Joel Osteen tried to hold back tears as he lauded John Gray and his wife Aventer, who are the new leaders of Relentless Church in Greenville, South Carolina.
The Grays were appointed to lead Relentless Church in May after founding pastor Ron Carpenter relinquished leadership of the congregation to serve as the pastor of Jubilee Christian Center in San Jose, California.
"John and Aventer are faithful people. They are loyal people," Osteen said, according to Greenville News. "I cry way too easy," he went on to say.
Despite his new role, Gray will still be working with Osteen at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, where he has served as an associate pastor for the past five years.
"John and Aventer have made me better. I can truly say that Lakewood is better today because John and Aventer have been there," Osteen added.
Gray delivered his first sermon at Relentless Church in May when Carpenter handed off the leadership to him on Mother's Day.
Carpenter, who founded the church nearly three decades ago, returned to Greenville from California to attend the installation service on Sunday.
"I have been through a million circumstances where I wish I had one friend," Carpenter said, as reported by Greenville News.
"At the lowest point in my life I stopped like a castaway at a four-way stop in the middle of nowhere and I looked through my whole phone and I wept because I had nobody in my life that I didn't lead," he added.
The installation ceremony was conducted by Bishop Eric Garnes of Tabernacle of Praise Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York, according to Greenville News.
Several pastors from across the U.S. were also present at the service to welcome Gray into his new role. Carl Lentz, pastor of Hillsong Church in New York City, said many people would be saved in Relentless Church under his leadership.
John Morman, pastor of Christian Tabernacle Church in Michigan, said that the church "shall prosper beyond measure."
Hart Ramsey, who serves as the pastor of Northview Christian Church in Alabama, encouraged Gray to "trust God in the darkness."
Later in the service, Gray commended his wife for supporting him through difficult times. He vowed to the members of Relentless Church that he would be "an honorable pastor and I will fight for you."
