BREAKING NEWS: Joel Osteen Shares His Mother Dodie’s Private Words From Her Hospital Bed
Just 50 minutes ago in Houston, Texas, Pastor Joel Osteen stepped before a small gathering of church members and local media with a visibly heavy heart. Fighting back tears, the leader of Lakewood Church revealed deeply personal words spoken to him by his 90-year-old mother, Dodie Osteen, from her hospital bed — words that he said he will carry for the rest of his life.
The update came after several days of concern among the congregation, as Dodie, a beloved figure in the Houston faith community, was admitted to the hospital earlier this week. Known for her decades of ministry alongside her late husband, John Osteen, and her steadfast presence at Lakewood services, Dodie has long been regarded as the quiet matriarch of the church.
Standing at the front of the room, Joel Osteen spoke slowly, his voice wavering.
“I sat by her bed this morning,” he began, “and she looked at me with that same kindness she’s had my whole life. She took my hand and said, ‘Joel, no matter what happens, tell them I love them. Tell them to keep trusting God.’”
Those gathered in the room fell silent. Some wept openly, others bowed their heads. For many, these were not just words from a mother to a son — they were the closing lines of a lifetime of ministry and encouragement.
Dodie Osteen has faced serious health challenges before. In 1981, she was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer and given only weeks to live. Defying all odds, she recovered and went on to live more than four decades beyond that grim prognosis, crediting her faith and prayer as the source of her healing. Her survival story became a cornerstone of inspiration for many in the Lakewood congregation and beyond.
“She’s always been the strongest person I know,” Joel said, pausing to steady his voice. “She’s faced storms most people never see — and every time, she’s come through with faith and a smile. Even now, she’s thinking about others, not herself.”
Family members, including Victoria Osteen, have been by Dodie’s side throughout her hospitalization. Hospital staff describe her as calm, gracious, and always asking about the well-being of the nurses and doctors caring for her.
While Joel Osteen did not provide specific details about her current condition, he asked the public for continued prayers.
“We believe in miracles,” he told the crowd. “And we know God is with her, whether here or in heaven.”
The moment was deeply personal, yet it resonated with everyone present — a reminder that behind the pulpit and the global broadcasts, the Osteen family is bound by the same joys and sorrows that touch every family.
As the gathering ended, a small group of Lakewood members began softly singing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” their voices rising in unison as a prayer for Dodie. Outside, the summer heat pressed down on Houston, but inside the room, there was a sense of peace — the kind that comes when faith holds steady, even in uncertain hours.
For now, Joel Osteen carries his mother’s words forward, offering them to a world that needs them as much as he does: “Keep trusting God.”