Joel Osteen is i of the nigh famous and influential televangelists in the world today. Osteen wasn't e'er the confident pastor that we know today. He preferred to work backside the scenes for a long time before his male parent persuaded him to preach for the get-go time in January 1999. Sadly, Osteen's father died half dozen days after Joel's first sermon.

Osteen took eye stage after that traumatic upshot, and since and then the attendance at Lakewood Church has grown rapidly. In addition, millions of viewers from around the world tune in to watch his sermons. More often than non, Joel Osteen'south wife and Lakewood Church co-pastor, Victoria Osteen, is always by his side.

Victoria is an accomplished pastor herself, and part of Lakewood Church'southward rise as a megachurch has been due to her attempt and guidance. This slice will expect at Victoria and Chris' marriage, the couple's children, her career equally an author, and a lawsuit Victoria faced in 2008.

Victoria met Joel while working at her mother's jewelry store

Victoria Osteen and Joel Osteen

Victoria Osteen is a Houston native who has always, in i manner or another, been involved in the church. Her mom was a Sunday school instructor while her dad was a deacon. Victoria enjoyed working and learning in the ministry, but she wasn't heavily involved in it. She enrolled in the University of Houston to study Psychology and worked in her mom's jewelry shop.

Joel and Victoria met at her mom's jewelry shop later he went in to buy a watch bombardment. The couple started dating shortly after their showtime coming together, and got married two years later on on 4th April 1987. The couple worked with Victoria's dad for a while equally he travelled effectually the globe to spread the ministry.

Victoria and Joel have been married for more than than iii decades, and their human relationship is even so strong. She talked to Get Up! Mornings about her union to Joel:

"When we got married, we weren't pastors. We were just 2 young people… We have grown together and learned together, and actually learned how to love people together. It'south a beautiful identify to be, something I didn't expect when I got married… It'south been not bad. I'm notwithstanding crazy about my husband after xxx years, I respect him, I honor him. I think that is what it takes."

Victoria's two kids Jonathan and Alexandra are involved in the ministry

Victoria, Jonathan, Alexandra and Joel Osteen

Victoria and Joel were blessed with Jonathan and Alexandra in the 1990s. The couple tried equally much as possible to involve their kids in the ministry, and it paid off since Jonathan and Alexandra are included in their church. The children's involvement in the church building has led to a tighter family unit of measurement. Victoria continued:

"We carve out time for each other… We are with our children, nosotros always travel together with our children on what nosotros telephone call our Nights of Hope, whenever we are doing ministry exterior. We are all together as a family which nosotros simply have the luxury of doing… That's really kept our family strong. It's permit our children be a part of what nosotros are doing… They've got that seed, that foundation of the ministry building…"

Jonathan appears to be more interested in having a leading office in the church building. He has a degree in screenwriting, and he attempted to have a career in Hollywood, merely he came back to Lakewood to serve in the church building. Victoria talked to Click2Houston about Jonathan's decision:

"He came back and he said, 'I actually feel similar I'thou supposed to be here at the church, working in the ministry, trying to do what I tin practise to help, you know, this message get out further… That's beauty to a mom's ears, and and so to see him take it a stride further and write songs, write messages, be in the creative squad, service flow, just so many things that he is involved in and has opinions about…"

She is considered to be one of the best Christian authors

Victoria Osteen

Joel Osteen has written vii number-one New York Times Bestselling books. Victoria tin't friction match up to her husband's efforts, but she is quite the accomplished author. Her commencement book,Love Your Life: Living Happy, Healthy and Whole, was released in October 2008, and information technology debuted at number two on the New York Times Bestseller's listing.

Publishers Simon & Schuster made 750,000 copies of the volume making it one of the largest book productions by a US publisher that year. Victoria went on to writer children'southward books, and books touching on her successful union to Joel. She released her latest book, Infrequent You! in 2019. She talked about her volume in an interview with Click2Houston:

"I chose exceptional because exceptional is really meliorate than skillful. Exceptional stands out, and I think every person is and so unique, just like our fingerprint. It's and then unique that nosotros take to sympathize that we are all on a journey. Nosotros are on unlike paths, but our destination is victory."

She was accused of assaulting an air hostess in 2008

Victoria Osteen

In 2008, Victoria Osteen stood trial for allegedly abusing a flying attendant every bit the Osteen family boarded a flying to Vail, Colorado, from Houston. Her accuser, Sharon Dark-brown, claimed that Victoria shoved her and elbowed her in the breast. She further claimed that she suffered from depression and post-trauma stress as a result of the assail.

Sharon sued for an amends and ten per cent of Victoria's net worth. Jurors handed downwards a verdict of not guilty after but two hours of deliberation. Victoria was elated after the trial, and she said:

"I'one thousand glad information technology'southward over. It's the truth, and the truth always stands house."

The lawsuit had a scrap of controversy later on one of the witnesses, Barbara Shedden, changed their story in back up of Victoria. According to Sharon Brown'due south attorney, Barbara's testimony changed the event of the trial. Sharon Brownish's attorney, Reginald McKamie, said:

"That was non good. All nosotros tin say is it was a dissimilar story when we talked to her. She changed her story."

Joel and Victoria face constant divorce rumors

Joel and Victoria take stayed together for over 30 years. Despite proving that they take a stiff union, they constantly face up divorce rumors.

The famous couple aren't breaking up. They follow strict rules that forbid them from falling into temptation. For example, Joel doesn't fraternize with women unless witnesses are present.

Victoria also tries to await skillful for Joel. "Wives, don't look expert for everybody else," Joel told Piers Morgan. "Await expert for your husband too." Victoria stepped in to clarify Joel's statement:

"Don't habiliment that same old bathrobe you've been wearing for the final 10 years. That's what he meant. We all needed to be reminded, you know, that, 'Hey, you know what? We practice need to have that extra time.'"