Joel Osteen says, ‘People come from all over the world to have my mother pray for them’
A version of this story appeared in the Higher Ground newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive Higher Ground delivered directly to your inbox each Sunday.
Dodie Osteen, a co-founder of the Houston megachurch now led by her son Joel Osteen, turns 90 on Sunday — a milestone her doctors had told her she would not see.
Physicians gave her a diagnosis of metastatic liver cancer in December 1981 and estimated she had only weeks to live. She and her husband, John Osteen, rejected the diagnosis and turned to prayer.
The pages opened to the Book of Nahum in the Old Testament, and their eyes fell on 1:9, which reads in part, “affliction shall not rise up the second time.”
Her husband uttered a prayer, she said. “I remember so, so well. He said, ‘Father, I need her, Jesus, you need her, the children need her, and the church needs her.’”
The prayers continued. As she walked around her home or down the driveway to collect the mail, she would offer a prayer of thanks for her healing. She copied Bible verses about healing and affixed them to the mirror, and posted photos of herself in good health and being active.
A version of this story appeared in the Higher Ground newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive Higher Ground delivered directly to your inbox each Sunday.
Dodie Osteen, a co-founder of the Houston megachurch now led by her son Joel Osteen, turns 90 on Sunday — a milestone her doctors had told her she would not see.
Physicians gave her a diagnosis of metastatic liver cancer in December 1981 and estimated she had only weeks to live. She and her husband, John Osteen, rejected the diagnosis and turned to prayer.
The next day, the couple lay at the foot of their bed and “there just happened to be a Bible there,” Mrs. Osteen told The Washington Times.
The pages opened to the Book of Nahum in the Old Testament, and their eyes fell on 1:9, which reads in part, “affliction shall not rise up the second time.”
Her husband uttered a prayer, she said. “I remember so, so well. He said, ‘Father, I need her, Jesus, you need her, the children need her, and the church needs her.’”
The prayers continued. As she walked around her home or down the driveway to collect the mail, she would offer a prayer of thanks for her healing. She copied Bible verses about healing and affixed them to the mirror, and posted photos of herself in good health and being active.
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