Lakewood Church, led by Joel Osteen, opened its doors once again for a special healing and thanksgiving service on Sunday, a gesture of moving forward following the February 11 incident where a woman discharged a firearm inside the church premises. The Houston mega-church had been on a brief hiatus from services after the harrowing event that shook its congregation.
A sense of resilience pervaded the Sunday service, attended by faithful churchgoers determined to not let fear deter them from their worship. "Fear is not going to win. Faith is going to win. We are going to move forward," Osteen declared, according to a CBS News report. The service aimed to quickly return to a message of strength and recover from the shock that rattled its community.
The shooting event, led by 36-year-old Genesse Moreno, had resulted in her being fatally shot by security officers. Moreno had brought an AR-style rifle into the church along with her 7-year-old son who, now fighting for his life after a gunshot wound to the head, and 47-year-old church volunteer Tom George Thomas both suffered injuries amidst the chaos.
During the service, Osteen and his wife Victoria were seated on stage, extending gratitude towards the congregation and expressing appreciation for the multitude of law enforcement officers present. "What today is about is reclaiming what is ours, reclaiming the space that God has provided for all of us," Victoria Osteen noted as described by the Houston Chronicle. The presence of Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Police Chief Troy Finner, who thanked the church and the community for their unity, signified the event as a public gesture of solidarity and recovery.
Lakewood Church’s Spanish-language congregation, particularly impacted by the shooting which occurred just before their service, was reassured by Pastor Danilo Montero who praised the turnout and emphasized recovery. “Many were affected (by the shooting), and it’s going to take time and God’s grace for us to recuperate from this. But we’re here to emphasize one thing: That God has shown His fidelity once more,” Montero communicated in Spanish, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. This comforting sentiment echoed through the congregation, undeterred by the past week's violence, illustrating the community's unwavering faith.
The church's security director, Bruce Alpe, honored several church volunteers for their bravery in maintaining order during the incident, and commended the off-duty officers responsible for neutralizing the threat. These officers, identified as HPD officer Christopher Moreno (no relation to the shooter) and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agent Adrian Herrera, were given a standing ovation by attendees for their quick response. Church spokesman Don Iloff acknowledged the usual presence of 40 to 50 security personnel at services, without specifying whether this number had increased for this particular service.
As parishioners filed into the megachurch for the 2 p.m. Spanish-language service, their composure was palpable. Estuardo Juarez, a congregant for two years, maintained his resolve, as he told the Houston Chronicle, "The police acted quickly. I’m calm knowing that God is with us." His sentiments were a testament to the resolute spirit that permeated the congregation, a clear sign that life at Lakewood was steadfastly continuing on its path in the aftermath of uncertainty.
