These days, Daystar employs more than 300, the large majority at its state-of-the-art production facility in Bedford. Ministries pay $49 million annually for time on Daystar, said Arnold Torres, the network’s chief financial officer.
The network uses those funds to pay for operations, including salaries.
Twice a year, Daystar also has a “Sharathon” in which it uses air time to ask viewers for money. Donations – which Torres put at about $31 million a year – go for ministry, but that includes buying more television stations and funding other efforts to expand evangelistic reach.
Daystar – a nonprofit that enjoys considerable tax advantages – is debt free, with a book value of $230 million, Torres said.
…The Lambs hold tight reins on Daystar – they and another family member occupy three of four board seats – but they do make public an independent audit. It doesn’t, however, include the Lambs’ salaries as president and vice president.
They said they take about a third of the pay an outside consultant recommended, given the size of the organization.
“We make way less than most mega-church pastors,” Marcus Lamb added.
They live in a 7,000-square-foot home appraised for taxes at $1.4 million. Marcus Lamb reiterated that donors’ contributions do not go toward salaries, and said much of their income is from long-term stock and real estate investments.
As for Daystar’s 12-seat jet, the Lambs said they use it only for ministry work, and that it lets them and the Celebration band make evening church appearances and get back in time for daytime broadcasts.
Good on Sam Hodges of The Dallas Morning News -Stakes high in Christian TV network’s adultery scandal - for keeping these lawsuits on the public radar. Most of the people Marcus Lamb approached before going public with his infidelity were paying customers; other televangelists who pay for time on the Daystar Network.
There is no further mention of Lambs failure to inform his denominational leadership when his affair ended. The Church of God has said they will be putting Bishop Lamb through a restoration process and he is not to preach until they say so. He is continuing with his tv show, his pulpit. While motivation can only be assumed, I don’t doubt the couple started out believing they could “reach the most people for the Lord” in building what is very much their own media empire.
It’s the how its been built and maintained which has come to public attention and is heading to Texas courts to be sorted out. This is no less a sorry mess because the Lambs continue to press their case through what they are most comfortable with – media.
Lamb says “”I have a fiduciary responsibility to protect Daystar and all the people that are ministered to by Daystar,” and he’ll do whatever it takes. He does have a responsibility, and had responsibilities when he started his affair, continued his affair, ended his affair and chose not to be responsible to his wife, children, extended family, denomination, viewers, and customers about his affair.
The first court date appears to be March 25, 2011. Case# DC1015408.
Daystar Television Network Countersuit
Hawkins civil suit
Update: The mistress is listed as advertising staff working in another state, for a Daystar station. Why? She has television experience, what is she still doing on the Daystar payroll?
To handle a ministry with great material value, much pressures to maintain the ministry must be great. Like many, Marcus Lamb may not be as strong as he thinks. Many a heart has been carried away by compromise and those desires that weaken, even the greatest Kings and Leaders.
Sometimes, the best ministries to attend can be in our own backyards. Figuratively speaking.
Matthew 6:24
“No one is able to serve two masters: for he will hate the one and will love the other, or he will be devoted to one and he will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and wealth.”
Someone interested in finance wrote me and said a couple of Lambs statements seem unlikely.
Is Lamb really paid ‘way less’ than most mega-church pastors? And what does that have to do with his deception?
‘Much of their money’ has come from from real estate and long term investments?
If this case goes to court (most of the accusations the court would address) hinge on financial use. Is Lamb saying he has been using his position to make personal income, or is he saying his network which doesn’t have to file some things with the IRS is supplementing the 31 million people hand him with unclaimed investments?
He incorporated his business as a church, (not illegal in the US) what else is going on behind the scenes?
Thanks, Bene Diction, for posting the information about my book and the various links. I didn’t mean to stir up a hornet’s nest, though!
Reading that message thread from the summer of 2006 was a “walk down memory lane.” Since that time, my husband and I have become friends with two of the individuals who posted on that thread. A lot has happened in the last four years!
In January of 2008, my husband and I started a support group for individuals who have been in cultic or spiritually abusive groups. We have been privileged to be a part of the healing journey for some very amazing former members. If any of your readers happen to be in the Dallas metroplex and would be interested in attending they can check out our website or email me for more information.
I love your New Year’s quote from a Franciscan Benediction: “May God bless you with discomfort at…so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at…so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace. My God bless you with tears…so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their
pain to joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness, to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.”
May God bless us all.
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