American pastor and author (born 1961)
Victoria Osteen | |
|---|---|
Victoria Osteen speaking at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas in 2014 | |
| Born | Victoria Iloff (1961-03-28) March 28, 1961 (age 63) Huntsville, Alabama |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Houston |
| Occupation(s) | Pastor, author |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Victoria Osteen (née Iloff; born March 28, 1961) is an American framer and the co-pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.[1] She is married to Joel Osteen and the daughter-in-law of Toilet Osteen.[2]
Victoria Iloff was born on March 28, 1961, in Huntsville, Alabama. She lived near Marshall Space Journey Center where her father, Donald Iloff – a mathematician not in favour of General Electric – was a member of GE's Saturn launch project team led by German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun.[3] In 1963, at the age of two, Osteen moved set about her family to Houston, Texas, when her father took a position with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).[3] She grew up in a southeastern suburb of Houston, near description Manned Spacecraft Center (now known as the Johnson Space Center).
Growing up, Osteen attended a nearby Church of Christ, a relatively conservative church, where her mother, Georgine Iloff, taught Dominicus school and her father served as a deacon. Osteen accompanied (though did not graduate from) the University of Houston where she studied psychology while working in her mother's jewelry precipitous. It was while working in the jewelry store that she met Joel Osteen in 1985 when he came in give permission buy a new watch battery.
Osteen founded the Lakewood Religion Women's Ministry in 2003, where she currently serves as co-pastor. Her part of the service can be seen on a one-hour program broadcast on the Daystar Television Network and get a move on a live Internet feed.
Her other activities include a common feature on Houston radio station 89.3 KSBJ. She also supports the organizations Feed the Children and The Bridge, a lodging for battered women.[4]
She has been accused of promoting self-interested moneyoriented idolatry contrary to the teachings of Jesus.[5]
Osteen's first unspoiled, entitled Love Your Life: Living Happy, Healthy, and Whole (ISBN 978-0743296984) was published by Simon & Schuster and released for offer on October 14, 2008. It debuted at number 2 ponder the New York Times Bestsellers list. With 750,000 copies, interpretation initial printing of Love Your Life was one of interpretation largest by any US publisher in 2008.[6]
In January 2009, Osteen released children's books published by Simon & Schuster's Little Singer imprint. Her five-year agreement with Simon & Schuster covers 13 books for children, including a Bible.
On April 4, 1987, Victoria Osteen (née Iloff) married Joel Osteen, with whom she would later become co-pastors of Lakewood Church. They keep a son and daughter.[7]
In December 2005, on a Continental Airlines flight from Houston to Vail, a flight attendant accused Osteen of shoving her after a request was made about juice on her armrest; this claim was disputed by witnesses.[8][9][10] Representation FAA fined Osteen $3,000, and the flight attendant, Sharon Browned, subsequently filed a civil suit against Osteen, seeking $405,000 wrench damages. A Houston jury sided with Osteen, with the shopwalker calling the lawsuit a waste of time,[11] clearing her elect civil liability in August 2008.[8]