*For the Love of Money is the Root of All Evil: A Daystar Story* Hang on tight. This unveiling won’t be pretty. It’s dark. And disturbing. So, if you’re not up for it, I understand. Full disclosure: I’ve watched the Christian Television Network, Daystar, for years. I loved some of the shows… others, not so much. But let me be clear: I do not have a personal ax to grind. Not at all. This story was generated from my encounter with Suzy Lamb last summer. Soon after our meeting, my heart broke over disclosures of grave injustices and disturbing secrets. And for the record: Everything she shared with me is verifiable by detailed documentation – including police reports, screenshots, as well as a multitude of video and audio recordings – of which I’ve seen and heard. Am I concerned that after writing this piece, I’ll be in the cross-hairs of Daystar – a powerful international television ministry that boasts they’re worth a Billion dollars? Sure. A little bit. But, at this point, I honestly don’t care. The bottom line is: I refuse to live in fear of incoming threats from powerful entities. Or by internal terror that if I speak up, the sky might fall and crush me beyond existence. Instead, I’ll lean on my faith, while adhering to the wisdom from the Latin phrase, “Fīat iūstitia ruat cælum” *Let justice be done, though the heavens fall. So, for those willing to read on, here’s the story in a nutshell: Suzy Lamb is married to Jonathan Lamb — who is the son of Daystar founders, Marcus and Joni. The problems began in 2020, when Jonathan and Suzy had reason to believe a 5-year-old child was being molested. They went to the police and filed a general report – not knowing the identity of the perpetrator. A few months later, they were convinced that man was an on-air Daystar personality. But when they shared their discovery, Joni made it clear: “God told her” he was innocent – so they must drop the subject immediately. As tensions grew, Jonathan and Suzy were sent out of state for “counseling,” and ordered to apologize to the man for suggesting he molested a little girl. Then, Marcus Lamb suddenly passed away. And Jonathan – who was already a member of the Board – became the Vice President of Daystar. A year and a half later, Joni married Doug Weiss – a marriage counselor and frequent Daystar guest, who’d recently left his wife of over 30 years. Doug’s a man, by the way, who once blurted out on Christian television that “Christ died, so we can have great sex.” And before you ask: No, I’m not kidding. In addition, he notably said, “You can have a cursed penis. Or you can have a blessed penis.” And he followed it up by reading scripture, while randomly interjecting the word “penis” into the Biblical text. You know: In my lifetime, I’ve heard some crazy theology. But I honestly just can’t with this man. One day, Jonathan noticed what he believed were serious financial improprieties at the ministry, and he began to ask questions. Among other expenditures, he was alarmed by approximately $100,000 billed to Daystar for Joni and Doug’s one-week honeymoon. And nope. That’s not a mathematical typo. That’s an actual Kardashian-style six figure vacation. From the beginning, Joni’s marriage to Doug had created great tension. But Joni was adamant. Anyone who did not approve of the union would be banished from Daystar – including immediate family members. And then it happened … The “read-the-card-or-else” showdown: One morning, moments before airtime, Jonathan and Suzy refused to recite a note praising Doug – correspondence that was supposedly sent-in by a viewer. Offering what felt like a public “endorsement” went against their religious principles and was something they said they’d never do. But that didn’t sit well with Joni. Consequently, Jonathan and Suzy disappeared from television. Their show was canceled, and, despite public outcry, their on-air appearances came to a screeching halt. In response, staff were directed to tell viewers they were both on “Sabbatical.” That was a lie. Fair warning: Before I go further, let me give you the word of the day. And that word is “Submit.” In this context, “submission” will be used in a highly manipulative, cultish way and repeated more than you can likely tolerate. In response to Jonathan and Suzy’s growing concerns, Joni brought in minister, Jimmy Evans, as a mediator of sorts. In a rather fiery exchange, he admonished the couple to either quit, or stop pursuing issues of conscience – insisting they were merely employees, who were in no position to question Joni. Jonathan countered that it was his responsibility – as a man who must hold to his convictions. And, as the Vice President of Daystar, who has a fiduciary responsibility on the Board. But Evans doubled-down, repeatedly saying they must “submit” to Joni. Why? Because when she says something at Daystar, it’s like God said it. Yeah, you read that right: Like. God. Said. It. In another heated discussion, Joni warned Jonathan and Suzy that if they didn’t “submit,” God might curse them. She went on to explain that rebellion to her authority was an act of “Witchcraft.” And to make matters worse, Joni said their two young children might be cursed too. This seemed more than manipulative, but cruel, a form of spiritual abuse, and a classic sign of cult-like behavior. Despite the ominous threats, Suzy stood firm. So, ultimately, she was fired for not being “submissive” to Joni. You know … “obeying the voice of God” and all that. And it didn’t stop there: Suzy’s mother and father were placed on the chopping block too. With questionable “cause,” their jobs, as leaders on the prayer team, were terminated. In the meantime: Suzy was unable to comprehend what was happening. And, for a moment, believed she could refocus leaders back to the original intent of the ministry. One day she said, “Jesus died for people, not for a billion dollars.” The response? Laughter. Then, one morning, Jonathan observed Network surveillance footage as a security guard attached something to his car. He had the police check it out, and a tracker was found. He came to the quick realization: Daystar was following his every move. When Jonathan confronted the guard, the officer adamantly denied it was a tracker. Afterward, it was announced that additional devices were placed on other company vehicles – which appeared, to some, as cover. In addition, a Private Investigator was caught, on multiple occasions, following Jonathan, Suzy, and their young children. Life at Daystar, when one wasn’t in “submission” was starting to get crazy. While hiring a PI, or tracking an industry-owned car, is not illegal, to many it revealed panic-stricken leadership attempting to maintain control in a twisted environment. But it only got worse when Jonathan received an official call from the Network. He was told several messages had come-in from an unidentified man threatening to violently assault Suzy. At first, Suzy believed the reports and became terrified of leaving her house. She’d often collapse on the floor, while praying that if she was going to be killed, it would be quick – and her children wouldn’t be the ones to find her body. But eventually Suzy’s fear lifted, as close friends questioned if the messages might be coming from someone on the inside— perhaps as a form of intimidation – to not only stop her from talking, but to persuade her to return to the fold where she might feel “protected.” “I don’t know, Candy,” she said to me, “But I’d worked at Daystar for years, and I’d never received a single threat before.” Besides accusations of “witchcraft,” endless demands for “submission,” and threats of impending “curses,” it was obvious Jonathan and Suzy could not be controlled. So, Daystar went into overdrive to lock-down outgoing information. Trustees, and key employees – including Lamb family members and their spouses – were given a mandate to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements … because, as many believe, NDA’s keep secrets hidden deep inside an institution. Under the contract, they could not talk about perceived improprieties, or anything negative they observed at Daystar, for threat of being fired. And/or sued. When Jonathan refused to sign, his position as Vice President of Daystar was terminated. And he was kicked off the Board – where he had access to vast financial information. Care to guess where Jonathan Lamb was transferred? Besides being assigned to a couple small departments, his mother put him in charge of the Daystar Cafe. THE. CAFE. To go from Vice President of a billion dollar Network, and a Member of the Board, to managing an eatery, was a huge demotion that some perceived as a veiled message: If I’d do this to my own son, don’t think for a moment you won’t be next. So, it’s not surprising: Nearly everyone got in line, signed NDA’s, shut their mouths, and kept the paychecks rolling in. And speaking of money: Now that Jonathan is off the board, and can no longer monitor spending, perhaps it's time to open the books at Daystar (a “ministry” that paid for a $100,000 honeymoon, and possesses a private jet often used for extravagant personal travel) so it can undergo a deep-dive, independent, forensic audit. An audit, however, is unlikely. Why? Because Daystar is not registered as a ministry nonprofit. Instead, Daystar is registered as a CHURCH. This allows them additional levels of financial privacy – including not having to disclose certain expenditures, via a 990, to the IRS. Or to the public. And now, back to the alleged assault on a 5-year-old-child: In February of 2024, Jonathan and Suzy were given additional, confirming, information. Consequently – along with their new counselors – they reached out to child protective services, where the case was, immediately, reopened. So, all things considered, you might wonder what took Jonathan and Suzy so long to go public. It’s helpful to remember, they both grew-up in ministry. They were taught that “submitting” to authority is an act of spiritual purity. This is all they knew. I believe Jonathan and Suzy are good people, who love God, and respect authority. But, quite honestly, they were also naive. Crippled by warped theology, they were blindsided by the behavior of family, manipulative ministers, and threatening lawyers who put them in a state of shock for a couple years. In the meantime: Jonathan and Suzy waited on God. And they prayed – seeking wisdom for when, and how, to share their story. Then, we met – something we consider providence. Intimidation, belittling, the sit-down from famous pastors, and high-powered attorneys, have frightened Suzy Lamb long enough. But guess what? She isn’t afraid anymore. As for Jonathan: Even though this is his family, and a ministry he watched grow from the time he was an infant, he made the courageous decision – at great personal cost – to stand for integrity. And the child abuse report? Although the initial investigation stalled, it has, now, moved up the ladder to the office of Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton. Fast forward to now: On Friday night, November 15th, an investigative reporter – who’d been working on the child abuse story for a few months – contacted Joni Lamb (and other family members) to request comment for an upcoming article. The next afternoon, Jonathan and Suzy (who were hidden away with their children at an undisclosed safe location) observed video from their home security monitor. They watched as a Daystar guard – the same one who’d put a tracker on their car – showed up in a bulletproof vest to leave an official letter on their door. A few minutes later, Jonathan was sent an email informing him that he'd been fired (over unmet ministry expectations, set for him several months prior). Notably, the termination occurred the day after Joni Lamb was contacted by the press regarding claims of a child abuse cover-up. The letter also included warnings that if Jonathan or Suzy spoke to any third party individuals, (e.g. the media) they’d be opening themselves up to a lawsuit. Ya know, I find in life, truth eventually rises to the surface. In God’s timing. And If people are brave. Yes, He is patient. And He is gracious. But at some point, if we love God (and I believe leaders at Daystar actually do) but stop FEARING Him, He has ways of shining a light on the darkness – if we’re unwilling to do so ourselves. Make no mistake about it: This gut-wrenching exposure is not the result of bitter individuals getting even – although Daystar will, likely, spin it that way. But rather, it’s the result of Jesus flipping tables. Brace for impact, people: Nothing can stop what’s coming. *** Bio: Candy Chand is a writer from Cave Creek, AZ. She’s been interviewed by PBS, Fox & Friends, and by The New York Times. Follow her on X @candychand11 *** Suzy Lamb’s new podcast – where she addresses this, and other issues within ministry – is available on multiple platforms. Follow her @ *** *Note: Neither Joni Lamb-Weiss, nor her representatives, responded to a request for comment before publication. (A notation will be forthcoming, if a delayed statement is received.) However, the vast documentation from Jonathan and Suzy Lamb - including, but not limited to: Video, audio, texts, emails, screenshots, police reports, and the publicly disseminated results from multiple journalists, solidified the writer's confidence to publish, sans an official response from Daystar.

@Torncurtainorg That would be lovely

@LauraLynnTT ❤️❤️❤️

I never thought I'd agree with you about anything @DeptOfChurch ... but I actually think this is a really bad idea. It's not wise, it's not "research," and it's simply not ethical. I do understand where this energy comes from, though. People feel frustrated by cover-up culture from powerful entities, like @Daystar --which have a habit of controlling information and the narrative. Yet, I find, the truth has a way of rising to the surface. We must keep our eyes open. We must ask questions. And, then, brave people will come forward. So, while this may be well-intended, I think it reeks of a witch-hunt, and takes away from the legitimacy of the battle.

@LauraLynnTT @suzycatlamb Love you, Laura Lynn. We’ll all make it happen next time.

@KarenBoyanton @suzycatlamb Thank you

@shesirenem Paula has been complicit for a long time. She knew about the child abuse cover-up at Daystar for a year.

@DandyFH @marisolmar20714 An audit, yes. But DOGE is for federal money only.

@dan_cameron99 @C1Roxie @amichaelw @DeptOfChurch @DaystarJoni @Daystar @RachelLambBrown LOL

@Kelly4Humanity 💕💕💕💕

@RendadollAI @DaystarJoni Joni and Marcus were wealthy. -- but I doubt they used their own funds. There's also programming money, and while that's technically ministry, its not donor funds. So, it's complicated.

@marisolmar20714 @DaystarJoni Nope. DOGE deals with federal money, not donor money. It's a different kind of misuse and fraud.

@Rochell93122031 @Paulasj64 @DaystarJoni It's not a DOGE issue. It's donor money, not federal funds.

@Bamaw4735682 @RealStarrTowell @welper57 @TinaDMusa777 @Daystar "cleared."

@bneat @dan_cameron99 @john_elving @JeneNelson1221 @C1Roxie @alandidio @EverettGagnon3 @Torncurtainorg Robison also knew for over a year. Perry Stone, Paula White, James Robison and Jentzen Franklin. Sad, but true.

@C1Roxie @jowebber90 @dan_cameron99 @JeneNelson1221 @john_elving @alandidio @EverettGagnon3 @Torncurtainorg It's always been across the denominational board Non-religions teachers being the number one abusers in the professional world. Parents, and other relatives, in non-professional circles.

@KWE2025 @Paula_White @Daystar Nope

@LauraLynnTT ❤️❤️❤️

RT @candychand11: Here’s my newest piece. This one’s about #TuckerCarlson and his recent media journey. A special thank you to @TuckerCarls…

@chickcounselor1 @DaystarJoni Paula knew about the child sexual abuse cover-up at Daystar for a year.