Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, holds healing service a week after shooting

The Lakewood Church in Houston held a special Sunday service dedicated to healing and thanksgiving, one week after a woman opened fire in one of the church’s corridors. Police say the woman, 36-year-old Genesse Moreno, was shot dead by security agents after exchanging shots with two off-duty officers. The church had not held services since the February 11 shooting, which caused worshippers to seek safety.

On Sunday, Pastor Joel Osteen, his wife Victoria Osteen, and church staff who run the Spanish-language ministry sat on stage and spoke about the shooting, its effect on the Lakewood community, and the church’s recovery. Osteen said the church had been through a difficult time with “a lot of trauma.” Wiping away tears, he told the congregation, “Lakewood is strong and keeps getting stronger.” He added, “Fear is not going to win. Faith is going to win. Let’s move on.”

Church leaders thanked the security staff and others who responded during the shooting and protected parishioners. Osteen invited Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Police Chief Troy Finner to the stage and thanked them for their help after the tragedy, and attendees gave a loud ovation to officers and security personnel. Whitmire said, “After last week’s tragedy, God had a purpose in bringing us together to show how united our city is.” Officers from several police agencies, including the Houston Police Department, walked the corridors during and between Sunday services.

Church spokesman Don Iloff said that normally between 40 and 50 uniformed and civilian officers work at each religious service. He said he did not immediately know whether that number was higher on Sunday.

Police say Moreno entered the church between Sunday services with her young son and began firing an AR-style rifle. She did not reach the main sanctuary. Two people were injured, including her son, who was shot in the head and remained hospitalized. Osteen said he was praying for the child, and he described Moreno as someone who “came to do a lot of damage, but by God’s grace we are all here.” He also said, “Lord, I know she was worried in her mind.”

Congregants who attended Sunday’s services described their reasons for coming back. Jocelyn Edwards, 39, who has attended Lakewood since 2015, said it was important to be present and support the church. “This is not the end,” Edwards said. “We’re not broken. Let’s move on.” Beth Mast, 50, drove with her husband, two daughters and three sons from Crockett, Texas, a trip of about an hour and a half each way. She has been a member for four years. “We come every Sunday and the enemy will not stop us,” Mast said. “Fear will have no power over us just because of a bad incident.”

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)