Joel Osteen

He had an incredible gift for ministry, very anointed, very powerful, but only a few dozen people really recognized his gift.

Most discounted him, thought, ah, that's that young pastor.

He doesn't have much to offer.

He was very poor.

He drove a car that had holes in the floorboard where it had rusted out.

You had to keep your feet up so they wouldn't touch the ground.

He was not only the pastor of the church, he was the janitor as well.

He would vacuum it, clean out the restrooms.

He knew he had more in him.

He knew he was going to make a greater impact, but he didn't slack off because he wasn't where he wanted to be.

He didn't say, when I get a bigger congregation, I'll be my best.

When I get some recognition, when these people start realizing what I have to offer, then I'll give it my all.

He was his best right where he was.

Some people in this small town tried to discourage him, told him that he would never make it as a pastor.

He was too poor, didn't have the training, the experience.

They discounted him, tried to make him feel insignificant.

But one day through a series of unusual events, part of his message ended up on television.

The owner of a Christian network saw it and said, I want that man on my network all the time.

Overnight, he went from an unknown small ministry in West Virginia to a platform reaching millions of people.

Today, our friend T.D.