Internationally-acclaimed evangelists Joel and Victoria Osteen are coming to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center next month. The husband-wife team will bring “A Night of Hope” on Friday, Oct. 16, with a 2:30 p.m. matinee and evening appearances.
The Osteens are the pastors of what many consider America’s largest church and one of the most diverse: the 52,000-member Lakewood Church in Houston. Joel has been listed as one of the most influential people on Twitter in The New York Times. The Osteens’ ministry reaches one of the largest audiences in the U.S. and across the globe. Millions of people worldwide are inspired through his weekly television broadcasts, New York Times bestselling books, worship events, popular weekly podcast and, now, Joel Osteen Radio on SiriusXM channel 128.
Joel Osteen’s appeal is universal to audiences that are diverse racially, politically and socioeconomically. His ability to speak directly to individuals and to connect personally with them is virtually unmatched today. And he bears a simple message: that God cares deeply for each person and empowering each to overcome hardships and succeed in purpose.
Osteen’s seven books, Your Best Life Now, Become a Better You, It’s Your Time, Every Day A Friday, I Declare, Break Out!, and You Can You Will have all been number-one national bestsellers. Your Best Life Now was on The Times’ Bestsellers List for more than 100 weeks and, along with spin-off products, has sold more than 10 million units in the U.S. to date.
Following the October 1999 death of his father and Lakewood Church’s founder, John Osteen, Joel became the Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church. Under his leadership, Lakewood’s weekly attendance grew tenfold, from an average of 5,000 to over 50,000. Thus, Lakewood became the largest church in the U.S. according to Forbes, Outreach magazine and Church Growth Today.
On July 15, 2005, Lakewood held the first of seven weekly worship services in the new 16,000-seat auditorium at the Compaq Center, which Lakewood Church had acquired and renovated.
As co-pastor, Joel’s wife Victoria is an integral part of each service at Lakewood and Joel’s worship events across the U.S. and abroad. As a wife and mother of two children, Victoria is committed to helping women, children and families discover their purpose and reach their highest potential in Christ. Her desire to meet the needs of women led her to found the Women’s Ministry at Lakewood Church to strengthen and develop the lives of married, single and professional women. She also founded the Victoria Osteen Child Literacy Program to get books into the hands of children and help break the cycle of illiteracy in the home. Victoria supports The Bridge (a battered women’s shelter in Houston), and the Greater Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce honored Victoria Osteen with a Community Impact Award in 2006.
Their Oct. 16 visit will offer two services; at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 1 p.m. for the matinee and at 6 p.m. for the evening service. Each service will be ticketed separately. Arena tickets are $15 (plus venue fees and taxes) and are available at the venue box office, Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com.
