Pastor Joel Osteen will turn the new Yankee Stadium into a church next month.
On April 25, Osteen brings his ministry to New York, preaching to thousands from the Bronx Bombers infield.
Pastor Joel, who usually preaches to 40,000 people at his mega-church in Houston and 7 million more on TV, will host the first non-baseball event at the new stadium.
"It's very humbling," Osteen said. "I've only been doing this for 10 years and it's hard to believe it's happening."
Osteen preaches the prosperity gospel. His sermons are filled with positivity and inspiration. He regularly tells followers he is too blessed to be stressed.
"If God raised Jesus from the dead he can surely turn around any negative aspect in my life," said Osteen during one Sunday sermon. "Nothing in life happens to me, it happens for me."
During a one-on-one interview, I asked Osteen where God has been during this period of bailouts and Bernie Madoff.
"Unfortunately, those bad things happen because of people's choices," Osteen said. "But I still believe God is still in control and he can turn a negative into a positive."
And of the unemployment and failing economy, Osteen said, "I believe our life will follow our thoughts. If you get up thinking this will be a lousy year you are preparing the way for more defeat. I get up each day and encourage people something good is going to happen."
That overflow of optimism has made him a millionaire and turned his Lakewood Church into the biggest in the country. His books are best-sellers and Nielsen Media Research calls him the most watched inspirational figure in America.
"Somebody told me the other day, 'You're helping to make God a good God again and I believe God is good,'" Osteen said.
Not all Christians follow the gospel according to Joel. Critics say it's too simple and that the Bible is more about sin and redemption than health and wealth.
"My goal would always be to get people to get into a good church where they grow," Osteen said. "To get around other believers so they can be discipled. I'm just trying to plant a seed of hope in people's hearts."
