Marcus Lamb has passed away from COVID-19, Daystar TV announced on social media. Lamb was a prominent televangelist and prosperity gospel preacher whose Daystar Television became the second largest Christian TV station in the world. He was 64 years old.
“This morning at 4 a.m. the president and founder of Daystar and the love of my life went to be with Jesus,” said his wife, Joni. “I wanted you to hear from me that he’s with the Lord.”
It’s with a heavy heart we announce that Marcus Lamb, president and founder of Daystar Television Network, went home to be with the Lord this morning. The family asks that their privacy be respected as they grieve this difficult loss. Please continue to lift them up in prayer. pic.twitter.com/EVujL8zotG
— Daystar Television (@Daystar) November 30, 2021
Lamb had spent the final part of his broadcast career declaring his opposition to COVID-19 vaccines and promoting “alternative treatments.” Daystar had hosted vaccine skeptics like Robert F. Kennedy and a group calling themselves “America’s Frontline Doctors” who promote baseless methods of COVID-19 prevention and cure like hydroxychloroquine. Earlier this month, Lamb’s son Jonathan blamed his father’s COVID-19 bout on Satan, saying “There’s no doubt in my mind that this is a spiritual attack from the enemy.”
“As much as my parents have gone on here to kind of inform everyone about everything going on to the pandemic and some of the ways to treat COVID — there’s no doubt that the enemy is not happy about that,” Jonathan Lamb continued. “And he’s doing everything he can to take down my Dad.”
White Christians have been among the nation’s most vaccine-hesitant demographics, and many Christians have sought a “religious exemption” from federal and state vaccine mandates.
Lamb’s ministry drew scrutiny earlier this year for buying a brand new private jet right after netting nearly $4 million in federal COVID-19 relief dollars. The organization repaid the loan, according to RNS.
