In 1999, [Joel Osteen] took over as senior pastor of the nondenominational Lakewood Church in Houston after the death of his preacher father. Since then, the congregation has exploded, with Osteen's weekend services attracting some 40,000 people. Services are held in the former Compaq Center arena, where the Houston Rockets basketball team used to play.

Osteen and his pretty, blonde wife, Victoria, sold out the TD Banknorth Garden last night with their two-hour worship service, which fetched $10 a ticket. The couple's visit came a month after controversial faith healer Benny Hinn came to the Hub.

Ole Anthony of the Dallas-based Trinity Foundation, an organization that exposes phony TV preachers, said there's never been any indication of fraud with Osteen, but said Osteen doesn't have any theological education.