Who Is Joel Osteen’s Mother?
Dodie Osteen is the mother of Joel Scott Osteen and the wife of the late John Hillery Osteen. Dodie’s son Joel Osteen is an American televangelist, theologian, speaker, and author who has attracted millions of followers with his weekly televised services and best-selling books. Dodie’s husband John Osteen was an American pastor, author, televangelist, and founding pastor of Lakewood Church.
Dodie Osteen: Bio Summary
| Name | Dodie Osteen |
| Born | October 22, 1933 |
| Age | 90 years old as of 2023 |
| Gender | Female |
| Famous as | mother of Joel Osteen |
| Birthplace | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | John Osteen |
| Children | Paul Osteen, Lisa Osteen, April Osteen Simons, Tamara Osteen, and Joel Osteen |
| Occupation | Author |
How old is Joel Osteen’s mother?
Dolores (“Dodie”) Pilgrim celebrates her birthday once every year on October 22, per her and her son‘s post on Instagram. On October 22, 2020, she indicated in an Instagram post that it was her 87th birthday, which means, she is 90 years old as of 2023. There isn’t much information about her early life and family background. She was happily married to her husband Pastor, John Hillery Osteen.
Dodie Osteen got married to John Hillery Osteen on September 17, 1954. They had five children and all their five children serve in ministry. Their children are Paul Osteen, Lisa Osteen, April Osteen Simons, Tamara Osteen, and Joel Osteen. John’s previous marriage to his first wife, Emma Jean Shaffer, produced a son. They named him Justin Osteen.
ALSO, READ; Justin Osteen: Truth About Joel Osteen’s Brother
Paul, Lisa, Tamara, Joel, and April, got involved in full-time ministry, and Justin got himself doing missionary work. Dodie Osteen and John Osteen were married for over four decades. They were married until John died on January 23, 1999, at age 77 after suffering a heart attack.
Also Read: Paul Osteen: Who Is Joel Osteen’s Brother?
Dodie Osteen Is An Author & Co-founder Of Lakewood Church
Dodie Osteen is an author who has written several books. Her books include Healed of Cancer and the daily devotional Choosing Life One Day at a Time. She has written, “Over the years people have often referred to me as Pastor John Osteen’s wife… now many refer to me as Joel Osteen’s mother. But I’m just Dodie, a lady who loves God and people; and the mother of five wonderful children who all happen to be in full time ministry.”
Dodie Osteen founded Lakewood Church with her late husband, John Osteen, on May 10, 1959. They have touched the lives of millions of people in over 100 countries. They hosted a weekly television program that could be seen in 100 countries worldwide. Lakewood Baptist Church began in “a dusty, abandoned feed store” in northeast Houston as a church for charismatic Baptists.
ALSO, READ; Lisa Osteen: Everything About Joel Osteen’s Sister
The church soon dropped “Baptist” from its name and became nondenominational. “Its origins were humble. In fact, the first meeting of Lakewood Church was held in a converted feed store on the outskirts of Houston on Mother’s Day 1959. A caring atmosphere, quality leadership, and community outreach attracted people from all ages, religious backgrounds, races, and walks of life”, their website says.
As the wife of forty-four years to Pastor John Osteen, she stood as a wife, mother, and first lady of the church. Dodie Osteen went through what was described as a ‘dramatic and miraculous healing’ from terminal cancer in 1981 and God called her into a special ministry of prayer.
Also Read: Tamara Osteen: Who Is Joel Osteen’s Sister?
Through that ministry of compassion, Dodie Osteen has touched the lives of millions of people in Houston and around the world. She stands by her son, Pastor Joel Osteen today and the rest of their family as they lead Lakewood. She has shared her life story and life experiences as contracting polio as a child, raising 5 children, battling cancer, and losing her husband.
What Happened To Joel Osteen’s Mother?
Dodie Osteen has battled cancer in her life. In the year 1981, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. At the time, she was informed that “there was no treatment that could be given to her.” The cancer almost ended her life. She was only 48 years old at the time. She prayed, believed, and quoted scriptures. She miraculously got healed and there is no medical explanation for how she is cancer free.
Dodie Osteen has shared her story as a testimony of God’s glory. “On December 10th of 1981, they did a liver biopsy and we got the news that it was metastatic cancer of the liver. A tumor the size of an orange, plus two almond shaped ones,” Dodie said. “The doctor stated, ‘There is nothing we can do. We can give her chemo, but it won’t prolong her life.’”
“Oh my. You couldn’t believe it. I said no, I can’t have cancer! I’ve prayed against it all these years, I’ve confessed the Word of God,” Dodie remembers saying. “But you know, doctors have facts. We have the report of Jesus. And I just thought, surely God will bring me through this. He’s not going to let me down.”
ALSO, READ; April Osteen Simons: Facts About Joel Osteen’s Sister
John prayed, “Jesus, I need my wife. The church needs her, the children need her, and you need her, Jesus. So I speak to this cancer. I curse it at the roots like Jesus did at the fig tree. I command you to leave her and never come back again.” According to Dodie, “My husband, the head of the house, prayed. And when I got up I just said, that’s it, I’m healed!”
“I just did everything I knew to do, and Jesus made the dream come true.” Dodie had a hard time and even hear lies playing in her head, “you’re not gonna live, you’re gonna wear that pink dress in your closet for your funeral.” She said: “I just spent most of my time replacing those bad thoughts with good thoughts and I came through. Everyday means so much to me because Jesus has let me live.”
Dodie Osteen even compiled a list of 62 healing scriptures, which became her daily dose of medication. She “read them everyday. Since they couldn’t do chemo, since they couldn’t take a lobe of my liver out, or treat me in anyway, I just decided this is going to be my medication.” She has been cancer free. She said: “No case in the world is hopeless when you have Jesus because Jesus is our hope, Jesus is our courage.”
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