-joel-osteen-mc-900_efc9b4cc78453724cd04214c64425a77.nbcnews-fp-1200-630.jpg",
            "creator": "Kalhan Rosenblatt",
            "alternativeHeadline": "",
            "dateCreated": "2017-08-29T19:56:00.000Z",
            "datePublished": "2017-08-29T19:56:00.000Z",
            "dateModified": "2017-08-29T20:00:41.000Z",
            "articleSection":"pop-culture",
            "articleId":"797036",
            "name": "Joel Osteen Defends Not Opening Lakewood Church in Houston to Harvey Victims",
            "speakable": {
              "@type": "SpeakableSpecification",
              "cssSelector": [".article-hed h1", ".article-body p:first-child"]
            },
            "image": {
              "@type": "ImageObject",
              "url": "https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2017_35/2136261/170829-joel-osteen-mc-900_efc9b4cc78453724cd04214c64425a77.nbcnews-fp-1200-630.jpg",
              "width": 1200,
              "height": 800
            },
            "author": [
              {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kalhan Rosenblatt"
              }
            ],
            "publisher": {
              "@type": "Organization",
              "name": "NBC News",
              "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/site-images/nbcnews-logo-white.png",
                "width": 166,
                "height": 24
              }
            },
            "description": "Joel Osteen, who runs the 16,000-capacity Lakewood Church, has been criticized on social media for not opening his doors to Hurricane Harvey victims.",
            "mainEntityOfPage": {
              "@type": "WebPage",
              "@id": "https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036"
            }
          }
    </script>
  <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036"/>
  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/31533d28.favicon.ico"/>
    <link href="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/styles/main-c6773045bf.min.css" rel="stylesheet">
    
    <noscript>
        <link href="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/styles/fonts-b858ad4bb0.min.css" rel="stylesheet">
        <link href="https://netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/font-awesome/4.7.0/css/font-awesome.min.css" rel="stylesheet">
    </noscript>
    
    <!--[if lt IE 9]>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/localassets/styles/main.css">
    <script src="//cdn.jsdelivr.net/respond/1.4.2/respond.min.js"></script>
    <![endif]-->

  
  <noscript>
    <style type="text/css">
      html body .no-js-show{ display: block !important;}
      html body .no-js-hide{ display: none !important;}
    </style>
  </noscript>
  <!--[if lt IE 9]>
  <script src="https://html5shiv.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/html5.js"></script><![endif]-->
  <meta name="blitz" content="mu-e1e842c9-946002e6-ea8f0454-41b29546">
    <script>
      // Picture element HTML5 shiv
      document.createElement( "picture" );
    </script>
    <script>
        function getCookie(cname) {var name = cname + "="; var ca = document.cookie.split(';'); for(var i=0; i<ca.length; i++) {var c = ca[i];while (c.charAt(0)==' ') c = c.substring(1);if (c.indexOf(name) == 0) return c.substring(name.length,c.length);}return "";}
        function loadCSS(e,n,o,t){"use strict";var d=window.document.createElement("link"),i=n||window.document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0],s=window.document.styleSheets;return d.rel="stylesheet",d.href=e,d.media="only x",t&&(d.onload=t),i.parentNode.insertBefore(d,i),d.onloadcssdefined=function(n){for(var o,t=0;t<s.length;t++)s[t].href&&s[t].href.indexOf(e)>-1&&(o=!0);o?n():setTimeout(function(){d.onloadcssdefined(n)})},d.onloadcssdefined(function(){d.media=o||"all"}),d}

        if(getCookie('fonts_cached')){
            loadCSS('https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/styles/fonts-b858ad4bb0.min.css');
            loadCSS('https://netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/font-awesome/4.7.0/css/font-awesome.min.css');
        }
    </script>
</head>
<body id="top" class="article hurricane-harvey" data-routename="article" data-taxonomy="hurricane-harvey">

<!--[if lt IE 10]><p class="browsehappy">You are using an
  <strong>outdated</strong> browser. Please
  <a href="https://browsehappy.com/">upgrade your browser</a> to improve your experience.
</p><![endif]-->
<header class="grid_default" role="banner">
    <div class="js-site-header header-group">
      <div class="slim-white-site-header">
          <div class="container-gutter">
              <div class="container">
                  <div class="row">
                      <div class="col-lg-10">
                          <a class="slim-white-site-header__site-logo inline-block" href="/"><svg viewBox="0 0 166 24" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd">
          <path d="M43.307 2.132l12.616 12.01v-11.247h4.082v20.834l-12.59-12.248v11.563h-4.108v-20.913zM66.59 14.458h3.74c.843.026 2.397.869 2.397 2.634 0 1.817-1.58 2.607-2.502 2.686h-3.635v-5.321zm-4.161 8.56h9.798c2.317 0 5.03-2.265 5.03-5.347 0-3.161-2.054-4.715-3.397-5.347 0 0 2.476-1.396 2.37-4.398-.132-4.03-3.872-5.031-5.189-5.031h-8.612v20.122zm4.135-16.751h3.055c1.028.079 2.265.87 2.265 2.292 0 1.343-.948 2.292-2.186 2.45h-3.134v-4.741zM92.691 7.058c-4.32-2.871-10.167.053-10.535 5.373-.158 6.453 6.216 9.113 10.535 6.321v4.135c-7.638 2.845-14.645-2.529-14.67-10.324.026-6.612 7.322-12.458 14.67-9.535v4.03zM98.047 2.132l12.615 12.01v-11.247h4.083v20.834l-12.59-12.248v11.563h-4.109v-20.913zM120.751 6.399v4.688h6.558v3.556h-6.558v4.82h6.558v3.555h-10.667v-20.122h10.667v3.503h-6.558zM132.313 2.896l5.321 11.8 1.896-4.24-3.556-7.559h4.188l1.317 3.134 1.264-3.134h4.109l-3.398 7.533 1.897 4.267 5.083-11.8h4.504l-9.219 20.912-4.135-8.876-4.109 8.902-9.481-20.939h4.319zM160.442 2.343c.369 0 2.292.105 4.136 1.212v3.925c-1.08-.685-2.503-1.607-3.872-1.607-1.66 0-2.713 1.238-2.713 2.37 0 2.871 8.007 2.608 8.007 8.955 0 2.107-1.502 6.453-6.796 6.453-.105 0-1.738.158-4.583-1.317v-4.372c1.581 1.712 3.556 2.159 4.32 2.159 1.712 0 2.95-1.342 2.95-2.975 0-3.135-7.796-2.555-7.796-8.903 0-3.45 2.95-5.9 6.347-5.9"
                 fill="#000"/>
          <path d="M11.622 8.567l5.466 12.499-11.276-7.721c-2.829-1.873-2.255-5.084-.688-6.498 2.217-1.873 5.35-1.223 6.497 1.72"
                fill="#f47a3f"/>
          <path d="M19.16 5.623l-1.988 13.99-5.657-13.302c-1.223-3.326 1.529-5.504 3.364-5.542 2.102-.229 4.74 1.376 4.281 4.854"
                fill="#ce1041"/>
          <path d="M27.76 6.274l-5.619 13.34-1.797-12.04c-.152-1.834.994-1.873 1.414-2.217l-.65-.268h-1.071c-.114-3.134 2.332-4.51 4.32-4.358 2.141.076 4.548 2.561 3.402 5.542"
                fill="#7d77b8"/>
          <path d="M33.493 13.269l-11.276 7.759 5.313-12.346c1.606-3.9 5.352-3.135 6.689-1.644 1.452 1.453 1.873 4.396-.726 6.231"
                fill="#0279b7"/>
          <path d="M34.678 22.404h-13.034l10.587-7.377c2.6-1.72 5.351-.153 6.078 2.102.765 2.522-.956 5.274-3.631 5.274"
                fill="#62bc46"/>
          <path d="M.927 16.976c.994-2.599 3.746-3.517 6.193-1.949l10.588 7.377h-12.843c-2.676 0-4.778-2.446-3.938-5.427"
                fill="#fdb912"/>
      </svg>
      </a>
                          <button class="js-toggle btn btn_alt btn_md btn_site-menu inline-block" data-togglecontrols='{"toggleClass":"is-open", "selector":".dropdown_site-nav", "activeTarget":true}'>Sections<i class="fa fa-chevron-down" aria-hidden="true"></i><i class="fa fa-chevron-up" aria-hidden="true"></i></button>
                          <ul class="nav-bar hidden-xs inline-block">
                              <li><a href="/nightly-news"> Nightly News</a></li>
                              <li class="hidden-sm"><a href="http://www.msnbc.com" target="blank">MSNBC</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/meet-the-press"> Meet the Press</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/dateline"> Dateline</a></li>
                              <li class="hidden-sm"><a href="https://www.today.com" target="blank"><span class="today-sun-logo"><img width="20" height="10" alt="TODAY" src="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/today-logo-site-nav.png"></span>Today</a></li>
                          </ul>
                          <div role="search" class="search site-header-item inline-block">
                              <ul class="nav-bar">
                                  <li><a class="js-toggle search_toggle btn_txt" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/pages/search" data-togglecontrols='{"toggleClass":"is-open", "selector":".search_input", "activeTarget":true, "preventDefault":true}'><i class="fa fa-search" aria-hidden="true"></i><i class="fa fa-times" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="screen-reader-txt">Search</span></a></li>
                              </ul>
                              <div class="search_input">
                                  <form action="/pages/search/" id="search-form">
                                      <label for="q" id="search_label">
                                          <span class="screen-reader-txt">Search</span>
                                      </label>
                                      <input class="form_control" aria-labelledby="search_label" id="q" required name="q" type="search" placeholder="Search" autofocus/>
                                      <input type="submit" value="Search" class="screen-reader-txt"/>
                                  </form>
                              </div>
                          </div>
                      </div>
                      <div class="visible-lg-block col-lg-2">
                          <ul class="datapoints__share">
                              <li>
                                  <a class="js-sharethis" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Fstoryline%2Fhurricane-harvey%2Fjoel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036" target="_blank" title="Share on Facebook">
                                    <svg version="1.1" x="0" y="0" viewBox="0 0 20 20" enable-background="new 0 0 20 20" xml:space="preserve">
                                      <desc>Share on Facebook</desc>
                                      <path d="M17 1H3C1.9 1 1 1.9 1 3v14c0 1.1 0.9 2 2 2h7v-7H8V9.53h2V7.48c0-2.16 1.21-3.68 3.77-3.68l1.8 0v2.61h-1.2C13.38 6.4 13 7.14 13 7.84v1.69h2.57L15 12h-2v7h4c1.1 0 2-0.9 2-2V3C19 1.9 18.1 1 17 1z"></path>
                                    </svg>
                                  </a>
                              </li>
                              <li>
                                  <a class="js-sharethis" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Joel%20Osteen%20Defends%20Not%20Opening%20Lakewood%20Church%20in%20Houston%20to%20Harvey%20Victims&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Fstoryline%2Fhurricane-harvey%2Fjoel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036&via=nbcnews" target="_blank" title="Tweet">
                                    <svg version="1.1" x="0px" y="0px" viewBox="0 0 20 20" enable-background="new 0 0 20 20" xml:space="preserve">
                                      <desc>Share on Twitter</desc>
                                      <path d="M17.316 6.246c0.008 0.2 0 0.3 0 0.488c0 4.99-3.797 10.742-10.74 10.742c-2.133 0-4.116-0.625-5.787-1.697 c0.296 0 0.6 0.1 0.9 0.053c1.77 0 3.397-0.604 4.688-1.615c-1.651-0.031-3.046-1.121-3.526-2.621 c0.23 0 0.5 0.1 0.7 0.066c0.345 0 0.679-0.045 0.995-0.131c-1.727-0.348-3.028-1.873-3.028-3.703c0-0.016 0-0.031 0-0.047 c0.509 0.3 1.1 0.5 1.7 0.473c-1.013-0.678-1.68-1.832-1.68-3.143c0-0.691 0.186-1.34 0.512-1.898 C3.942 5.5 6.7 7 9.9 7.158C9.798 6.9 9.8 6.6 9.8 6.297c0-2.084 1.689-3.773 3.774-3.773 c1.086 0 2.1 0.5 2.8 1.191c0.859-0.17 1.667-0.484 2.397-0.916c-0.282 0.881-0.881 1.621-1.66 2.1 c0.764-0.092 1.49-0.293 2.168-0.594C18.694 5.1 18.1 5.7 17.3 6.246z"></path>
                                    </svg>
                                  </a>
                              </li>
                              <li>
                                <a href="https://secure.nbcnews.com/_tps/accounts/newsletters"target="_blank" title="Email">
                                  <svg version="1.1" x="0" y="0" viewBox="0 0 20 20" xml:space="preserve">
                                    <desc>Email page link</desc>
                                    <path d="M1.57 5.29c0.49 0.26 7.25 3.89 7.5 4.03C9.33 9.45 9.65 9.51 9.98 9.51c0.33 0 0.65-0.06 0.91-0.2s7.01-3.77 7.5-4.03C18.88 5.02 19.34 4 18.44 4H1.52C0.62 4 1.09 5.02 1.57 5.29zM18.61 7.49c-0.56 0.29-7.39 3.85-7.73 4.03s-0.58 0.2-0.91 0.2 -0.57-0.02-0.91-0.2S1.94 7.78 1.39 7.49C1 7.28 1 7.52 1 7.71S1 15 1 15c0 0.42 0.57 1 1 1h16c0.43 0 1-0.58 1-1 0 0 0-7.11 0-7.29S19 7.29 18.61 7.49z"></path>
                                  </svg>
                                </a>
                              </li>
                          </ul>
                      </div>
                  </div>
              </div>
              <nav class="dropdown dropdown_site-nav" role="navigation" aria-label="Secondary">
                  <h3 class="screen-reader-txt">Secondary Navigation</h3>
                  <div class="container">
                      <div class="row">
                        <div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-4">
                          <div class="dropdown_col">
                            <h4 class="item-heading">Sections</h4>
                            <ul>
                              <li><a href='/news/us-news'>U.S.</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/politics">Politics</a></li>
                              <li><a href='/news/world'>World</a></li>
                              <li><a class="js-localaffiliate" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nbc-affiliates-n19981">Local</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/business">Business</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/health">Health</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/investigations">Investigations</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/pop-culture/lifestyle">Lifestyle</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/pop-culture">Pop Culture</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/science">Science</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/tech">Tech</a></li>
                              <li><a href='https://www.nbcsports.com' target="blank">Sports</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/news/weather">Weather</a></li>
                            </ul>
                          </div>
                        </div>
                        <div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-4 col">
                          <div class="dropdown_col">
                      
                            <h4 class="item-heading">TV</h4>
                            <ul>
                              <li><a href="/nightly-news">Nightly News</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/meet-the-press">Meet The Press</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/dateline">Dateline</a></li>
                              <li><a href="https://today.com/" target="blank">Today</a></li>
                            </ul>
                            <h4 class="item-heading">Featured</h4>
                            <ul>
                              <li><a href="/think">Think</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/mach">Mach</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/better">Better</a></li>
                              <li><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/leftfield">NBC Left Field</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/news/asian-america">Asian America</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/news/latino">Latino</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/news/nbcblk">NBCBLK</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/feature/nbc-out">NBC Out</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/business/your-business">Your Business</a></li>
                            </ul>
                          </div>
                        </div>
                        <div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-4">
                          <div class="dropdown_col">
                            <h4 class="item-heading">Top Ongoing</h4>
                            <ul>
                                <li>
                                  <a data-target="#ongoing-01-section" href="/storyline/airplane-mode">Airplane Mode</a>
                                </li>
                                <li>
                                  <a data-target="#ongoing-02-section" href="/storyline/texas-church-shooting">Texas Church Shooting</a>
                                </li>
                            </ul>
                            <h4 class="item-heading">Multimedia</h4>
                            <ul>
                              <li><a href="/video">Video</a></li>
                              <li><a href="/news/photo">Photo</a></li>
                            </ul>
                            <h4 class="item-heading h3">More From NBC</h4>
                            <ul>
                              <li><a href="https://nbcsports.com/">Sports</a></li>
                              <li><a href="https://cnbc.com/">CNBC</a></li>
                              <li><a href="http://www.msnbc.com/">MSNBC.com</a></li>
                              <li><a href="https://nbc.com/">NBC.com</a></li>
                              <li><a href="https://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn">NBC Learn</a></li>
                              <li><a href="https://recode.net/">Re/Code</a></li>
                              <li><a href="http://www.peacockproductions.tv/">Peacock Productions</a></li>
                              <li><a href="http://veterans.nbcnews.com/">Next Steps for Vets</a></li>
                              <li><a href="http://parenttoolkit.com/">Parent Toolkit</a></li>
                            </ul>
                          </div>
                        </div>
                      </div>
                  </div>
              </nav>
          </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  <noscript>
    <div class="container-gutter">
      <div class="container">
        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-sm-12">
            <div class="align-center alert alert_warning">
              <i class="fa fa-lg fa-exclamation-triangle" aria-hidden="true"></i> NBC News works best with JavaScript turned on
            </div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </noscript>
</header>
<main class="site-content" role="main">
  <a id='js-feedback-btn' class="feedback" href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZRY6QHK" target='blank'><i class="fa fa-comment"></i> Feedback</a>
  <div class="ad-container align-center ad-hide">
  <div class="ad-label ad-hide">
  	<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31066137/media-kit/" target="_blank">advertisement</a>
  </div>
  <div class="ad-content ad-sm ad-md ad-lg topbanner ad-content_row" data-placement="topbanner"></div>
</div>
<div class="ad-container ad-hide">
  <div class="ad-label ad-hide">
  	<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31066137/media-kit/" target="_blank">advertisement</a>
  </div>
  <div class="ad-content ad-lg ad-min interstitial ad-content_row" data-placement="interstitial"></div>
</div>
<div class="grid_article">
  <div class="container">
    <div class="panel-group_header">
      <div class="row">
        <div class="col-sm-12">
          <div class="panel-group_heading">
              <div class="breadcrumb_container">
                <a class="breadcrumb" href="/storyline">Storyline</a>
                <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i>
                  <div class="item-heading item-heading_group item-heading_group-lg item-heading_breadcrumb">
                      <a href="/storyline/hurricane-harvey">Hurricane Harvey</a>
                  </div>
              </div>

          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>
<div class="grid_article">
  <article id="797036" class="article_entry" data-url="https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036" data-articletype='post' data-next='' data-mpscat='pop-culture|celebrity' data-mpspath='/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036' data-mpssectionlist='pop-culture|news' data-mpsstorylinelist='hurricane-harvey' data-mpstype='post' data-videodata='{&quot;storyline&quot;:&quot;hurricane-harvey&quot;,&quot;section&quot;:&quot;pop-culture&quot;,&quot;topic&quot;:&quot;celebrity&quot;}' >




        <div class="article_capsule">
          <div class="container">
            <div class="ad-container ad-hide">
              <div class="ad-content ad-xs mobileinterstitial ad-content_row" data-placement="mobileinterstitial"></div>
            </div>
            <header class="row_article article-header article_max">
              <div class="article-flags">
                <div class="article-flags_container">
                  <div class="flag_article-wrapper">
                <a class="flag flag_article-section" href="/news">News</a>
              </div>
                 <div class="flag_article-wrapper">
                  <a class="flag flag_storyline flag_article-section" href="/storyline/hurricane-harvey">Hurricane Harvey</a>
                </div>
               
              
                  <div class="flag_article-wrapper flag_article-wrapper-last">
                      <time class="timestamp_article" datetime="2017-08-29T19:56:00.000Z">Aug 29 2017, 3:56 pm ET</time>
                  </div>
                </div>
              </div>
              <div class="article-hed">
                <h1>Joel Osteen Defends Not Opening Lakewood Church in Houston to Harvey Victims</h1>
                  <p class="byline_article">
                <span class="byline">
                  <span class="lowercase">by</span> <span class="byline_author">Kalhan Rosenblatt</span></span>
                </p>
              </div>
            </header>
          </div>
          <div class="container">
            <div class="row_article article_main-container">
              <div class="js-share article_share article_max" aria-label="tools" role="group">
                <ul class="js-sticky social-list social-list_article">
                  <li>
                    <span class="article_meta-title article_meta-title-sm social-list_article-title">Share</span>
                  </li>
                  <li>
                    <a class="js-sharearticle facebook" target='_blank' href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://nbcnews.to/2wPcun1">
                      <i class="fa fa-facebook" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="social-list_txt">Share</span>
                    </a></li>
                  <li>
                    <a class="js-sharearticle twitter" target='_blank' href="https://twitter.com/share?text=Joel%20Osteen%20defends%20not%20opening%20megachurch%20to%20Harvey%20victims&url=http://nbcnews.to/2wPcun1&via=nbcnews">
                      <i class="fa fa-twitter" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="social-list_txt">Tweet</span>
                    </a></li>
                      <li>
                          <a class="newsvine-comment j_social_seed" style="display: none;" target='_blank' href="https://www.newsvine.com/_api/discuss?u=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036&h=Joel%20Osteen%20Defends%20Not%20Opening%20Lakewood%20Church%20in%20Houston%20to%20Harvey%20Victims&t=pop-culture&cid=">
                              <svg width="24px" height="16px" viewBox="0 0 44 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
                                  <g id="newsvine-seed-icon" stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd">
                                      <g id="newsvine-logo" fill="#116600">
                                          <g id="newsvine-seed">
                                              <g>
                                                  <path d="M37.58,0.017 L6.412,0.017 C2.871,0.017 0,2.888 0,6.429 L0,52.594 C0,56.135 2.871,59.005 6.412,59.005 L21.046,59.005 L21.046,47.494 L14.54,42.938 C13.82,43.343 12.998,43.499 12.178,43.352 C11.246,43.185 10.436,42.664 9.896,41.884 C9.354,41.107 9.149,40.161 9.316,39.229 C9.484,38.296 10.006,37.483 10.785,36.944 C11.566,36.403 12.508,36.197 13.439,36.369 C14.369,36.536 15.183,37.055 15.723,37.833 C16.14,38.433 16.359,39.134 16.359,39.853 C16.359,40.048 16.338,40.244 16.307,40.442 L21.046,43.761 L21.046,33.068 L14.537,28.511 C13.82,28.917 12.998,29.072 12.178,28.919 C11.246,28.752 10.436,28.234 9.896,27.456 C9.354,26.677 9.149,25.732 9.316,24.798 C9.664,22.874 11.518,21.589 13.439,21.939 C15.351,22.286 16.625,24.109 16.307,26.016 L21.046,29.334 L21.046,19.324 L14.54,14.765 C13.82,15.171 12.998,15.329 12.178,15.179 C10.252,14.831 8.969,12.981 9.316,11.055 C9.664,9.13 11.518,7.846 13.439,8.199 C14.369,8.363 15.183,8.886 15.723,9.663 C16.14,10.264 16.359,10.965 16.359,11.681 C16.359,11.876 16.338,12.073 16.307,12.268 L21.046,15.591 L21.046,6.316 L24.103,6.316 L24.103,22.728 L28.768,19.458 C28.615,18.54 28.82,17.616 29.347,16.849 C29.889,16.074 30.703,15.551 31.633,15.386 C33.559,15.039 35.408,16.324 35.756,18.247 C36.105,20.171 34.822,22.021 32.895,22.37 C32.074,22.517 31.248,22.359 30.532,21.953 L24.103,26.46 L24.103,36.471 L28.765,33.204 C28.445,31.295 29.725,29.472 31.633,29.127 C33.559,28.78 35.408,30.068 35.756,31.992 C35.926,32.921 35.719,33.866 35.18,34.643 C34.637,35.423 33.826,35.944 32.895,36.112 C32.047,36.265 31.215,36.101 30.519,35.707 L24.103,40.204 L24.103,50.896 L28.768,47.627 C28.734,47.432 28.713,47.238 28.713,47.048 C28.713,45.367 29.92,43.867 31.633,43.558 C32.564,43.388 33.506,43.589 34.283,44.13 C35.066,44.674 35.588,45.482 35.758,46.417 C36.102,48.343 34.82,50.19 32.896,50.54 C32.074,50.689 31.248,50.532 30.529,50.126 L24.103,54.63 L24.103,59.005 L37.58,59.005 C41.121,59.005 43.992,56.135 43.992,52.594 L43.992,6.429 C43.992,2.888 41.121,0.017 37.58,0.017" id="vine"></path>
                                              </g>
                                          </g>
                                      </g>
                                  </g>
                              </svg><span class="social-list_txt">Comment</span>
                          </a></li>
                  <li class="hidden-xs">
                    <a class="js-sharearticle" target="_blank" href="mailto:?subject=Joel%20Osteen%20Defends%20Not%20Opening%20Lakewood%20Church%20in%20Houston%20to%20Harvey%20Victims%20on%20NBCNews.com&body=From%20NBCNews.com... %0D%0A%0D%0A%20Joel%20Osteen%20Defends%20Not%20Opening%20Lakewood%20Church%20in%20Houston%20to%20Harvey%20Victims%0D%0Ahttps://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036?cid=eml_onsite
              ">
                      <i class="fa fa-envelope-o" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="social-list_txt">Email</span>
                    </a></li>
                  <li class="hidden-xs">
                    <button class="js-sharearticle print">
                      <i class="fa fa-print" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="social-list_txt">Print</span>
                    </button>
                  </li>
                </ul>
              </div>
              <div class="article_col-main article_col-main-left article_main">
                <div class="article-body">
                      <p> Houston preacher Joel Osteen's megachurch is now welcoming Texans displaced by Hurricane Harvey following an onslaught of social media criticism for initially staying shut. </p>
                      <p> On Tuesday, Osteen tweeted that his church is providing shelter for hurricane victims. </p>
                      <p> "Victoria and I care deeply about our fellow Houstonians. Lakewood’s doors are open and we are receiving anyone who needs shelter," he wrote. </p>
                    <div class="ad-container ad-container_default ad-container_mobile ad-hide ad-container-box1">
                    <div class="ad-label ad-hide">
                    	<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31066137/media-kit/" target="_blank">advertisement</a>
                    </div>
                    <div class="ad-content ad-xs box1" data-placement="box1"></div>
                    </div>
                  
                      <div class="js-player-shell" data-playertype="Inline">
                        <div class="widget widget_video widget_trusted">
                            <div class="video-viewport">
                                <div class="intrinsic">
                                    <div class="intrinsic-wrapper ratio-16x9">
                                        <div id="video_mpx_1035266627847_19" class="js-video-placeholder vilynx_enabled" vilynx-id="https://www.nbcnews.com/video/joel-osteen-opens-up-megachurch-to-flood-victims-after-criticism-1035266627847" data-mpxid="1035266627847" style="position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%;">
                                          <button id="js-play-video1035266627847_19" class="btn_txt img-overlay img-overlay_lg img-overlay_default img-overlay_middle img-overlay_video">
                                            <i class="fa fa-play" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="screen-reader-txt">Play</span>
                                          </button>
                                          <picture>
                                            <source media="(max-width: 480px)" srcset="https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/msnbc/components/video/201708/f_osteen_170829.nbcnews-ux-360-200.jpg" />
                                            <source media="(min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/msnbc/components/video/201708/f_osteen_170829.nbcnews-ux-440-240.jpg" />
                                            <source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 999px)" srcset="https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/msnbc/components/video/201708/f_osteen_170829.nbcnews-ux-800-440.jpg" />
                                            <source media="(min-width: 1000px) and (max-width: 1229px)" srcset="https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/msnbc/components/video/201708/f_osteen_170829.nbcnews-ux-1080-600.jpg" />
                                            <source media="(min-width: 1230px)" srcset="https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/msnbc/components/video/201708/f_osteen_170829.nbcnews-ux-1240-700.jpg" />
                                            <img class="img_tease" src="https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/msnbc/components/video/201708/f_osteen_170829.nbcnews-ux-1080-600.jpg"  title="Joel Osteen Opens Megachurch to Flood Victims After Criticism">
                                          </picture>
                                        </div>
                                    </div>
                                </div>
                            </div>
                            <ul class="social-list social-list_widget social-list_horizontal">
                                <li><a class="js-sharethis" data-guid="f_Osteen_170829" data-context="inline-share-bar" target='_blank' href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Fvideo%2Fjoel-osteen-opens-up-megachurch-to-flood-victims-after-criticism-1035266627847&t=Joel%20Osteen%20Opens%20Megachurch%20to%20Flood%20Victims%20After%20Criticism">
                                <i class="fa fa-facebook" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="screen-reader-txt">Facebook</span>
                              </a></li>
                              <li><a class="js-sharethis" data-guid="f_Osteen_170829" data-context="inline-share-bar" target='_blank' href="https://twitter.com/share?text=Joel%20Osteen%20Opens%20Megachurch%20to%20Flood%20Victims%20After%20Criticism&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Fvideo%2Fjoel-osteen-opens-up-megachurch-to-flood-victims-after-criticism-1035266627847&via=nbcnews">
                                <i class="fa fa-twitter" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="screen-reader-txt">Twitter</span>
                              </a></li>
                              <li class="cursor-pointer">
                                <i class="js-toggle js-toggle-embed fa fa-code" data-togglecontrols='{"toggleClass":"is-hidden hidden-xs", "selector":".form_embed-wrapper1035266627847_19", "activeTarget":true}' aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="screen-reader-txt">Embed</span>
                              </li>
                            </ul>
                            <div data-playerid="video_mpx1035266627847_19" id="1035266627847_19" class="js-play-video img-caption img-caption_video img-caption_lg">
                              <i class="fa fa-play" aria-hidden="true"></i>
                              <strong><span id="title_video_mpx1035266627847_19">Joel Osteen Opens Megachurch to Flood Victims After Criticism</span></strong>
                                    <span>1:03</span>
                            </div>
                            <span style="font-size: smaller; color:#696969;" class="js-autoplay-toggle-on pull-right is-hidden">autoplay <i class="fa fa-check-square-o fa-1"></i></span>
                            <span style="font-size: smaller; color:#696969;" class="js-autoplay-toggle-off pull-right is-hidden">autoplay <i class="fa fa-square-o fa-1"></i></span>
                            <div class="js-video-embed form_embed-wrapper form_embed-wrapper1035266627847_19 is-hidden">
                              <form action="/">
                                <div class="form_group">
                                  <label for="embed" class="font-small">Copy this code to your website or blog</label>
                                  <textarea id="embed" name="embed" onclick="this.focus();this.select()" class="form_control form_embed" rows="4" readonly="readonly"><iframe src="https://www.nbcnews.com/widget/video-embed/1035266627847" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></textarea>
                                </div>
                              </form>
                            </div>
                        </div>
                        <script>
                            var playerInstance = {
                              videoObj : {"autoPlay":false,"associatedPlaylistUrl":"http://feed.theplatform.com/f/2E2eJC/nnd_news_desk","availabilityState":"available","canonicalUrl":"https://www.nbcnews.com/video/joel-osteen-opens-up-megachurch-to-flood-victims-after-criticism-1035266627847","captionLinks":{},"defaultAssociation":"NBC News/Storyline/Hurricane Harvey","description":"Joel Osteen, the pastor of Houston's Lakewood magachurch, tweeted that they will be helping Harvey flood victims in need of shelter. However, some say the offer comes too late.","duration":63,"durationISO":"PT1M2.663S","guid":"f_Osteen_170829","hasCaption":false,"mezzVersion":2,"mpxId":"1035266627847","nativeVideo":false,"playbackIsDisabled":false,"pubDate":"2017-08-29T19:39:02.000+0000","shortUrl":"https://www.nbcnews.com/video/joel-osteen-opens-up-megachurch-to-flood-victims-after-criticism-1035266627847","source":"NBC News","thumbnail":"https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/i/MSNBC/Components/Video/201708/f_Osteen_170829.jpg","title":"Joel Osteen Opens Megachurch to Flood Victims After Criticism","sentiment":"No Ads Other Reasons","video_playlists":[{"id":"mmlsnnd_news_desk","label":"News Desk"}],"videoType":"WebExtra","videoAssets":[{"format":"MPEG4","assetType":"OnceURL","publicUrl":"//link.theplatform.com/s/2E2eJC/AD_CXzYNfVJq","width":0,"height":0,"bitRate":0,"duration":62,"durationISO":"PT1M2S"},{"format":"MPEG4","assetType":"Limelight MP4","publicUrl":"//link.theplatform.com/s/2E2eJC/GqHnKYPNDbYU","width":424,"height":240,"bitRate":500000,"duration":63,"durationISO":"PT1M2.663S"},{"format":"MPEG4","assetType":"Limelight MP4","publicUrl":"//link.theplatform.com/s/2E2eJC/sNxdC0OSaFgi","width":640,"height":360,"bitRate":800000,"duration":63,"durationISO":"PT1M2.663S"}],"urls":{"canonical":"https://www.nbcnews.com/video/joel-osteen-opens-up-megachurch-to-flood-victims-after-criticism-1035266627847","short":"https://www.nbcnews.com/video/joel-osteen-opens-up-megachurch-to-flood-victims-after-criticism-1035266627847"},"type":"widget","widget_type":"inline-video"},
                              placeHolderID : 'video_mpx_1035266627847_19',
                              nextPlaylist : [],
                              nextVideoIndex : 0,
                              isLoaded : false
                            };
                        
                            window.NEWS = window.NEWS || { };
                            NEWS.articleHasVideo = true;
                            NEWS.videoInstances = NEWS.videoInstances || [];
                            NEWS.videoInstances.push(playerInstance);
                        </script>
                      </div>
                      <p> By the afternoon, hundreds of volunteers had arrived to collect bags packed with donations from locals. Cars lined the building's perimeter as people waited to hand in their donations. </p>
                      <p> Paul Osteen, Joel Osteen's brother, said in a Facebook live on the church's page that doctors and nurses had arrived to volunteer at Lakewood. He said the church had set up a medical center for those in need. </p>
                      <p> Pastor Joel Osteen had said in a statement late Monday that he never shut his doors to those in need and shared pictures that appeared to show the church, which seats thousands, had experienced flooding in order to back up claims the church was "inaccessible." </p>
                      <p> “We have never closed our doors. We will continue to be a distribution center for those in need,” Osteen 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.” </p>
                  
                      <div class="widget widget_tweet">
                                  <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Volunteers flock to Lakewood church in Houston with donations, which are loaded onto trucks headed to GRB convention center. <a href="https://t.co/1P1iz0tSyX">pic.twitter.com/1P1iz0tSyX</a></p>— Jacob Rascon (@Jacobnbc) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jacobnbc/status/902594938994642948">August 29, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
                      </div>
                      <p> On Saturday, Osteen wrote on Twitter that he was praying for the safety of those affected by the flooding. </p>
                      <p> “Victoria &amp; I are praying for everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey. Please join us as we pray for the safety of our Texas friends &amp; family,” Osteen wrote. </p>
                      <p> Hurricane Harvey dumped as much <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/harvey-already-landmark-event-still-going-strong-threatens-round-two-n796976" target="_blank">as 20 inches of rain on parts of Houston</a>, leading to "catastrophic and life-threatening flooding," according to the National Weather Service. </p>
                      <p> "This may end up being one of the worst flood disasters in U.S. history," the Weather Channel warned. </p>
                    <div class="ad-container ad-container_default ad-container_mobile ad-hide ad-container-box2">
                    <div class="ad-label ad-hide">
                    	<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31066137/media-kit/" target="_blank">advertisement</a>
                    </div>
                    <div class="ad-content ad-xs box2" data-placement="box2"></div>
                    </div>
                      <p> Approximately 3,000 rescues have been carried out in Texas since the storm hit and nearly 300,000 people were without power in southeastern parts of the state. </p>
                      <p> On Sunday, Lakewood Church posted on Facebook saying the facility was "inaccessible" due to "severe flooding." </p>
                      <p> But after several people posted videos on Twitter appearing to show the location relatively unscathed and unaffected by flooding, a swarm of Twitter users began questioning why Osteen’s megachurch, which has the capacity for more than 16,000 people and was once home to the NBA's Houston Rockets, hadn’t been opened as a shelter to those in need. </p>
                  
                      <div class="widget widget_tweet">
                                  <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Houston's Joel Osteen has a net worth over $50m and a church that holds 16,800 but this is all he's offering. <a href="https://t.co/rmhdWK6ZAO">pic.twitter.com/rmhdWK6ZAO</a></p>— Mark Elliott (@markmobility) <a href="https://twitter.com/markmobility/status/902241944918790144">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
                      </div>
                  
                      <div class="widget widget_tweet">
                                  <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">deeply disappointed <a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen">@joelosteen</a>. that House belongs to God + was built for people in need. you should have been the first to open your doors</p>— TRAVIS GARLAND (@TravisGarland) <a href="https://twitter.com/TravisGarland/status/902413553017036800">August 29, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
                      </div>
                      <p> “Houston's Joel Osteen has a net worth over $50m and a church that holds 16,800 but this is all he's offering,” Mark Elliott of the Economic Mobility Corporation tweeted in reference to Osteen’s tweet. </p>
                      <p> Singer Travis Garland tweeted that he was “deeply disappointed” by Osteen’s actions. </p>
                      <p> “deeply disappointed @joelosteen. that House belongs to God + was built for people in need. you should have been the first to open your doors,” Garland wrote. </p>
                  
                      <div class="widget widget_tweet">
                                  <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joel Osteen should keep his church closed... forever. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JoelOsteen?src=hash">#JoelOsteen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen">@JoelOsteen</a></p>— Brandi Gallard (@BrandiGallard) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandiGallard/status/902384216452866053">August 29, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
                      </div>
                  
                      <div class="widget widget_tweet">
                                  <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Give to the one who asks you..<br>Unless they ask you for shelter in your fancy church. Then screw 'em"<br>-Bible verse, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JoelOsteen?src=hash">#JoelOsteen</a></p>— Erik Bransteen (@erikbransteen) <a href="https://twitter.com/erikbransteen/status/902379252502454272">August 29, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
                      </div>
                    <div class="ad-container ad-container_default ad-container_mobile ad-hide ad-container-box3">
                    <div class="ad-label ad-hide">
                    	<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31066137/media-kit/" target="_blank">advertisement</a>
                    </div>
                    <div class="ad-content ad-xs box3" data-placement="box3"></div>
                    </div>
                      <p> However, Osteen shared images that appeared to show standing water inside the building’s parking garage and surrounding areas. </p>
                      <p> Osteen also reached out to his congregation, offering prayers and explaining how they could volunteer for a relief effort the church was organizing. </p>
                      <p> “Over the last couple of days, as the enormity of this storm was being realized, we have been working to organize relief efforts for the Houston area with our friend Franklin Graham and the disaster relief organization that he oversees, Samaritan’s Purse,” the release said. </p>
                </div>
              </div>
              <div class="article_meta article_share-md-gutter article_max">
                <div class="js-bottom-limit article_meta-container">
                    <div class="author_container">
                      <div class="author">
                          <div class="img_bio-container">
                            <img class="js-lazy img_bio" src="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/images/transparent-placeholder.gif" data-original="https://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2017_37/2150091/kr_437fccfd2dd297a667b8d1245fe1614b.nbcnews-fp-320-320.jpg" alt="Kalhan Rosenblatt"/>
                          </div>
                        <div class="author_name">Kalhan Rosenblatt</div>
                          <ul class="social-list social-list_author">
                              <li><a href="https://twitter.com/@KalhanR" target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-twitter" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="screen-reader-txt">Twitter</span></a></li>
                              <li><a href="mailto:Kalhan.Rosenblatt@nbcuni.com"><i class="fa fa-envelope-o" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="screen-reader-txt">Email</span></a></li>
                          </ul>
                      </div>
                    </div>
                  
                  
                  <div class="flag_article-meta">
                    <span class="article_meta-title article_meta-title-sm">
                      Topics
                    </span>
                    <a class="flag flag_article-topic" href="/news">News</a>, <a class="flag flag_article-topic" href="/pop-culture/celebrity">Celebrity</a>, <a class="flag flag_article-topic" href="/pop-culture/pop-culture-news">Pop Culture News</a>, <a class="flag flag_article-topic" href="/news/religion">Religion</a>, <a class="flag flag_article-topic" href="/news/us-news">U.S. news</a>, <a class="flag flag_article-topic" href="/news/weather">Weather</a></div>
                    <div class="timestamp_meta">
                      <span class="article_meta-title article_meta-title-sm">First Published</span> <time class="timestamp_article" datetime="2017-08-29T13:45:48.000Z">Aug 29 2017, 9:45 am ET</time>
                
                
                    </div>
                </div>
              </div>
            </div>
            <div class="row_article article-footer_container article_max">
              <div class="article-nav article_share-md-gutter">
                  <div class="article-nav_container">
                    <span class="article_meta-title"><i class="fa fa-arrow-down" aria-hidden="true"></i> Next Story</span>
                    <a id="next-story_797036" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/harvey-hit-texans-still-struggle-recovery-amid-housing-challenges-n833291">Harvey-hit Texans still struggle with recovery amid housing challenges</a>
                  </div>
              </div>
              <div class="article_col-main article_col-main-left article-footer article_share-md-gutter">
                      <div class="ad-container ad-xs ad-sm ad-md ad-lg taboolabelow ad-hide"></div>
                
              </div>
            </div>
            <div class="rail rail_article">
              <div class="ad-container ad-container_default ad-hide ad-container-boxflex">
              <div class="ad-label ad-hide">
              	<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31066137/media-kit/" target="_blank">advertisement</a>
              </div>
              <div class="ad-content ad-sm ad-md ad-lg boxflex" data-placement="boxflex"></div>
              </div>
                  <div class="ad-container ad-sm ad-md ad-lg xfinityrail ad-hide" data-iframesrc="/pages/ads/xfinity/rightrail.html">
                    <iframe class="ad-revpanel_iframe ad-revpanel_xfinity-rail" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
                  </div>
                    <div class="ad-container ad-sm ad-md ad-lg taboolarail ad-hide"></div>
              <div class="ad-break-rightrail ad-hide"></div>
              <div class="ad-container ad-container_default ad-desktoptemplate ad-hide">
              <div class="ad-label ad-hide">
              	<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31066137/media-kit/" target="_blank">advertisement</a>
              </div>
              <div class="ad-content ad-sm ad-md ad-lg" data-placement=""></div>
              </div>
                    <div class="ad-container ad-sm ad-md ad-lg perfectmarket ad-hide" data-iframesrc="/pages/ads/perfectmarket/rightrail.html?csrc=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036">
                      <div class="ad-label ad-hide">
                      	<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31066137/media-kit/" target="_blank">advertisement</a>
                      </div>
                      <iframe class="ad-revpanel_iframe ad-revpanel_perfectmarket-rail" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
                    </div>
              
            </div>
          </div>
        </div>

    <script>

      // Note: this loads inside the article body
      if (typeof articleApp !== 'undefined') { // only execute after pageload
        articleApp.hasLoadedAjaxArticle = true;
        articleApp.lastAjaxArticle = {"contentSource":"NBCNews","pageName":"nbcnews:post:joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims","page":"article","section":"pop-culture","topic":"weather","byline":"Kalhan Rosenblatt","externalId":"797036","contentType":"post","entryId":"797036","headline":"Joel Osteen Defends Not Opening Lakewood Church in Houston to Harvey Victims","summary":"Joel Osteen, who runs the 16,000-capacity Lakewood Church, has been criticized on social media for not opening his doors to Hurricane Harvey victims.","canonical_url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036","createdDate":"2017-08-29 13:45:48 Z","publishDate":"2017-08-29 19:56:00 Z","modifiedDate":"2017-08-29 20:00:41 Z","videoCount":1,"channelSection":"pop-culture","isFeature":false,"storyline":"Hurricane Harvey"}; // adds Analytics data so it can be used for analyticsDataLayerHistory
        articleApp.lastAjaxArticle.externalId = '797036'; // articleApp.lastAjaxArticle.headline = "";
        articleApp.lastAjaxArticle.canonical_url = 'https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036';
        articleApp.lastAjaxArticle.type = 'post';
        articleApp.lastAjaxArticle.sectionTopic = '/storyline/hurricane-harvey';

        // re-init value for DTM
        window.analyticsDataLayer = {"contentSource":"NBCNews","pageName":"nbcnews:post:joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims","page":"article","section":"pop-culture","topic":"weather","byline":"Kalhan Rosenblatt","externalId":"797036","contentType":"post","entryId":"797036","headline":"Joel Osteen Defends Not Opening Lakewood Church in Houston to Harvey Victims","summary":"Joel Osteen, who runs the 16,000-capacity Lakewood Church, has been criticized on social media for not opening his doors to Hurricane Harvey victims.","canonical_url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036","createdDate":"2017-08-29 13:45:48 Z","publishDate":"2017-08-29 19:56:00 Z","modifiedDate":"2017-08-29 20:00:41 Z","videoCount":1,"channelSection":"pop-culture","isFeature":false,"storyline":"Hurricane Harvey"};
        articleApp.analyticsDataLayerHistory.push(articleApp.lastAjaxArticle);
        window.analyticsDataLayer.sectionTopic = '/storyline/hurricane-harvey';

        window.videoAnalyticsDataLayer.channelSection = analyticsDataLayer.channelSection;

        $(function () {
          articleApp.articleViewBindings(true, '797036');
        });
      }
    </script>
  </article>
</div>


</main>
<footer class="site-footer" role="contentinfo">
  <div class="grid_default">
    <div class="container-gutter">
      <div class="container">
        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-xs-12">
            <ul class="nav-bar nav-bar_sm nav-bar_alt">
              <li><a href="/pages/about-nbc-news-digital">About Us</a></li>
              <li><a href="/pages/careers">Careers</a></li>
              <li><a href="/pages/contact-us">Contact</a>
              </li>
              <li>
                <a href="https://www.nbcuniversal.com/privacy/full-privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a></li>
              <li>
                <a href="/pages/terms-of-service">Terms of Service
                </a>
              </li>
              <li>
                <a href="/pages/sitemap">nbcnews.com Site Map</a>
              </li>
              <li>
                <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31066137/media-kit/">Advertise</a>
              </li>
              <li>
                <a href="https://info.evidon.com/pub_info/1195?v=1">AdChoices</a>
              </li>
              <li class="legal">&copy; 2018 NBCnews.com</li>
            </ul>
          </div>
        </div>
        <div class="row">
          <div class="col-xs-12">
            <ul class="nav-bar nav-bar_brand">
              <li class="brand-cnbc">
                <a href="https://cnbc.com/">
                  <img class="img-responsive svg-fallback js-lazy" data-original="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/images/non-rev/footer-logo-cnbc.svg" src="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/images/transparent-placeholder.gif" alt="CNBC"/>
                </a>
              </li>
              <li class="brand-msnbc">
                <a href="http://msnbc.com/">
                  <img class="img-responsive svg-fallback js-lazy" data-original="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/nbcnews-assets/footer-logo-msnbc-upper.svg" src="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/images/transparent-placeholder.gif" alt="msnbc"/>
                </a>
              </li>
              <li class="brand-nbcnews">
                <a href="https://nbcnews.com/">
                  <img class="img-responsive svg-fallback js-lazy" data-original="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/images/non-rev/footer-logo-nbcnews.svg" src="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/images/transparent-placeholder.gif" alt="NBC NEWS"/>
                </a>
              </li>
              <li class="brand-today">
                <a href="https://www.today.com/">
                  <img class="img-responsive svg-fallback js-lazy" data-original="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/nbcnews-assets/footer-logo-today-jul15.svg" src="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/images/transparent-placeholder.gif" alt="TODAY"/>
                </a>
              </li>
              <li class="brand-xfinity">
                <a href="https://xfinity.com/">
                  <img class="img-responsive svg-fallback js-lazy" data-original="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/images/non-rev/footer-logo-xfinity.svg" src="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/images/transparent-placeholder.gif" alt="xfinity"/>
                </a>
              </li>
            </ul>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</footer>

<!-- Dynamic Yield Code -->
<script type="text/javascript">
    DY = {scsec : 8765428 ,API: function(){(DY.API.actions = DY.API.actions || []).push(arguments)}};
</script>
<script async type="text/javascript" src="//cdn.dynamicyield.com/api/8765428/api_dynamic.js"></script>
<script async type="text/javascript" src="//cdn.dynamicyield.com/api/8765428/api_static.js"></script>

<script src="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/scripts/vendor/e13156bf.modernizr.js"></script>

  <script type="text/javascript">
    var screenWidth = {'small': 768, 'medium':1000, 'large':1230}
  
    var mpsapp = {
      currentBreakpoint: "",
      breakpointSizes: {'xs':'xs', 'sm':'sm', 'md':'md', 'lg':'lg'},
      init: function(){
        this.currentBreakpoint = this.getBreakpoint();
        this.isPixelmanEnabled = this.getPixelmanEnabled();
      },
      getBreakpoint: function(){
        var width = document.documentElement.clientWidth;
  
        if(width < screenWidth.small) {
          return this.breakpointSizes.xs;
        }
        else if(width >= screenWidth.small && width < screenWidth.medium) {
          return this.breakpointSizes.sm;
        }
        else if(width >= screenWidth.medium && width < screenWidth.large) {
          return this.breakpointSizes.md;
        }
        else if(width >= screenWidth.large) {
          return this.breakpointSizes.lg;
        }
        return this.breakpointSizes.lg;
      },
      isPixelmanEnabled: false,
      getPixelmanEnabled: function(){
        if (this.currentBreakpoint === this.breakpointSizes.lg || this.currentBreakpoint === this.breakpointSizes.md){
          return true;
        }
        return false;
      }
    }
    mpsapp.init();
  
    var ads = {
      site: 'nbcnews.com',
      mpscall: {
        site: 'nbcnews-web',
        path: '/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036',
        cat: 'pop-culture|celebrity',
        type: 'post',
        articleIndex: 1,
      },
      videoPlayer: {
        freewheelValue: 'nbcnews_fallbacksitesection',
        sect:'',
        topic:'',
        show:'',
        storyline:'',
        feature:''
      },
        videoData: {
          section: 'pop-culture',
          topic:'celebrity',
          show:'',
          storyline:'hurricane-harvey',
          feature:''
        },
        storylineList: 'hurricane-harvey',
        sectionList: 'pop-culture|news',
      init: function(){
  
      },
      getFreewheelSiteSection: function(){
        return ((_site && !_site.isMobile) ? 'nbcnews_allos_web_ondemand' : 'nbcnews_mobile_allos_web_ondemand');
      },
      getFreewheelSection: function(){
        if(mps && mps.pagevars){
          return mps.pagevars.freewheel_section
        }
        return 'nbcnews_fallbacksitesection';
      },
      getVideoPlayerConfig: function(){
  
        if (mps && mps.pagevars){
          this.videoPlayer.freewheelValue = mps.pagevars.freewheel_section;
  
          if(mps.pagevars.cats){
            var mpsSection = mps.pagevars.cats[0];
            this.videoPlayer.sect = mpsSection;
            this.videoPlayer.show = mpsSection;
          }
        }
  
        return this.videoPlayer;
      }
    }
    ads.init();
  
  </script>
  
  <script type="text/javascript">
    var mpsopts = {'host':'mps.nbcnews.com'};
    mpsopts.isHostStage = function(){
      if (window.location.href.indexOf('prodads=true') > -1 || window.location.host.indexOf('sys02') === 0){return false;}
      if (window.location.href.indexOf('stageads=true') > -1 || window.location.host.indexOf('sys') === 0 || window.location.host.indexOf('local.nbcnews.com:9001') === 0  || window.location.host.indexOf('nbcnews.com') === -1){return true;}
      return false;
    };
    if (mpsopts.isHostStage()) {mpsopts.host = 'stage.mps.nbcnews.com';}
    var mpscall = {};
    mpscall.site = ads.mpscall.site;
    mpscall.path = ads.mpscall.path;
    mpscall.cat = ads.mpscall.cat;
    mpscall.type = ads.mpscall.type;
    mpscall['cag[entryno]'] = ads.mpscall.articleIndex;
  
    if (ads.sectionList){
      mpscall['cag[sections]'] = ads.sectionList;
    }
  
    if(ads.storylineList){
      mpscall['cag[storylines]'] = ads.storylineList;
    }
  
    if (ads.noAds){
      mpscall['cag[noads]'] =  ads.noAds;
    }
  
    var mps = mps || {};
    document.write('<scr'+'ipt id="mps-ext-load" src="//'+mpsopts.host+'/fetch/ext/load-'+mpscall.site+'.js"></scr'+'ipt>');
  </script>

<script>
  function viewport() {
    var e = window, t = "inner";
    if (!("innerWidth"in window)) {
      t = "client";
      e = document.documentElement || document.body
    }
    return {width: e[t + "Width"], height: e[t + "Height"]}
  }
</script>
<script src="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/scripts/vendor-8bdaecde8f.bundle.min.js"></script>
<script>

    var stylesheets = [
        'https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/styles/fonts-b858ad4bb0.min.css',
        'https://netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/font-awesome/4.7.0/css/font-awesome.min.css',
        'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/weather-icons/1.2/css/weather-icons.min.css',
        'https://nvcdn.nbcnews.com/_elliott/jenga_css?widgets=zinger2'
    ];
    function onloadCSS( ss, callback ) {ss.onload = function() {ss.onload = null;if( callback ) {callback.call( ss );}};if( "isApplicationInstalled" in navigator && "onloadcssdefined" in ss ) {ss.onloadcssdefined( callback );}}

    setTimeout(function () {
        if(!getCookie('fonts_cached')){
            var fonts = loadCSS(stylesheets[0]);
            onloadCSS(fonts, function() {
                $.cookie('fonts_cached','Y', {path:'/', expires: 14});
            });
        }
        loadCSS(stylesheets[1]);
        loadCSS(stylesheets[2]);
        loadCSS(stylesheets[3]);
    }, 1);

  window.DTM = {
    routedata:{},
    routename: 'article',
    pagetype: '',
    taxonomy: 'hurricane-harvey',
    taxonomy_parent: '',
    social_share : {}
  };

  window.analyticsDataLayer = {"contentSource":"NBCNews","pageName":"nbcnews:post:joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims","page":"article","section":"pop-culture","topic":"weather","byline":"Kalhan Rosenblatt","externalId":"797036","contentType":"post","entryId":"797036","headline":"Joel Osteen Defends Not Opening Lakewood Church in Houston to Harvey Victims","summary":"Joel Osteen, who runs the 16,000-capacity Lakewood Church, has been criticized on social media for not opening his doors to Hurricane Harvey victims.","canonical_url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036","createdDate":"2017-08-29 13:45:48 Z","publishDate":"2017-08-29 19:56:00 Z","modifiedDate":"2017-08-29 20:00:41 Z","videoCount":1,"channelSection":"pop-culture","isFeature":false,"storyline":"Hurricane Harvey"};
</script>

  <script src="https://assets.adobedtm.com/cd771b0aa897f931a306d7ab6af0d448836b5fd1/satelliteLib-d7647ef38f862ffb17587d65d0a95182256c1765.js"></script>

  <script async src="https://nvcdn.nbcnews.com/_elliott/jenga?widgets=newsletter,zinger2"></script>
<script>
  $(function () {
    if (!Modernizr.svg) {
      $('.svg-fallback').attr('src', function () {
        return $(this).attr('src').replace(/\.(svg)$/i, '.png');
      });
    }
  });
</script>

<script src="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/scripts/main-4f0955b1c5.bundle.min.js"></script>


  <div id="playerframe" class="playerframe" style="position: absolute">
    <div id="js-player-loading" class="loading_container is-hidden">
      <div class="loading_indicator"></div>
    </div>
    <div id="js-control-rack-placeholder"></div>
  </div>

  <script type="text/template" id="js-control-rack">
    <% if ((isAd) || (isVideo && useDuringContent)) { %>
      <% if ((lastMouseMove + hideDelay) > (currentTime)) { %>
        <div class="controlrack_video-ad-scrubber" id="video-control-rack">
          <% if (isPlaying) { %>
            <div class="controlrack_btn-controls js-control-pause">
              <i class="fa fa-pause" aria-label="Pause"></i>
            </div>
          <% } else { %>
            <div class="controlrack_btn-controls js-control-play">
              <i class="fa fa-play" aria-label="Play"></i>
            </div>
          <% } %>
          <% if (isAd) { %>
            <div class="controlrack_ad-control">
              <div class="controlrack_center-content">
                Your video begins in <div class="controlrack_ad-time">
                  <%- timeFormat(endTime-currentTime) %>
                </div>
              </div>
            </div>
          <% } %>
          <% if (isLive) { %>
            <div class="controlrack_ad-control">
              <div class="controlrack_center-content">
                <div class="controlrack_ad-time">
                  <i class="fa fa-circle">  </i>LIVE
                </div>
              </div>
            </div>
          <% } %>
          <% if (isVideo && !isAd && !isLive) { %>
            <div class="time-control">
              <div class="time time-progress">
                <%-timeFormat(currentTime)%>
              </div>
              <div class="scrubber-wrapper">
                <div class="scrubber">
                  <div id="scrubber-status" class="scrubber-status" style="width: <%= Math.floor((currentTime * 100) / endTime) %>%">&nbsp;</div>
                </div>
              </div>
              <div class="time time-end">
                <%-timeFormat(endTime)%>
              </div>
            </div>
          <% } %>
          <% if (isVideo || isLive) { %>
            <div class="btn-right">
              <% if (isDesktop) { %>
                <% if (inMutedState) { %>
                  <div class="controlrack_btn-controls js-control-volume-off">
                    <i class="fa fa-volume-off"></i>
                  </div>
                <% } else { %>
                  <div class="controlrack_btn-controls js-control-volume-on">
                    <i class="fa fa-volume-up"></i>
                  </div>
                <% } %>
              <% } %>
                <div class="controlrack_btn-controls js-control-cc">
                    <i class="fa fa-cc"></i>
                    <% if (ccMenuOpen) { %>
                      <div class="controlrack_btn-controls js-control-ccOptions">
                        <i class="fa fa-option">Options</i>
                        <i class="fa fa-english">English</i>
                        <i class="fa fa-off">Off</i>
                      </div>
                    <% } %>
                </div>
              <% if (inFullscreenState) { %>
                <div class="controlrack_btn-controls js-control-compress">
                  <i class="fa fa-compress"></i>
                </div>
              <% } else { %>
                <div class="controlrack_btn-controls js-control-expand">
                  <i class="fa fa-expand"></i>
                </div>
              <% } %>
            </div>
          <% } %>
        </div>
      <% } %>
    <% } %>
  </script>

  <script src="https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/scripts/articleApp-d2de6d339f.bundle.min.js"></script>
 <script>
    $(function () {
      // reminder: this only loads on initial pageload
      articleApp.articleViewBindings(false, '797036');
      articleApp.sectionTopic = '/storyline/hurricane-harvey';
      articleApp.nextArticles = [{"externalId":"833291","canonical_url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/harvey-hit-texans-still-struggle-recovery-amid-housing-challenges-n833291","headline":"Harvey-hit Texans still struggle with recovery amid housing challenges","id":"ncna833291"},{"externalId":"832011","canonical_url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/houston-mayor-makes-desperate-plea-hurricane-harvey-recovery-aid-n832011","headline":"Houston mayor makes desperate plea for Hurricane Harvey recovery aid","id":"ncna832011"},{"externalId":"827571","canonical_url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/slideshow/storm-battered-teams-face-final-football-showdown-n827571","headline":"Storm-battered teams face final football showdown","id":"ncsl827571"},{"externalId":"821946","canonical_url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/white-house-requests-44-billion-additional-disaster-relief-n821946","headline":"White House requests $44 billion in additional disaster relief ","id":"ncna821946"},{"externalId":"819851","canonical_url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/two-months-after-harvey-coastal-texas-towns-still-desperate-housing-n819851","headline":"Two Months After Harvey, Coastal Texas Towns Still Desperate for Housing","id":"ncna819851"},{"externalId":"815211","canonical_url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/economists-say-farmers-lost-200-million-during-hurricane-harvey-n815211","headline":"Economists Say Farmers Lost $200 Million During Hurricane Harvey","id":"ncna815211"},{"externalId":"811896","canonical_url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/hurricane-deepens-divide-between-houston-s-haves-have-nots-n811896","headline":"Receding Waters in Houston Reveal Families' Divergent Paths to Recovery","id":"ncna811896"},{"externalId":"812996","canonical_url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/former-presidents-call-unity-hurricane-aid-concert-n812996","headline":"Former Presidents Call for Unity at Hurricane Aid Concert","id":"ncna812996"},{"externalId":"812961","canonical_url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/five-former-u-s-presidents-appearing-texas-hurricane-relief-concert-n812961","headline":"Five Former U.S. Presidents Appearing at Texas Hurricane Relief Concert","id":"ncna812961"},{"externalId":"812686","canonical_url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/houston-suburb-harvey-relief-applicants-don-t-boycott-israel-n812686","headline":"Houston Suburb to Harvey Relief Applicants: Don't Boycott Israel","id":"ncna812686"}];
      articleApp.articleContext = {"contentSource":"NBCNews","pageName":"nbcnews:post:joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims","page":"article","section":"pop-culture","topic":"weather","byline":"Kalhan Rosenblatt","externalId":"797036","contentType":"post","entryId":"797036","headline":"Joel Osteen Defends Not Opening Lakewood Church in Houston to Harvey Victims","summary":"Joel Osteen, who runs the 16,000-capacity Lakewood Church, has been criticized on social media for not opening his doors to Hurricane Harvey victims.","canonical_url":"https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/hurricane-harvey/joel-osteen-defends-not-opening-megachurch-harvey-victims-n797036","createdDate":"2017-08-29 13:45:48 Z","publishDate":"2017-08-29 19:56:00 Z","modifiedDate":"2017-08-29 20:00:41 Z","videoCount":1,"channelSection":"pop-culture","isFeature":false,"storyline":"Hurricane Harvey"};

      window.videoAnalyticsDataLayer ={};
      window.videoAnalyticsDataLayer.channelSection = analyticsDataLayer.channelSection;

      articleApp.updateArticle('797036');
    });
  </script>

  <script src="//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/nbcnews/loader.js"></script>



<script type="text/javascript">_satellite.pageBottom();</script>
  <script type="text/javascript"> 
  	if (mps && typeof(mps.writeFooter) === 'function'){
  		mps.writeFooter();
  	} 
  </script>
<script src="https://jetpack.nbcnews.com/prod/Servejetpack?bucket=jetpack-rev&bundle=jetpack-master/nbcnews"></script>
</body>
</html>
