‘The battles we face are always won on our knees’: Joni Lamb’s last social media message sparks confusion among followers; ‘creepy and distasteful’, say some

Joni Lamb, the influential American televangelist, co-founder and longtime president of the Daystar Television Network, has died at the age of 65 after a period of serious health struggles exacerbated by a back injury, her ministry announced on May 7, 2026.

Lamb was a prominent Christian broadcaster and media figure, whose ministry work spanned several decades. Born Joni Trammell in 1960, she and her late husband, Marcus Lamb, built Daystar into one of the world’s most watched Christian television networks, expanding its reach internationally and shaping its programming.

Final message and reactions on social media

Coinciding with the announcement of her death, a message attributed to her social media account on X (formerly Twitter) began circulating online. It read: “The battles we face are always won on our knees! Surrender it to God and He will be faithful to do what you never could on your own.”


This post, referencing spiritual resilience, quickly drew attention because of its timing in relation to her death. It was not clear who shared the message from her profile, or whether it had been posted before her death and surfaced later, or was published after news of her passing.

Several comments under the post illustrated the public’s response: one user questioned the timing, writing “how did you die this morning yet post this 2 hours ago?”

Another added “Anybody else find it bit creepy and distasteful to post from her account being she just passed today? Guess it’s about the likes and clicks they want stay classy daystar.”

Others reflected on prayer and faith, including “When life gets too tough to stand, kneel.”

Under her leadership, Daystar grew into a multimillion-dollar ministry that blended faith-based teaching with media outreach, including her own programs such as Joni Table Talk. Her influence extended across a broad audience of Christian viewers.

Marcus Lamb, who co-founded the network with her and served as its president before his death in 2021, had himself generated media attention for controversial stances including skepticism toward COVID-19 vaccinations.

Lamb’s public ministry was not without controversy. In the years before her death, Daystar faced serious internal and external scrutiny. In 2024 and 2025, her own son, Jonathan Lamb, and his wife, Suzy, publicly accused the network’s leadership of mishandling allegations of abuse involving a family member. Authorities later closed investigations without charges, citing insufficient evidence.