Lakewood Church in Houston is accepting victims of Hurricane Harvey who need a place to shelter, the megachurch said this morning, after it received backlash for not initially welcoming in evacuees.

Joel Osteen, the church's famed pastor, tweeted Tuesday, "Lakewood’s doors are open and we are receiving anyone who needs shelter."

Victoria and I care deeply about our fellow Houstonians. Lakewood’s doors are open and we are receiving anyone who needs shelter. — Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) August 29, 2017

A Lakewood Church spokesperson told ABC News Tuesday its doors have always been open and the church is waiting for city officials to designate it as a shelter so it can obtain cots and other assistance. (The spokesperson said the church doesn't have showers or a kitchen.)

At first it was difficult for church staff to get to the facility from their homes, the spokesperson explained.

Moreover, the facility did not initially shelter people because it would be too dangerous to have people on a lower level, which could flood, the spokesperson added. Now that the floodwaters have receded, the church decided to bring in evacuees, the spokesperson said.

"The mayor was asking people not to get on the roadways, plus this building was very close to flooding. It was within a foot of coming over our flood gates," Osteen told ABC affiliate KVUE on Tuesday night. "But also, our staff and building engineers and people, nobody was here. You know, it's not like we can ask them to come out. But you know the fact is we're here to help people. The notion that we would turn people away is totally not who Lakewood has been for the last 60 years and it's not who it is now and that's why we're seeing this."

Lakewood Church sent these photos to ABC News Monday evening that it said showed flooding in and around its complex.

PHOTO: Photos that Lakewood Church says show flooding in and around the church. (Lakewood Church) More

PHOTO: Photos that Lakewood Church says show flooding in and around the church. (Lakewood Church) More

PHOTO: Photos that Lakewood Church says show flooding in and around the church. (Lakewood Church) More

Now, in the wake of Harvey, which tore through the Houston area last weekend, forcing evacuations, wiping out homes and killing at least 11, several school buses filled with evacuees arrived today at Lakewood Church, some toting their belongings in plastic garbage bags.

Among the fatalities announced on Tuesday by the Beaumont Police Department was a woman who died after the car she was driving in with her young daughter ended up in high water. She and her daughter exited the vehicle, only to be swept up into the canal. First responders rescued the pair, but the mother was unresponsive and died. The child is in stable condition.

PHOTO: Lakewood Church in Houston accepts victims of Hurricane Harvey, Aug. 29, 2017. (Kaitlyn Folmer/ABC News) More

Among those who lost homes to flooding are two Lakewood Church pastors.

The church also said it's accepting supplies including baby food and formula.

Lakewood is receiving people who need shelter. We are also receiving supplies such as baby food, baby formula and other shelter needs. — Lakewood Church (@lakewoodch) August 29, 2017

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