reaching the nations of the world. “Even MARCUS AND JONI LAMB
though I didn’t go the traditional [four- AND THE ENTIRE DAYSTAR
year] college path,” said Marcus, “I did TEAM HAVE COMMITTED
take away with me some lessons and THEMSELVES TO THE
memories that have stuck with me for the GREAT COMMISSION.
past 30 years.” The Lambs’ oldest daugh- TO THEM, IT IS MORE THAN
ter and middle child, Rachel, is currently A MISSION STATEMENT;
a freshman at her father’s alma mater. IT IS A MANDATE FOR LIFE.
Family was a matter that I purposely
discussed with this very busy internation-
al television minister. “The Lord showed
Joni and me early on that our family and
our relationship with each other is our
first ministry,” explained Marcus. “We’ve
always tried to model to our viewers and
to our kids that we go to a local church.
We have a pastor. We are faithful to
attend and to support the church with
our tithes and offerings.” In addition to
Rachel, who is at Lee, the Lambs have
two other children—Jonathan, a recent
graduate of the Oral Roberts University
School of Business and who now works
with Daystar, and the youngest, whom
Marcus affectionately calls “Miss Rebec-
ca,” his sweet-16 junior at Lake Country
Christian School in Fort Worth.
When discussing family, the Lambs
are quick to point out that one of the rea-
sons they moved the daily Celebration
“live” telecast from its original evening
prime-time slot to its current 11 a.m.
(CST) position was so it would not inter-
fere with their family and personal time
in the evenings. Although the viewership
is greater in the evening, Marcus believes
that God spoke directly to him, telling
him not to put Daystar before his family.
Their children—Jonathan, Rachel, and
Rebecca—now have their own weekend
contemporary Christian music program,
Check the Sound. But Dad has reminded
them that they have no special entitle-
ment regarding the ministry; they start at
the bottom like everyone else. Son
Jonathan began working as a grip (the
person who pulls camera cables), and the
girls’ first jobs were stuffing envelopes for
minimum wage.
Marcus Lamb’s partner in life and min-
istry, Joni, is a capable minister in her own
right. It is as if God has given her a special
gift of communication and television pres-
ence. With tears, Marcus tells of the final
days of setting up their first station in
EVANGEL • FEB 2009 25
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