[3] Joel Osteen is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church with his wife, Victoria, who serves as co-pastor.

John and Dodie created and hosted Lakewood's weekly television program, which could be seen in one hundred countries worldwide.

[9] Attendance increased to thirty thousand  weekly, prompting a move from its location at 7317 East Houston Road[10][11] to a larger facility.

[3] In late 2003, the church signed a long-term lease with the city of Houston to acquire the Compaq Center, a 29-year-old former sports arena.

[18] In November 2018, CBS News listed Lakewood Church as the largest megachurch in the United States with about 43,500 weekly visitors.

[19] On December 3, 2021, national news services reported that a plumber found cash and checks within a wall behind a toilet that was being repaired.

[20] On February 11, 2024, a woman with a history of mental health issues, Genesse Ivonne Moreno, accompanied by her 7-year-old son, entered the church between services and began firing an AR-15.

[24] Lakewood offers different types of ministries, fellowships, and services depending on the age, marital status, and need of its members.

[31] The church has been active during natural disasters by organizing food distribution programs and blood donation drives during COVID 19,[32] providing shelter services during Hurricane Ida and 2021 Texas Freeze,[33][34] and serving as a distribution center for essential supplies during Hurricane Harvey.

[35] Osteen's sermons and writings are noted for promoting prosperity theology, a belief that material gain is a reward for pious Christians.

[38] In an interview with The Christian Post on April 21, 2013, Osteen expressed his sentiments on being perceived as being part of the prosperity gospel.

[41] During the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Osteen received significant criticism in response to not making Lakewood Church, a 606,000-square-foot (56,300 m2), 16,000 seat, former basketball arena, available as an emergency shelter for those displaced by the storm.

"[47][48] However the area was not under flood warning and photos and videos posted on social media appeared to counter the church's claim.

[53][54] It stated Lakewood has provided "assistance to more than 1,150 Houston-area families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by floodwaters" and bought "1.1 million dollars in building materials, furniture, appliances, and paid labor, as well as through the contribution of more than 2,500 volunteers".

[55] The unconfirmed but oft mentioned reason for Lakewood not initially opening doors to hurricane survivors was the former basketball arena’s carpet had been recently replaced.