“I received Jesus as my “I have been attending Lakewood since the age of 8, 1984. I remember the first feeling and moment when we Savior in December of 1979 Lakewood continues to “My husband and I not only got born stepped into Lakewood Church. As I entered, a greeter Joel and Victoria become the Mother’s Day 1959 2000. I was 19, severely expand to keep up with 1999 again, we were also married at Lakewood depressed and did not the congregation and shook my hands with a lovely smile and said “Welcome pastors of Lakewood in 2004. After being told by my doctor to Lakewood, God bless you.” From that moment on, I Lakewood Baptist Church want to live. I had no hope. now seats 5000 that I could not conceive, we teamed up knew Lakewood was my Church.” –Lisa Rios-Harrist has its first service at Smiley I would cry every day, and with prayer partners and prayed for a my poor mom did not child. We now have a 3-year-old son!” High School auditorium “I was saved at Lakewood Church in 1992. I was know how to help me. As 1988 –Rossana Ishee I was scanning through a drunken, foul-mouthed woman. I hated God 8,200 seat sanctuary opened TV, I saw Pastor Joel. I was and everything assocatied with Him. Both John free; the heavy chains were and Dodie prayed for me. Now I’m proud to call lifted off of me.” Joel and Victoria my pastors.” –Linda Navejar 2005 –Andrea Potts-Gardner 1961 Lakewood moves into the 1981 Compaq Center, former home of Pastor John Osteen “My father, Felipe Soto, gave his life to the Lord Jesus in November the Houston Rockets called to missions Dodie is 1980. The Lord has changed his in the Philippines, life tremendously. Through my miraculously Marvin Crow father’s salvation, I gave my life to healed of pastors Lakewood the Lord in 1980 at Lakewood and cancer Church was baptized by Pastor Osteen.” “I was going though a difficult time when one –Eva Soto Sunday morning I woke up, turned on the TV and saw Joel for the first time. I jumped “When I was 20 and living in Houston, a roomate invited me to Lakewood and I went – in my car not knowing why, but drove the 34 and my life was forever changed! I totally committed myself to serving God, received the miles to Lakewood that morning. It was the baptism in the Holy Spirit and started on a mission to get all my family saved! That was beginning of a new life.” –Nate Vaughn back in 1980, and I’ve served God fully since then.” –Susie Collins

Pastor Osteen returns from missions 2002 The first Night of Hope event 1969 2004 to resume pastoring Lakewood is held in Atlanta, followed by Lakewood Madison Square Garden begins a “My son was born with a birth defect. After weekly “I was saved in July 2007 at Lakewood years of despair, I cried out to Jesus and visited Spanish Church. I spent my entire life as a non- Lakewood. My son and I were born again service that believer due to the corrupt, dishonest, together. A month later, he went to school healed! now has raggedy lives of my grandfather and Thank God–he is faithful!” –Alia Benavides Lakewood launches the over 7000 other family members...I am trying to 1994 change the legacy of my family through ambitious “7 Years of in weekly my grandsons.” –Mary Appling Harvest” program for attendance. Needing more space, international missions 1972 Lakewood builds a 700 1959 “I was going through 2009 seat center adjacent to a rough divorce in Lakewood moves to its the feed store New York City. During A Night of Hope: 1st Celebration of Faith first permanent home, an that year I saw the is held in the new Yankee Stadium abandoned feed store Minute Maid Easter service on TV. When I Joel leaves Oral Roberts was in Houston for a “I learned to surrender my all and give complete 1982 control of my life to God at Lakewood just last University to begin wedding, Pastor Joel year in 2008. Almost one year later, I am happier, Lakewood’s television ministry prayed with me, and I more fulfilled, and have had more career success in 1999 know God healed my “I stood and rededicated in May 2007. Though the past year than I had in the previous four years wounded heart. I went my husband and I are still in a separation, the Lord combined! I can truly say that I am living the life Joel back to NYC and began supernaturally stopped a divorce. We still move toward God purposed for me, and I wouldn’t have it any preaches making plans to move reconciliation by His grace, and I am confident that He to Houston.” other way.” –Shate’ L. Edwards his first who began a good work in us will see it through. Lakewood –Jeremy Jones is a big part of the plan he has for us.” –Amy Edgerly sermon