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Televangelist Joel Osteen draws thousands in Phoenix

The leader of America's largest church bring his "night of hope" to Talking Stick Resort Arena

PHOENIX — Nearly 1,200 miles from Lakewood Church in Houston, Joel Osteen draws a crowd. The televangelist minister brought his signature sermon on the road for a packed arena in Phoenix as part of his "Night of Hope."

"Letting go of the old, getting ready for the new things and believing that 2019 will be an awesome year," Osteen said about his message before taking the stage.

Osteen is the beneficiary of a new platform to preach. With nearly 9 million Twitter followers and more people watching on TV, it's an era where he can send his message globally with the push of a button. 

"It's an amazing day to be alive," Osteen says. "Every day we can reach people around the world, you can almost have your own station now."

The minister is worth an estimated $50 million, making nearly all of it from appearances, book sales, and donations to the church, though he doesn't ask for money in his sermon. 

Osteen's message is rooted in faith, but it centers more on uplifting people's spirit rather than religion. The idea is something many people in his non-denominational church latch on to for support.

"Our message is to treat people with kindness, to make somebody else's day to be a blessing, and you don't have to agree with somebody to respect them," Osteen says.

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