John Osteen (1921-1999) is the father of well-known pastor and New York Times bestselling author Joel Osteen. He served as a pastor, evangelist, author, and teacher for sixty years. Osteen earned his bachelors degree from John Brown University and his masters degree from Northern Baptist Seminary; he also earned his doctorate from Oral Roberts University. He founded the Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas in 1959, and hosted the weekly John Osteen television program for sixteen years, reaching millions of viewers worldwide. He is the author of numerous books, including Becoming a Man of Unwavering Faith, Pulling Down Strongholds, The Confessions of a Baptist Preacher, A Place Called There, and others.
