Attendance at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, appears to be declining after a video emerged from a Sunday service showing the sanctuary filled to less than 25% capacity. Led by pastors Joel and Victoria Osteen, the massive 600,000-square-foot, 16,800-seat facility operates out of the former Compaq Center with an annual budget of nearly $90 million, employing 388 staff members and spending approximately $1.7 million weekly on operations. The church hosts four weekly in-person services, including three on Sundays—English services at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and a Spanish service at 2:00 p.m.—alongside a Wednesday evening service at 7:30 p.m.
Although a typical “summer slump” causes church attendance to drop by 20% between June and August, the current empty seats are striking and contrast sharply with YouTube broadcasts that use angled cameras and dim lighting to make the room appear full. In a 2024 survey, Lakewood reported a weekly attendance of 45,000 people, a claim that seems difficult to believe given that it would require both English services to reach maximum capacity, the Spanish service to draw 10,000 attendees, and the Wednesday service to attract another 3,000.
Critics, including the author and organizations like Got Questions, point out that Joel Osteen’s message departs significantly from the traditional Christian Gospel found in scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 15:1-5. Rather than preaching about sin, repentance, or Christ’s atonement, Osteen’s message functions more like an inspirational life-coach strategy, promoting self-esteem, health, wealth, and a life free from negativity. While he frequently mentions God, it is typically in a vague, impersonal manner focused primarily on personal benefits rather than orthodox theology or biblical doctrine. By omitting discussions of sin and judgment, Osteen’s teaching reframes salvation as a self-improvement plan rather than a divine rescue from sin.
