Joel Osteen brings uplifting ‘Night of Hope’
It’s a family affair as Lakewood megachurch pastor takes huge TV stage with positive message
Pastor Joel Osteen is no stranger to television.
His positive and motivational sermons from one of the largest churches in the country, Lakewood, reach more than ten million Americans each week through the televised sermons Osteen delivers from his Houston megachurch.
But tonight Osteen’s audience can see him in a different setting as the pastor and his wife Victoria take viewers on “America’s Night of Hope,” a TV special airing at 9 on the Hallmark Channel that sets the spiritual couple in Detroit’s Comerica Park baseball stadium.
For the past ten years, the Osteens have traveled to venues across the country to deliver an uplifting message in “America’s Night of Hope.”
The message draws thousands of people to large scale venues like the New York Yankees stadium, the Los Angeles Staples Center and Madison Square Garden.
The Hallmark Channel will air the special for the first time on television, showing the Osteens’ stop in Detroit, which they felt was a city especially deserving of the message due to its recent economic struggles.
Osteen also has a new book coming out in October called
“Think Better, Live Better: A Victorious Life Begins in Your Mind,” which focuses on how your way of thinking can affect the outcome of your life. He recently talked to the Chronicle about the TV special and his new book.
Q: Can you tell me more about America’s Night of Hope? What will it focus on?
A: There’s so much negativity in the world. There’s a lot of things pushing people down. Our message is about lifting people up, about inspiration, about hope.
It just feels like now more than ever is a good time to spread the hope. It’s two and half hours. There’s a lot of music. Victoria shares about relationships. My mom shares about how she overcame cancer. My kids are involved in the music side. It’s inspirational. It’s real uplifting. It’s our core message that God’s good, that’s He’s for you, and that you can overcome. That you can reach your dreams.
Q: It’s airing on Sept. 11, an infamous date for Americans. Will the special have any ties to the 15th anniversary of 9/11?
A: It was moved around because of their scheduling but we all agreed that it was a great time. It just felt right because it is uplifting and inspirational. It was originally not meant for that day.
Q: Do you think our world is lacking hope?
A: I think in general, there’s negativity and you know life happens. We talk about how the difficulties can push you into your destiny. It just feels like it’s a very uplifting inspirational hour for people.
Q: How do you think television helps your ministry?
A: I think it’s been really influential in the growth of the ministry. Just being able to have that avenue to spread the message to people that wouldn’t be familiar with us otherwise. It’s a great day to go into people’s homes like that through the Internet and other ways as well. My dad was on television for many years before he died. We’ve been on (television) this last 17 years. It’s a great way to get the message out.
Q: Do you ever find ways that it hinders your ministry?
A: No, I find it helpful. At the same time, you’re making a difference, you’re out in the public, (negativity) is going to happen. We’re able to touch a lot of people and the stadiums are filled when we go places. It’s a great way to make an impact. I don’t see anything negative about it. It’s been all helpful to us.
Q: You’re a busy man, what else do you have in the works?
A: I have a new book coming out in October. That’s a big thing I’ll be working on. This (special) will probably lead to other specials with Hallmark. We want to do a Christmas special and an Easter special every year as well. This is kind of what this is leading us to. Just a new avenue and maybe not just stay in our Sunday morning broadcast time. Being in a commercial network like this is a little different kind of exposure, so we’re excited about it.
Q: Can you tell me more about your book?
A: It’s talking about deleting the negative thoughts and the negative labels that hold us back so often. It’s part of my core message that your life is going to follow your thoughts. You can’t think negative thoughts and live a positive life. It’s just good inspiration about getting your mind going in the right direction.