By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Friday, April 10, 2026

As popular rapper and music producer Kanye West, known professionally as Ye, continues to face criticism for his past antisemitism, which he has apologized for, megachurch Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, says he believes he has a “heart for God” and a “heart to do the right thing.”

Osteen, who hosted West at his church in 2018, where the artist declared himself a formidable servant of Jesus, told Logan Paul and Mike Majlak in an episode of their top-ranked video podcast Impaulsive, released on YouTube Wednesday, that he would love to reconnect with him and help in any way he could.

“I had no contact with Kanye or Ye before he came on his spiritual journey, and that was back, like you said, in 2018 or so. So, he wanted to talk, and we talked several times on the phone. We met several times, and I found him — I can just tell you what I know — he was as respectful and kind and sincere as can be,” Osteen said when asked about the rapper.

Ye’s new album BULLYrecently debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and he recently made $33 million in two nights, at a record-breaking concert at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, last week, where 80,000 people reportedly showed up to see him.

The SoFi shows are part of a new “comeback” tour for the rapper following a rash of antisemitic behavior, including the production of his controversial “Heil Hitler” song in 2025. His apology came in the form of a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal in January, and he blamed his actions on his bipolar diagnosis.

"Twenty-five years ago, I was in a car accident that broke my jaw and caused injury to the right frontal lobe of my brain," West, 48, wrote.

“At the time, the focus was on the visible damage — the fracture, the swelling, and the immediate physical trauma. The deeper injury, the one inside my skull, went unnoticed,” he explained. “Comprehensive scans were not done, neurological exams were limited, and the possibility of a frontal-lobe injury was never raised. It wasn’t properly diagnosed until 2023. That medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health and led to my bipolar type-1 diagnosis.”

Osteen acknowledged West’s struggle with his mental health in the interview and stated that the antisemitic version of the rapper “was not the Ye that I knew.”

“And so I pray for him. I pray for him often because I know his heart, and I know he's a good man, and I believe that he loves God,” Osteen said. “It's just sometimes you can maybe get a little off course. So I don't know where he's at. I wish I could speak to him again, but it's been a time. We need to pray. I need to pray for him.”

When Majlak suggested that Osteen should reconnect with West, he responded, “I’d love to do that.”

“I don't know where he (Ye) is. He seems like he's at a different place. … But … I believe he has a heart for God and a heart to do the right thing,” Osteen said.  “… We all have issues, but sometimes it's stronger in people [who are] fighting some mental battles. And just in general, not just with him. Mental illnesses are real, and they can throw you off, but I believe you can be healed and you can be restored.”

Despite his apology, West has been banned from entering the United Kingdom to perform at the Wireless Festival this summer. The festival has since been canceled as a result. West is also scheduled to perform in several other countries this year, where he is facing varying degrees of pushback.

Both Paul and Majlak then discussed the manner of West’s apology and suggested perhaps a more personal apology presented by the rapper might be more effective in placating his critics. Still, they also raised concerns about cancel culture and where the line should be drawn, and pointed out that several Jewish members of their team attended West’s Sofi Stadium concerts.

“I'd love to help in any way I can,” Osteen said. “I don't know if I have that influence with him, but I'd love to help in any way I can.”

News Source : https://www.christianpost.com/news/joel-osteen-praises-kanye-west-as-having-a-heart-for-god.html