Notable Christian Leaders Who Died in 2025

John MacArthur Charlie Kirk Kay Arthur Voddie Baucham
(L-R) John MacArthur preaching at Grace Community Church on July 11, 2024. Screengrab via YouTube / Grace to You; Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Kay Arthur screengrab via Instagram / kay.arthur; Voddie Baucham speaking at New Saint Andrews College. Screengrab via YouTube / New Saint Andrews College

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Dolores ‘Dodie’ Osteen

On Wednesday, July 30, Joel Osteen shared that his mother and cofounder of Lakewood Church in Houston, Dolores “Dodie” Osteen, died at the age of 91.

Dodie founded Lakewood Church alongside her husband, John, on Mother’s Day, May 10, 1959. With her husband, Dodie created and hosted the church’s weekly television program, which was broadcast to millions of people around the world. She is also the author of “Healed of Cancer.”

Dodie and John’s son, Joel, took over the pastorate in October 1999, following John’s death on Jan. 23, 1999.

“She passed of natural causes, peacefully at her home. She was 91 years old,” Osteen added.

Today, Lakewood Church is one of the largest churches in the U.S., boasting a weekly attendance of over 45,000. The church has met inside the former Houston Rockets arena since 2005. The auditorium seats 16,800.

Dodie is survived her four children and several grandchildren.

Read the full article: Joel Osteen’s Mother, Cofounder of Lakewood Church, Dies at 91

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Jesse T. Jackson
Jesse is the Senior Content Editor for ChurchLeaders and Site Manager for ChristianNewsNow. An undeserving husband to a beautiful wife, and a father to 4 beautiful children. He is currently a church elder in training, a growth group leader, and is a member of University Baptist Church in Beavercreek, Ohio. Follow him on twitter here (https://twitter.com/jessetjackson). Accredited member of the Evangelical Press Association.

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