Joni Lamb
Joni Lamb (born July 19, 1960) is a Christian broadcaster and the co-founder, vice-president, and executive producer of the Daystar Television Network. She has been involved with Christian television since the mid-1980s and is known for her work with her late husband, Marcus Lamb, with Daystar.
Joni Lamb | |
---|---|
Born | Joni Trammell July 19, 1960 |
Spouses | |
Children | 3 |
Church | Christianity (Pentecostal) |
Congregations served | Co-founder of Daystar Network |
Offices held | President of Daystar Network |
Lamb is a supporter of Donald Trump and uses the Daystar Television Network to promote conservative values. Lamb's media contributions are often controversial with criticisms of those who do not share evangelical views, in statements such as on a panel in 2012 where she said: "“if you live in America and you understand that we are a Christian society then you can't be offended by [people's right to free speech], or you shouldn’t live here.”[1]
Early life
Lamb was born as Joni Trammell on July 19, 1960. Her family lived in Greenville, South Carolina through her formative years. Her family were members of the Tremont Avenue Church of God, where Marcus Lamb ministered as a visiting preacher during a revival. The couple met each other at her home church and were married two years later, in 1982. They traveled for the next few years, visiting churches as evangelists. Then, in 1984, they settled in Montgomery, Alabama where they purchased a full power television station and began teaching the Bible on broadcast television. This continued until 1990, when the couple moved to Dallas and formed another station in the larger Texas market. By 1998, they had raised the funds necessary to start Daystar.[2][3]
Personal life
Joni and Marcus Lamb had three children.
Marcus Lamb had an extramarital affair, which both partners publicly acknowledged in 2010.[4]
Marcus Lamb, who held and promoted an anti-vaccination stance, died at the age of 64 in November 2021 from complications of COVID-19.[5]
Joni Lamb subsequently married Dr. Doug Weiss on June 10, 2023. Weiss is a licensed psychologist, author, and speaker who specializes in sex addiction and recovery.
Daystar programming
Joni Table Talk
Lamb hosts her self-titled half-hour program Joni Table Talk (initially titled Joni) each weekday on Daystar. The format of the show is typically a round table discussion with other ministers, singers and celebrities discussing a wide range of topics that combine contemporary cultural issues and the Christian faith. In 2004, the show was awarded as the Best Television Talk Show by the National Religious Broadcasters.[6][7]
Ministry Now!
Lamb co-hosts the Daystar flagship program Ministry Now! (previously called, Marcus and Joni and initially titled Celebration). The hour-long program is broadcast five days a week on their Daystar network. Joni's children share host duties and discuss news related to the network, ministry, and issues of interest to the Christian faith with daily guest(s). Joni and her daughters sing with the Daystar Singers during the Daystar program.[8][7]
Controversies
Anti-LGBT views
According to statements following an extramarital affair by Marcus Lamb and private jet controversy, Joni Lamb holds anti-LGBT views. Lamb stated "thousands" of people "have come out of homosexuality" and "may be the most discriminated people in the world today." She has also claimed homosexuality is "ungodly" and "God cannot bless you and you cannot fulfill your destiny while you are operating within the realm of homosexuality."[9]
Anti-vaccination and voter fraud conspiracies
Lamb also uses family platforms and shows to promote conservative values and unfounded[10] claims related to vaccination and voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. "The Lamb family have used their platforms to advertise prayer events in conjunction with the Trump family as well as to promote anti-vaccination organizations. In November, Daystar encouraged its members to sign a petition urging the Supreme Court to either recount or overturn the presidential election results and institute a re-vote."[11]
References
- Joni Lamb: If You Don't Like That America Is A Christian Nation, "You Shouldn't Live Here", archived from the original on 2021-12-12, retrieved 2021-05-11
- "About Daystar Television with Marcus Lamb and Joni Lamb". Daystar.com. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). www.alrcnewskitchen.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Exclusive: Texas Televangelist Couple Outraged Extortionists' Demands for 'God's Money'". ABC News. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- Boorstein, Michelle (December 3, 2021). "Marcus Lamb died of covid-19 after his network discouraged vaccines. But some Christian leaders don't want to talk about it". Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- "Joni Lamb - Vice President and Co-Founder - Daystar Television". Daystar.com. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). www.alrcnewskitchen.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "About Daystar Television with Marcus Lamb and Joni Lamb". Daystar.com. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
- Browning, Bil (2020-12-14). "Anti-LGBTQ pastor's church gets $4M in COVID bailout funds. They bought him a private jet". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- "AP FACT CHECK: Trump's claims of vote rigging are all wrong". AP NEWS. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
- "D-FW Christian TV network reportedly returned $3.9 million PPP loan after investigation into jet purchase". Dallas News. 2020-12-17. Retrieved 2021-05-10.