HOUSTON -- It was 8 a.m. on a Sunday. Joel Osteen pulled up in his late father's 9-year-old car.

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Hear Osteen Talk About New Lakewood Church, Ministry Success

The young preacher was wearing a jogging suit and his 6-year-old daughter, Alexandra, was still in pajamas.

As they walked into the preacher's suite at Lakewood Church in Houston, you could hear the band warming up.

Houston television station KPRC was the first to be allowed behind the scenes as Osteen prepares for his role as spiritual leader.

"I go over my sermon. I do it on the way in my car, just kind of go over it in my mind, so I'm going to sit in here for a few minutes in my big office," Osteen said.

The most-watched preacher in America was referring to a closet as his "big office."

He does it every week.

Osteen's beloved mother, Dodie, arrived a short time later.

When Osteen emerged from his closet ready to preach, his wife of 17 years, Victoria, rushed up to meet him.

Their 9-year-old son, Jonathon, was in his pajamas carrying the family dog, Spirit. The dog goes to church, too.

Osteen then prayed with his wife and the choir leaders.

"We ask you to give us the words to speak and just let every person who comes in feel your love and presence today," he prayed.

Approximately 25,000 people attend one of Osteen's three Sunday services.

The membership is equal parts African-American, white and Hispanic.

Women play a prominent role at Lakewood.

Both Dodie Osteen and Victoria Osteen speak at each service.

Osteen's legendary father, John Osteen, started Lakewood Church 45 years ago.

In the 1980s, it was then-19-year-old Joel Osteen's idea to begin a television ministry.

His father said yes, under one condition -- that they never ask for money.

Osteen quit college to work in production for his father.

Five years ago, John Osteen was ill and asked Joel Osteen, who was still in production, to preach one Sunday for him.

First, Joel Osteen said no, and then reluctantly agreed.

"I feel like a day of miracles is not over since they got me up here," he said.

John Osteen saw the sermon, which was his son's first, and the next week he died suddenly of a heart attack.

Joel Osteen kept preaching, even though people did not know if Lakewood would survive without its founding father.

"I didn't even dream about growing or expanding or being on television or anything like that. First thing I did was cancel the television," Joel Osteen said.

That decision did not last long.

In five years under Joel Osteen, Lakewood's attendance has grown from 6,000 to 30,000, and more than 7 million U.S. households watch him every week on television.

"I don't know what it is. I just think maybe I have a different way of speaking more from the heart and making it simple. I just made a decision when my dad died that I'm just going to be myself," Joel Osteen said.

He also credits his wife. She was the first to tell him long ago that he should preach.

"I think he's real. I think he can take a complex subject and make it very understandable and practical and applicable," Victoria Osteen said.

Osteen's messages are positive. Some critics say they are too positive.

"So often people have thought of God as somebody who is going to beat them down, somebody who's mad at them, somebody who's out to get them. That is just not our message. I believe God is a God of hope and he has good things for all of us," Osteen said.

His book, "Your Best Life Now," is No. 4 on the bestseller list.

In cities like New York, Osteen was shocked when people waited four hours for him to sign their book.

"He's just a humble person. He's for real and that's why I love him," said Peggy Forrest, a New Yorker.

Last month in New York City, Osteen sold out Madison Square Garden two nights in a row -- something New Yorkers say the NBA's Knicks can't even do.

One woman from Florida asked him if he's the next Billy Graham.

"I don't know. I don't think of it like that because I think Billy Graham served his purpose. I don't think anybody is ever going to take over for Billy Graham. He was so great," Osteen said.

"That little man is so powerful. He's just a mighty man of God," said Nell Kendrick, who drives from Austin to see Osteen preach.

Members love Osteen so much, it is often difficult for him to be in public.

"It's overwhelming. People are so good, it makes you feel humbled. It makes me feel uncomfortable," he said.

The Compaq Center, the former home of the Houson Rockets, is transforming from a sports and entertainment complex to the new Lakewood International Church.

The same designers who work the Grammy Awards are building a stage with a huge jumbotron and waterfalls on each side of the choir.

The renovation will cost $85 million.

The station asked why the money isn't being used to help people.

"What I would say is, when we have this facility, we'll have a bigger base, so we can help more people," Osteen said.

So, what's next?

"This place is great and I don't say it arrogantly, but I don't know if it will be big enough in 10 or 15 years. I don't say that because of me. God is doing something great. People in America and Houston are hungry. We'll see," Osteen said.

The church hopes to have its first service in the new facility in July.

For more information on Lakewood Church and Joel Osteen, visit www.lakewood.cc.