I don't know about Joel Osteen's church, but I know many people near Houston who were up praying that Rita would not harm Houston or it's nearby communities, such as Tomball and Spring Cypress. I have several family members who were not able to evacuate and got "stuck" waiting it out. They live 30 minutes outside Houston. I can tell you, because of gas shortage and a 100 mile traffic backup, the farthest they could get  was an hour away, which would not have been out of harm's way had Rita made a direct hit on Houston and Galveston!  I was up half the night Thursday night and Friday night as well ---praying and pleading the blood over Houston and those nearby areas and I had requested prayer of other doves too!  My sister said they never even got any rain, nor any high winds!  None of their property was injured - not ONE ITEM! I heard several reporters declare that God's sparing Galveston & Houston was a miracle!  I KNOW IT WAS!  They also kept saying that Houston "missed the bullet". I claimed Psalm 91!  God's word is FAITHFUL.
 
PRAISE GOD!  HE IS TRULY OUR FORTRESS in time of storm! My prayer  now -is that He will help those nearest the impact recover quickly from their losses!
 
Rene