Lakewood to Buy Arena

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Details: Written by Marcus Yoars

Lakewood Church is poised to buy the former Compaq Center, which it has been leasing from the city of Houston, for $7.5 million. The city is hoping to close a lingering budget shortfall with the real estate deal, and the church is looking to hold on to a property it has invested nearly $80 million into renovating.

Lakewood, the largest church in the country, has been leasing the arena since 2001, when it signed a 30-year lease under the name of Joel Osteen, its pastor. Since then, the church has turned the former home of the Houston Rockets into a full blown sanctuary, including laying down a concrete floor where the basketball court once was and installing a state-of-the-art stage and multimedia setup.

Donald Iloff, spokesman for Lakewood, said the church wanted to “be its own landlord.” [chron.com, 3/22/10]

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Related Terms: arena , compaq center , donald iloff , houston , joel osteen , lakewood church , purchase , sanctuary

Comments

0 #5 BethW 2010-04-06 07:24

It only makes sense that if Lakewood owns the building they will be able to use more $$ to reach people in the long run...rather than renting.

I think that their TV program is an evangelism tool.

Don't get to watch it all the time, but I was disappointed that an opporutnity to accept Jesus wasn't given at the end of the program....Joel's Dad, John always did that. I think each of us could learn from Billy Graham and the 30 second salvation plan sound bite he gave several times during every TV interview I ever saw!

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0 #4 Peggy Hansford 2010-03-23 23:29

I am blessed to know that this church is doing what they should be. Reaching the lost. Every person going to the church was touched by Jesus somehow. THey are worshiping Jesus, and Praying for you! I believe they are a great bridge to Jesus. Remember, we ARE the church.... they are uniting in Jesus. It's not about the building. I pray it covers the whole world. Talk about under God! One World under GOD! In Jesus Name! All glory and honor to God!
Peg :lol:

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+2 #3 Rick Murgittroyd 2010-03-23 08:30

I think its easy to think how WE would do something because we only understand we what we see. God sees things without restriction. Lakewood has done awesome things with their ministries, but since they are so large, they have also become a target of criticism.

God told the Hebrew people to sacrafice thousands of animals to Him to stay in fellowship. Do you suppose anyone told God that he was wasting good meat and He should do it differently? We should always be careful what we critisize and always look at the fruits.

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+2 #2 Byoung 2010-03-23 08:16

The reason Lakewood church has grown and prospered is because of their focus on evangelism and missions. Joel's father, John, had a missions budget of over $1,000,000 per month. Check up on Lakewood and you will find they are reaching the lost around the world through missions.
Bill Young

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0 #1 Trend 2010-03-23 05:43

As I read the article above, I truly wonder how much better such a large sum of money could be used for evangelism. I have nothing against big churches, they will of course grow when one evangelizes, but this place looks nothing better than a Sunday Club for comfort! There are millions out there that do not know Jesus and I have heard that this church does not have a regular evangelism programme.

What do YOU think?

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