Best selling author and evangelist Joel Olsteen presides over America's largest church, the Lakewood Church, in Houston, TX. The Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) reports that Lakewood recently became the first church in the United States to average more than 30,000 worshipers weekly, and estimates that over seven million tune-in weekly to listen to Osteen's message.
The church recently moved to the Houston Compaq Center, which has a seating capacity of 16,000. The facility was filled to capacity on July 19 during the grand opening, broadcast by TBN.
According to TBN, Osteen asked his congregation, "How do you like our new home?" The crowd responded with a thunderous roar of applause. An elated Osteen replied, "It looks pretty good doesn't it? This is a dream come true."
Governor Rick Perry of Texas was struck by the church's new look, according to TBN. "This is nothing short of amazing," said Perry during a brief welcoming address to the congregation and other VIPs in attendance. "It is so great to look across this crowd and see the wonderful diversity of this great state we call Texas. As lawmakers we do a lot of things, but only the church can teach people to love."
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