Seven years ago, Joel Osteen was running the cameras at his father's Houston church. Then his father died of a heart attack. Osteen, who didn't finish college and never attended seminary, took over as pastor.

Megaselling pastor Joel Osteen has signed to do his next book with Free Press. Breaking records with his Warner Faith-published Your Best Life Now, which has sold more than 4 million copies to date, Osteen has signed a one book deal with the S&S imprint for what RBL has now learned is $13 million. The deal gives S&S audio and U.K. rights and was orchestrated by Free Press editorial director Dominick V. Anfuso and Jan Miller of Dupree, Miller & Associates. A fall 2007 pub date has been set.

FBI agent says the pastor's wife didn't follow a flight attendant's instructions

HOUSTON — The wife of the pastor of the nation's largest church was asked to leave a plane after she failed to comply with a flight attendant's instructions, the FBI said Tuesday.

While some argue his words lack substance, Joel Osteen's preaching still moves millions

Joel Osteen is one pastor unlikely to dwell on Jesus' warning about the difficulties the rich face getting into heaven.

WASHINGTON--They flocked to see him. From Maryland, Virginia, even Pennsylvania they came to see their favorite minister. Joel Osteen, the pastor of Houston-based Lakewood Church, is on tour.

HOUSTON - America's largest church celebrated its move into the former arena for the Houston Rockets with a capacity crowd of 16,000, an upbeat sermon from its televangelist pastor and a spirited welcome from the governor of Texas.

HOUSTON, July 17 - Where the Beers of the World kiosk once dispensed suds to rowdy N.B.A. fans, volunteers were handing out church literature on Sunday. And where Patricia Davis, 38, once saw ZZ Top in concert, she now plans to worship.

Televangelist Joel Osteen offers sermons with a smile, and viewers respond.

Everyone knows the hottest ticket in Chicago for the month of May is U2's four-night stand at the United Center.

HOUSTON -- The pastor once startled his own mother by exhorting the women in his congregation to shop at Victoria's Secret to improve their marriages. Last weekend, his glamorous musical director led four services in a hot pink coat and black spiky boots, stomping around the stage and singing the praises of Jesus in rousing, original rock sounds.

With an upbeat message and media savvy, the Texan rises to stardom.