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TechnoratiCP: On another note, a Barna report came out saying that most Americans and Christians as well don't actually know who high-profile Christian leaders such as yourself are. Does that surprise you?
Osteen: I don’t really think about it that much. I just continue trying to do what God’s called us to do. It seems like everywhere I go, people stop me and talk to me. I would like to think we’re making a difference, but it’s really not about us being known, it’s about making God known. I hope none of us are in it for ego or power.
CP: You were voted one of the most fascinating by Barbara Walters and you’ve already accomplished a lot this past year. What are your goals for 2007? What can we look forward to this year from you and your ministry?
Osteen: I think the main thing, I just want to continue to grow and be open to what God wants to do. I got my book coming out in the fall and love to use the media in new ways to reach more people. It’s all happened so fast. I’ve just been doing this for eight years. I guess my main goal is just to continue to reach people the best we can, hopefully help impact their lives and just change culture for better.
CP: You just mentioned that you’re thinking of trying out new ways in reaching out. I’m curious if you have plans to reach out more on a more international scale? Maybe pursue satellite churches or something along the lines of what Rick Warren is doing around the world with his Purpose-Driven model.
Osteen: Well, we definitely do. I don’t think they’re formalized as much as like Rick’s and in his P.E.A.C.E. Plan. But I feel like our strong, our gifting is through the media so we really look at opportunities to put our broadcast and our message all over the world. So that’s probably our biggest thrust right now and [see] what other markets are open. We’re looking strongly at the Philippines and South Africa. We already air in Australia and Europe. We’re going to increase some of those. It’s a smaller world with the media. We’re definitely looking at that. Plus, we’re going to continue to increase our support in India. My father started that years ago and I’ve been there with Victoria many times. We support orphans and native pastors over there. That’s kind of where the large part of our international thrust is.
Plus, we’re translating our weekly broadcast into different languages now. One goes out through Spanish and we’re looking at several other languages.
CP: Have you heard of satellite churches?
Osteen: We definitely have. You know at this point it’s not something I really feel like I’m supposed to be doing. We have a lot of people ask us all the time. I don’t know. Even in our city, my friends, a lot of them have four or five campuses. You know God’s given us that big new facility and it’s pretty centrally located. I feel like that’s right for us now. There may be a day where typically you can do stuff in cities all over the world. I know people right now watch us over the Internet over in China and other places, they watch us live and it’s 12-14 hours difference, but they still watch us live. I don’t feel as strongly about that as I do with the mass media and the broadcast side.
CP: With the new Compaq Center, you had acknowledged that the church had cut back on its charitable giving. You said this is a season for establishing the church and building its base. Could you elaborate on the “base” you mentioned? Continue »
