On a sober yet uplifting episode of the Celebration
Tuesday, Marcus and Joni Lamb, the husband-wife founders of Daystar television
network, discussed an “inappropriate” relationship Marcus Lamb had several
years ago with another Christian woman.
The one-hour show included not only the Lambs’ admission of
the affair, but also details about their marriage restoration process. They
also described a blackmail scheme that contributed to the couple deciding to
share their story on their international network.
According to Joni, three people—unaffected by the Lambs’
marital problems—had demanded Daystar pay them $7.5 million to keep this story
out of the media.
Joni insisted that the couple were not hiding their story
but restoring their marriage. “This is not a secret story that we have been
hiding but rather a private matter for which we have been healing,” she said.
During the show, (which can be viewed here) the couple said
they now have a renewed passion for seeing marriages restored. Marcus said that
revealing his “embarrassing” failure was worth it if it meant another marriage
would be saved.
Joni said that making this private matter public was
freeing. Marcus confessed it showed him God’s forgiving love.
“We’re not here today to excuse sin but we are here today to
celebrate the goodness of God that He has helped Joni and me, and He has healed
our marriage and restored my heart to Him,” Marcus said. “For the last 38 years
I have preached the message of grace but for the last several years I have
lived the gospel of grace.”
When she first heard of her husband’s affair, Joni said she
was “devastated” but that she immediately turned to God in prayer. She said He
told her to “fight” for her marriage.
“I felt the Holy Spirit so strongly,” she said choking back
tears. “He said to me these words: ‘[Marcus] is worth fighting for.’ And that’s
all I needed to hear.
“I decided that my husband and my marriage were worth
fighting for.”
Next, the couple shared how they sought counseling to
restore their marriage with Fred and Anna Kendall of Life
Languages Institute in Dallas. They also said they were transparent with
their family and close friends about the affair. Marcus stopped his public
speaking during this period.
Though Joni admitted having a busy life and failing to focus
enough on her marriage, Marcus took full responsibility for his actions.
“I take 100 percent responsibility,” he said. “Joni has no
blame. The other person has no blame. I don’t even blame the devil. It’s all on
me,” Marcus said.
The Lambs’ marital adviser, Fred Kendall, said Marcus was
transparent during his counseling period and truly repentant. He believes there
was only one affair and that Marcus has proved his fidelity to his marriage.
Pastor Jimmy Evans
senior pastor of Trinity Fellowship in Amarillo, Texas and host of Marriage
Today with Jimmy & Karen and Frank Minirth, M.D. president of Minirth
Clinic in Richardson, Texas, also appeared on the program to add their
endorsement of the process the Lambs are going through.
The Lambs have been in television ministry since 1985.
