The Guardian

A Houston megachurch shut out flood victims. A Twitter storm opened it | Jamie Peck

Joel Osteen’s church holds 16,000 people, but instead of opening his doors he tweeted out good thoughts. Then he was told: that’s not what Jesus would do
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 03: Joel Osteen participates in 'Joel Osteen Live' featuring Joel and Victoria Osteen with special guests Fr. Ed Leahy, A. J. Calloway and Matt and Laurie Crouch at SiriusXM Studios on October 3, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

This past weekend, as the rising flood waters of Tropical Storm Harvey forced thousands of Texans from their homes, Houston megachurch pastor Joel Osteen sprang into action. He looked at the images of the needy flashing across his TV screen, prayed to God for an answer, and … opened up Twitter.

“Victoria & I are praying for everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey,” wrote the millionaire self-help book author and televangelist on Saturday. “Please join us as we pray. Meanwhile, people of far lesser means than the Osteens were in improvised aquatic vehicles.

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