After criticism, Lakewood Church transformed into a shelter

Lakewood Church, which is giving shelter and necessities to the disaster victims is criticized online, CNN reported. The church staff mentioned its service for the suffered people on Twitter. Earlier, the church had been blamed for not opening up its doors for those who were in need after Hurricane Harvey.

The church responded its accusations

On Tuesday, Joel Osteen, the televangelist pastor whose father founded the 606,000-square-foot Lakewood Church, tweeted that "Lakewood's doors are open and we are receiving anyone who needs shelter."

Hundreds of people were delivered to the church by bus in the hours after the announcement, as church spokesman Don Iloff reported.

Nevertheless, earlier he said that "This is crazy," noting that "The church has been open from the beginning, but it’s not designated as a shelter.”

The church is big enough to invite more than 16,000 people there, according to ABC News. On Monday, the church announced on social media that it was "inaccessible due to severe flooding" caused by Hurricane Harvey and even shared photos of the flooded areas.

Having suffered from storms in previous years, the church decided not to shelter people because of the safety reasons in the danger of flooding. Responding to the angry comments online, the church said "We have never closed our doors. We will continue to be a distribution center for those in need."

Greg Locke, a pastor from the Global Vision Bible Church, tweeted: “Joel Osteen, as a Pastor you have a huge obligation to show the love of Christ at this very moment.

OPEN THE DOORS.”

Lakewood Church was transformed into the shelter

Houston relief centers and local officials are still receiving calls for help and shelter from suffered Texans. Hundreds of thousands of residents are unable to return home and many of them are seeking shelter.

On Tuesday evening, the church was transformed into a huge shelter.

It received many residents, who came to the building by buses. Hundreds of volunteers organized all the necessities for the evacuated people. Air mattresses, a medical area with volunteer doctors and nurses, ready for help, blankets, food, water, diapers, clothes, and other supplies were prepared.

The church staff made a shelter on the second floor, not to take a risk to leave someone on the ground floor because of flooding danger. Because of the disaster, the evacuated victims will remain in the church for a long time.