Hecklers from a controversial, fundamentalist sect interrupted a service Sunday at the nation’s largest Protestant church on Sunday, leading to six arrests and raising fears in the congregation of an outbreak of violence after the mass shooting earlier this month in South Carolina.
While the cause of the disruption wasn’t clear, the fear it caused in the congregation at Houston’s Lakewood Church was undeniable.
Anwar Richardson, who was there visiting with his family from Austin, described the events.
“The praise and worship was good. His wife had just delivered a quick message. And the moment he started to preach, somebody gets up and they yell ‘Joel Osteen you’re a liar,'” Richardson said, according to local ABC affiliate KTRK Channel 13 Eyewitness News.
Osteen is the congregation’s senior pastor.
Richardson took to social media to describe what went on. He even managed to shoot some video.
Sitting in Joel Olsteen’s church and it has been interrupted FOUR times by people against him. This is crazy! pic.twitter.com/WMP3j8TUeL
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) June 28, 2015
Crazy scene. Sixth person ejected from Lakewood Church by police and security pic.twitter.com/SwGTcH66Qs
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) June 28, 2015
This is how Joel Osteen tried to calm the congregation after today’s outburst at Lakewood Church pic.twitter.com/sY9XtTp6sC
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) June 28, 2015
With the mass shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., still fresh in everyone’s memories, people began leaving nervously.
“After the sixth time that it occurred, my son was sleeping in my lap, and I looked at my wife and she was nervous and we just decided we have to get out of here,” Richardson told KTRK.
He tweeted:
People are leaving Lakewood Church early because of this craziness. I’m one of them! pic.twitter.com/Z0XUBFPMnc
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) June 28, 2015
@Alejandro_1215 Six people interrupted before I left. They were calling him a liar but couldn’t tell what their agenda was. Left anyway
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) June 28, 2015
@YvonneSalinas South Carolina church shooting fresh on everybody’s mind
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) June 28, 2015
“He (Osteen) kept on going. He kept his composure. He really got the message out and he said, ‘no weapon formed against me shall prosper,'” another churchgoer told the station. “So kudos to him for delivering a good service.”
Scary scene at Lakewood Church as the sixth heckler is ejected from service. #JoelOsteen handled it so well. pic.twitter.com/JvHPt9EAFP
— Hannah Swiggard (@PaperCityHannah) June 28, 2015
It turned out there was a warning that a disturbance at the church was being planned.
Houston Police say the individuals arrested @lakewoodch were warned to not enter the church today. They entered & were arrested.#khou11
— The Bishop (@BillBishopKHOU) June 28, 2015
And Osteen received kudos for keeping his his composure.
I respect @JoelOsteen for keeping his head up high and for having the courage to continue with the sermon. Thank you ? #lakewoodchurch
— Steph Conn (@stephhie_cooon) June 28, 2015
The station reported that all six hecklers were from The Church of Wells, a small, controversial congregation based in Wells, Texas, that has a history of conflicts with the law and local government.
They were charged with criminal trespass.
H/T: Twitchy
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