‘Houston needs you’: Social media rains scorn on Joel Osteen for closing megachurch after hurricane
Celebrity pastor Joel Osteen is drawing intense criticism online for keeping his megachurch closed during Hurricane Harvey and instead offering social media promises of prayers.
The “prosperity gospel” minister preaches at a 16,800-seat arena at Lakewood Church near downtown Houston, which has suffered severe flooding after the hurricane made landfall and then parked over the city.
(UPDATE: Prosperity Gospel preacher Joel Osteen to open megachurch to Hurricane Harvey refugees after public shaming)
Osteen offered prayers in a Saturday afternoon tweet, but his critics asked for more.
You can find ways to help the survivors of Hurricane Harvey here.
Victoria & I are praying for everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey. Please join us as we pray for the safety of our Texas friends & family.
— Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) August 26, 2017
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
Put your money where your mouth is. Houston has been unfathomably good to you. Time to pay it back. Literally
— Amandaisarunner (@amandaisarunner) August 28, 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
Osteen’s church canceled services Sunday, saying the building was inaccessible due to flooding, and directed worshipers to a variety of relief services.
The pastor and his wife live in a $10.5 million mansion in the River Oaks neighborhood, where residents and their dogs were rescued from the rising waters, although it’s not clear whether Osteen’s home suffered any damage.
A photo posted early Sunday morning showed heavy flooding about a block away from Lakewood Church, but Osteen’s critics urged him to open the doors to nearby flood victims.
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
@JoelOsteen Why aren’t you helping the people in Houston? I’m sure you received enough money from them to build that monstrosity of yours.
— Rose Justice (@RMBJustice) August 28, 2017
@JoelOsteen Dude, open up your church, and open up your home. Come on, man…..
— Jacob Detamore (@kipsbigboy) August 28, 2017
1. Now the people need shelter: anyone seen Joel Osteen and his Lakewood Church stepping up? He’s right in Houston
— jan dodge (@tenajd) August 28, 2017
“God’s got this, so you don’t need my massive church to provide shelter. Just keep praying and I’m sure you’ll be fine. I’ll be in the tub.”
— Winston Smith (@ghostofnero) August 28, 2017
Lots of Houston residents want to know why @JoelOsteen hasn’t opened his 16,000 seat megachurch in Houston to help people. pic.twitter.com/AI21GRMvzb
— TRUMP 24/7 (@MichaelDelauzon) August 28, 2017
Don’t you have a massive church that could be used as a shelter?
— (((Byron Henry))) (@SonOfPug) August 28, 2017
@JoelOsteen if you were a real Christian, you’d be opening your doors to your displaced neighbors.
— FAB24 (@Francesabolton) August 28, 2017
Why haven’t you opened your massive church there in Houston to shelter #Harvey flood victims? a real Christian would do that
— Nancy G (@Nancylyn1) August 28, 2017
Come on man. The bible is very clear that we have to try to help each other. You have more than enough personal resources to help. Do it.
— Narcoleptic Flamingo (@ccuspis) August 28, 2017
@JoelOsteen why aren’t you opening ur doors? Houston needs you. Practice what you preach
— sylvia flores (@sylflo) August 28, 2017
How are you guys helping the storm victims in Texas right now?
— Ken Reid (@KennethWReid) August 28, 2017
Open your church as a shelter. Provide food and clothing. Please
— Rhonda Harbison (@rhonda_harbison) August 28, 2017
So you’re out of the state while your “flock” drowns. Jesus wept.
— Olivemama (@Olivemama5) August 28, 2017
Joel Osteen has a HUGE church in Houston that would make a great shelter. pic.twitter.com/byqHxXrHQn
— Brasilmagic (@Brasilmagic) August 28, 2017
me: God doesn’t punish or reward people on earth based on their behavior
news: Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church might be flooded
me: pic.twitter.com/EIq5nhOZS8— Jennifer C. Martin (@notreallyjcm) August 28, 2017
Breaking Banner
Morning Joe’s Mika: Thousands are dying of COVID-19 because Trump is ‘surrounded by inexperienced suck-ups’
MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski got right to the point on Tuesday morning by saying people are getting sick and dying in the U.S. because Donald Trump is surrounded by a collection of "suck-ups" who won't tell him the brutal truth about what is happening in the country.
As part of a "Morning Joe" panel discussion on the failings of the Trump administration to head off of the COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the country -- despite ample warnings it was on the way -- Brzezinski, as well as co-host Willie Geist, levied some hard accusations against the president and his team.
Breaking Banner
MSNBC’s Morning Joe and Mika reveal why Trump likely ignored startlingly accurate COVID-19 memos
MSNBC's Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski rebuked President Donald Trump for apparently ignoring startlingly accurate warnings from trade adviser Peter Navarro about the coronavirus pandemic.
Navarro's memos were circulated at the highest levels of government in January and February, but the president downplayed the virus until early March, when statewide lockdowns started wrecking the U.S. economy.
"In one worst-case scenario cited in the memo, Navarro warned that more than half a million Americans could die, and, yet, weeks after that, you had Donald Trump at rallies saying that in April when it warms up, this will miraculously go away," Scarborough said. "Put this in context with, I suppose you could say with 9/11, the memos warning of al-Qaeda attacks using airplanes, maybe missed signals FDR didn't pick up on before Pearl Harbor. I really don't know, though, what parallel there can be, because so many more people are going to die because of these missed signals."
Breaking Banner
‘One failure after another’: MSNBC’s Morning Joe busts tragic COVID-19 mistakes Trump keeps trying to deny
MSNBC's Joe Scarborough lamented the repeated failures and missed opportunities by President Donald Trump as he faced the coronavirus outbreak.
The "Morning Joe" host criticized the president for claiming it was not the federal government's job to test Americans for the virus, and instead shifted responsibility to the states and their governors.
"This is a perfect 'the buck stops here' contrast with Donald Trump, saying, 'I am not responsible,'" Scarborough said. "What we can talk about is ventilators, the national Defense Production Act. We could talk about all the ways that Donald Trump keeps trying to pass the buck, keeps trying to say, 'I'm not responsible.'"
The coronavirus will soon wreak havoc in Trump country — here’s why
Brace yourself: This might be Trump’s dirty and cynical plan for Dr. Anthony Fauci
LISTEN: Sailors yell profanities at Trump’s acting Navy secretary while he trashes fired captain
VIDEO: Wild scene unfolds as shoppers tackle and restrain man who coughed on supermarket produce
Military vets say Trump’s acting Navy secretary ‘spit on their service’ with attack on fired captain
Morning Joe’s Mika: Thousands are dying of COVID-19 because Trump is ‘surrounded by inexperienced suck-ups’
MSNBC’s Morning Joe and Mika reveal why Trump likely ignored startlingly accurate COVID-19 memos
Prince Harry and Meghan to start non-profit in US
‘One failure after another’: MSNBC’s Morning Joe busts tragic COVID-19 mistakes Trump keeps trying to deny
Watch: Dr. Fauci says ‘pre-coronavirus’ America may never return – at least not until there’s a vaccine
Morning Joe’s Mika: Thousands are dying of COVID-19 because Trump is ‘surrounded by inexperienced suck-ups’
MSNBC’s Morning Joe and Mika reveal why Trump likely ignored startlingly accurate COVID-19 memos
‘One failure after another’: MSNBC’s Morning Joe busts tragic COVID-19 mistakes Trump keeps trying to deny
Trump admits he hasn’t read Capt. Brett Crozier’s letter — but is angry about it anyway
