Joel Osteen’s megachurch mocked during

**Joel Osteen’s Megachurch Mocked During Hurricane Beryl – Years After It Was Closed During a Previous Storm**

Joel Osteen’s Houston megachurch has once again come under fire on social media for its response to a hurricane. This time, the criticism follows Hurricane Beryl, as users recalled the church’s controversial actions during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Back then, Osteen was accused of not opening the doors of his 16,800-capacity church to shelter those affected by the storm.

Recently, drone footage revealed submerged roads in Houston as Hurricane Beryl passed through Texas. In response, the megachurch leader faced a barrage of criticism on social media, with many users highlighting the church’s slow response during Hurricane Harvey. Osteen’s Lakewood Church, a former Houston Rockets arena, can hold nearly 17,000 people, making it a potential safe haven for many during such storms.

In a tweet sent at 11:30 PM on Sunday, Lakewood Church stated, “We are praying for everyone on the Gulf Coast. Lakewood is working with the Office of Emergency Management, and are standing by to help those impacted by the storm. Please stay safe!” The Category 1 hurricane made landfall hours later, early Monday.

Memes flooded social media, mocking Osteen’s response to Hurricane Beryl and referencing his church’s 2017 actions. One meme depicted large double doors secured with numerous locks, captioned, “Joel Osteen when he hears another hurricane is about to hit Houston.” Another showed Piglet from Winnie the Pooh hastily boarding up windows, with the caption, “Joel Osteen once Hurricane Beryl hits Houston.”

In 2017, Osteen initially offered “prayers” as Houston faced extreme flooding. He defended his actions by stating the church was “inaccessible” due to flooding, adding, “We have never closed our doors. We will continue to be a distribution center for those in need.”

After Beryl moved beyond Houston on Monday afternoon, Lakewood Church posted, “Local authorities are asking people to stay off the roads today. Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday 8:00 AM, Lakewood will serve as a cooling and water distribution center, and safe haven for anyone in need.” This cooling shelter will be crucial for over 2 million Houston residents who lost power and air conditioning, with temperatures expected to soar into the 90s.

As Texans begin to clean up after Hurricane Beryl, now downgraded to a tropical depression and moving north, the response of Osteen’s megachurch remains a topic of discussion. The Independent has reached out to Lakewood Church for comment.