Social media erupts after televangelist Joel Osteen closes his Houston megachurch after Hurricane Harvey hits.
Osteen’s megachurch, Lakewood Church, is a spacious 16,800-seat arena located near downtown Houston. However, the megachurch was closed during and immediately after Hurricane Harvey, leaving many perplexed as to why the church was not reaching out to help shelter those in need during the crisis.

A statement on the Lakewood Church website reads:

Due to the weather impact of Hurricane Harvey and concern for the safety of our members, all Lakewood Church worship services for this weekend, Saturday, August 26th and Sunday, August 27th have been cancelled.

While the church is closed to those who might need shelter from the storm, Osteen, who leads Lakewood Church in Houston with his wife Victoria, did manage to tweet out a prayer to the victims:

However, many used Twitter to express their displeasure with Osteen’s lackluster response to the natural disaster that is devastating his community:

          Are you going to donate some of your millions of dollars? That would help more than prayer.
          --I’m Corey Voss? (@HolaYoSoyFiesta) August 26, 2017

 

          Why isn’t Joel Osteen mega church in Houston Texas is not open to the public in need of shelter, food and

          protection?
          — Mr. Weeks (@MrDane1982) August 27, 2017

 

          Joel Osteen has a HUGE church in Houston that would make a great shelter. pic.twitter.com/byqHxXrHQn
          — Brasilmagic (@Brasilmagic) August 28, 2017

 

          So what say you ‘ people of the great state of Texas, about Con-man preacher Joel Osteen. Not opening the                 doors of mega church to flood victims.
          — Adelino Camara (@ADIC33) August 28, 2017

 

          Is Joel osteen gonna open up the mega church and his mega mansion to Houston or nah?
          — Michelada Master (@YonDon_SBK) August 27, 2017

          Hey Joel, don’t you have the biggest and richest church? Why don’t you open up the doors and the wallet in the           name of Jesus for the people!
          — Mozez713 (@Mozez713) August 28, 2017

 

Bottom line: When the going gets tough, prosperity gospel televangelist Joel Osteen closes his doors and disappears. But don’t worry, after the water recedes and some sense of normalcy returns, Osteen will be back, and he will once again be asking the faithful to send him money.