Joel Osteen Lakewood Church Shooting: On Sunday, February 11, 2024, A woman who walked into a popular Texas megachurch Sunday afternoon with a long gun and a young child. She opened fire on the congregation before she was killed by law enforcement officers on scene. The gunfire left the child in critical condition and another man injured, officials said
Following this tragic and devastating shooting event, the lead pastor, Joel Osteen has come through with a statement on the unimaginable event and prays for peace and God’s healing hands upon all affected.
In his statement, Pastor Joel Osteen expressed deep sorrow. He offered condolences to the victims and their families affected by the tragic incident. Pastor Osteen emphasized the importance of coming together as a community to support one another during this challenging time.
Expressing concern over the shooting incidence, Pastor Joel of Lakewood Church took to instagram to write :
Our community is devastated by today’s events and grateful for the swift actions of law enforcement. May the healing hands of God touch the lives of everyone involved and provide comfort during this difficult time.
In the face of such darkness, we must hold onto our faith and remember evil will not prevail. God will guide us through the darkest of times. Together, we will rise above this tragedy and stand firm in our commitment to love and support one another.
In times like these, our faith is tested, but it is also strengthened. We don’t always understand why things like this happen, but we know that God is in control.
Please join me in continued prayer for healing and peace.
Christian Leaders React to the Shooting at Lakewood Church Houston Texas.
Following the tragic shooting at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, Christian leaders from various denominations and theological backgrounds have expressed their condolences, prayers, and diverse perspectives on the event.
According to the Houston Police Department, A woman believed to be in her 30s entered Lakewood Church on Friday afternoon wearing a trench coat and carrying a backpack. She opened fire before being stopped by police. A young boy she was with and a 57-year-old man were injured, while the woman died at the scene. The boy remains in critical condition
Following news of the shooting, pastors across the country took to social media to lift Lakewood Church in prayer.
Israeli-born American-Canadian televangelist Benny Hinn took Instagram to urge his followers to pray for Lakewood Church.
“Wonderful partners, I’m sure you heard about the shooting this afternoon at Joel Osteen’s church. I am asking you all as God’s people to pray for Pastor Joel, his family, as well as the members of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas,” Hinn wrote. “Pray that the Lord will protect His people, that God will fill them with His wonderful peace, and that He will bring healing to the injured.”
Tauren Well founder of the Church of Whitestone and former staff at Lakwood church wrote on social media. “Carrying my Lakewood family in my heart tonight. I’m grateful to hear of the preparation of security teams and swift action of law enforcement. May God be close and his people filled with defiant courage to keep showing up!”
California Pastor and author David Jeremiah, who leads Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, wrote on social media, “We are praying for all those affected by the tragic shooting at Lakewood Church. Our hearts go out to all the families impacted in the Houston community.”
Aventer Gray who co-pastors Relentless Church in Greenville with her husband John Gray wrote on Instagram, “Please everyone wherever you are right now to pray for our @lakewoodchurch family! Please, ” she wrote. “Our places of worship should be safe. People of God deserve to worship safely and some think security is unnecessary…Jesus help us,” she added.
Evangelist and bestselling author, Diga Hernandez wrote: ” I’m asking you to please keep our Lakewood Church family in prayer – comfort and peace for all affected, complete healing for the precious 5-year-old boy who was injured, and strength for Pastor Joel Osteen and the entire team.”
Summary of the Lakewood Church shooting according to Cbsnews.com
The shooter who opened fire at celebrity pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston before being killed by security officers had two rifles at the Texas megachurch but only used one, police said Monday. The shooter was identified as 36-year-old Genesse Ivonne Moreno, who had a history of mental health issues, including being placed under emergency detention in 2016, police said during a news conference.
A 7-year-old boy who was critically injured in the shooting with a gunshot wound to the head was identified as the shooter’s son, authorities said. He had been described as a 5-year-old on Sunday. Officials said it wasn’t clear who fired the shot that hit the child.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said the boy was “fighting for his life.” “What we need to do for him is pray,” Finner told reporters.
A motive for the attack that sent worshippers rushing for safety in between busy services on Sunday remains unclear, officials said. The shooter used an AR-style rifle in the shooting that was purchased legally in December, Houston Police Commander Christopher Hassig told reporters.
“There was a sticker on the buttstock of the rifle that stated ‘Palestine,'” Hassig said. He also said investigators believe the shooter acted alone, wasn’t part of a larger group, and has used multiple aliases.
Hassig said the shooter also had a .22-caliber rifle in a bag that wasn’t used in the shooting.
Police recovered antisemitic writings in their investigation and believe there was a dispute between the shooter’s ex-husband and the ex-husband’s family, some of whom are Jewish, Hassig said.
CBS Houston affiliate KHOU-TV cites court documents as saying Morena once attended Lakewood, as did her mother, and church staff may have been questioned about Morena during contentious divorce proceedings in 2022.
A 57-year-old man was also wounded in the shooting and has been released, Finner said.
The shooter arrived at the church in a vehicle, pulled the boy out of it, and confronted an unarmed security guard before entering the building, Hassig said.
The shooter entered a hallway inside the building in a trenchcoat and started to fire before an off-duty Houston police officer and a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agent working church security fired back, police said.
“Multiple shots are exchanged by all three,” Hassig said.
The shooter didn’t make it inside the church’s sanctuary, he said.
A livestream from the church captured the moment gunshots could be heard just ahead of a Spanish-language service.
The shooter threatened having an explosive, but the bomb squad didn’t find anything, police said.
“It could’ve been a lot worse,” Osteen told reporters during a news conference after the shooting.
An affidavit seeking a search warrant for a home in Conroe, about 40 miles north of Houston requested FBI assistance in retrieving any data from electronic devices found in the home.
Source: Joel Osteen Instagram and cbsnew.com