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Joel Osteen, the pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, intends to proceed with services this upcoming Sunday, following last week’s incident when gunshots erupted during the Spanish-language service.
In a 91-second video shared on social media on Wednesday, Osteen addressed the members of the megachurch, urging them to return with faith rather than fear.
Reflecting on the incident, Osteen remarked, “We look back now, and we see the faithfulness of God, how he protected and watched over us.”
He also announced plans to honor the two off-duty officers who intervened and prevented a potentially more tragic outcome.
“We’ll take time to honor some of the heroes that put their life on the line to keep us safe,” Osteen expressed. “But I know it’s going to be a great time, a great time of healing and encouragement.”
The incident resulted in the lone fatality of Genessee Moreno, who engaged in gunfire with off-duty Houston police and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officers. Moreno’s 7-year-old son sustained critical injuries, while another individual was shot in the leg and survived.
Lakewood Church, one of the largest congregations in the United States, typically hosts around 45,000 attendees per week.
According to the Lakewood website, in-person services are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sunday.
The online service planned for the Wednesday evening following the incident was canceled.
Osteen’s message to the members was transcribed as follows:
“Hello, Lakewood family.
We want to tell you how much we love you, how much we’ve been praying for you.
Yes, it’s been a difficult week, something we would have never dreamed with.
We look back now, and we see the faithfulness of God, how he protected and watched over us.
This Sunday, we’re going to have special services – time of healing and restoration, time of praise and thanksgiving – thanking God for his angels watching over us for his faithfulness.
Where would we be without the goodness and the mercy of God?
So we hope that you and your family will come out.
Forces would like for us to shrink back, live in fear, afraid of what would happen at the school, the grocery store, or even at church.
But we are not people of fear. We are people of faith.
God has us in the palm of his hand.
This is not the time to shrink back. This is the time to turn to God, to rally together.
Really, we are stronger together.
I’ve had friends call me from all over the country, saying, ‘Joel, we’re coming in this Sunday just to be with you, to support you.’
So I hope you’ll be there, draw strength from each other.
We’ll take time to honor some of the heroes that put their life on the line to keep us safe.
But I know it’s going to be a great time, a great time of healing and encouragement.
Also, be challenged as well about living in faith and not fear.
But we are looking forward to seeing you and your family.
Know that we love you very much.”