On 28 July 2017, the Christian satire web site Babylon Bee published an article appearing to claim that Elevation Church Pastor Steven Furtnick made a professional athletics-style deal to move to Lakewood Church alongside Joel Osteen:
CHARLOTTE, NC—In a stunning move that is making waves throughout evangelicalism, Pastor Steven Furtick has announced he has come to an agreement with Lakewood Church to preach alongside Joel Osteen, forming the core of a “superstar preaching team.”
The contract is worth $110 million over the next six years, Lakewood confirmed, making it the largest the preaching world has ever seen.
Donning a Lakewood Church hat and suit, an emotional Furtick broke the news in a two-hour televised special on TBN Thursday night, dubbed “The Decision.”
“I’m going to take my talents to Houston and join Joel’s legendary squad,” Furtick said as hundreds of cameras flashed around Elevation Church’s press conference room. “I wish Elevation the best of luck in the seasons to come, and hope they can find someone as ripped and godly as me.”
The Babylon Bee is a satire site whose humor is intended for Christian readers with a footer that clearly reads:
The Babylon Bee is Your Trusted Source For Christian News Satire.
