The Lighthouse Church leader, Henderson, expressed his gratitude to Lakewood for accommodating his congregation following the $20 million damage caused by Hurricane Beryl to his campuses. The church officials announced on Tuesday that the Lighthouse Church, which had to cancel services at three of its four campuses in Houston after Hurricane Beryl caused an estimated $20 million in damages this month, will now host its gatherings at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church through August.
Pastor Keion Henderson, the charismatic 43-year-old leader of the non-denominational Lighthouse Church, reportedly called Osteen recently to inquire about the possibility of his congregation temporarily holding services at one of the biggest and most powerful megachurches in the country. When asked about the agreement, Donald Iloff, the lead spokesman for Lakewood and brother-in-law of Osteen, made it clear that Lighthouse “is not renting” the space and that Henderson will only “help with costs that incur” including those pertaining to media production and security.
“Joel and Keion know one another,” Iloff continued. “Joel respects the young man.” Lighthouse, which has approximately 20,000 active members in Houston, is anticipated to host services at Osteen’s sanctuary, the former Houston Rockets’ arena near Greenway Plaza.
Brian Smith, spokesman for Lighthouse, confirmed the temporary relocation plans Tuesday and said the congregations were still arranging service specifics. Henderson is set to address his congregation during a “State of the Church: Post Beryl” event at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Since their wedding in 2022, Henderson and his wife Shaunie—who is also the star of the VH1 reality show Basketball Wives and the ex-wife of NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal—have amassed a sizable social media following. Together, they have surpassed the kind of reach that married pastors Joel and Victoria Osteen have long enjoyed. Pastor T.D. Jakes of the Potter’s House in Dallas, who has preached at Lakewood Church in the past, also serves as a mentor to Henderson.
