The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Reverend Joel Osteen

Lakewood Church
Houston, TX

Sponsor: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, (D-TX)
Date of Prayer: 04/24/2012

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it gives me a great amount of privilege today to welcome two humble
spirits in Pastor Joel Osteen and Co–Pastor Victoria Osteen, and to recognize their entire family and their delightful children, Alexandra and Jonathan. Two humble spirits.

As was reflected in his prayer , Joel Osteen has taught us to embrace God's grace and mercy, and for those who will listen, to stand in the sunlight of joy as one looks toward the hopefulness of the future.

I am delighted that Lakewood started in a feedstock store in the 18th Congressional District. The story is told that there were spiders and a lot of dust, organized by his wonderful father, John Osteen, and his mother, Dodie Osteen, two who loved each other dearly but really loved the Lord.

Out of that wonderful union came five children. And out of that wonderment, as John Osteen preached for over 40 years, as the love of his wife, Dodie Osteen, provided a comfort at his side, they built a wonderful church called the Oasis of Love.

But John was taken from us suddenly in 1999. A young man by the name of Joel was at school. But, knowing how much he loved his family, he came home, just happening, a month or so ago or a few years before, working with his father's ministry, and gave a sermon for the first time one week before his father died. Maybe it was the father telling the son that now it is your time.

As we look to the future, Pastor Joel Osteen, who has published many books, continues to be a humble spirit, is known to have the largest and most growing church in American history and, as well, continues with a humble spirit. His phrase that ‘‘Our God is a good God who desires to bless those who are obedient and faithful to him'' is one that we're reminded of. He continues to ensure that those who are in need have a sense of inspiration and hope, and he continues to preach this word around the world.

He asks for all of us, and he asks for America and the world, to become all that God created you to be, and continues to emphasize that we are better than we think. As he was the product of John and Dodie Osteen, he is now, along with his wife and along with his mother, continuing to shine a light.

We're delighted to have him today because we need a light in America. As he reaches those who are seeking light, we ask Pastor Joel Osteen, in his books, in his message, to continue to bless us. He is, in fact, someone who warmly says: America is a great country, but we're better when we work together.

Thank you, Pastor Osteen, for keeping the dream alive, that of your father and mother, of a church that was started in 1959. Thank you as well for opening the doors of your church to everyone that would come. But more importantly, every background, race, color, or creed is welcome in those pews, now some 16,000. And that was a former basketball stadium, or arena, but yet now people come and worship.

I'm delighted to host Pastor Joel Osteen and his co–pastor, his wife, Victoria Osteen, for what they are doing not only for their church and their members, but really what they're doing for harmony and the spirit of America.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

Father, we thank You that You show Your goodness and Your favor to the United States of America and to those who govern it. We ask that You bless this House of Representatives and each Member who serves in it. Help these lawmakers to search their hearts so that they may serve with dignity and honor and that through them our Nation will achieve the destiny that You have set before us. Give them wisdom as they make good decisions, courage that they will hold fast to Your truth, and compassion that all should prosper from their laws.

We receive Your presence here today. Father, we pray that these lawmakers will remain mindful of You and that they will honor You in everything they do here.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory