Transitions (Dec. 28, 2010)
Admitted
Marcus Lamb, founder and president of Daystar, to infidelity. On a Nov. 30 broadcast, the televangelist and his wife, Joni, addressed an affair Marcus had “several years ago” after three former employees allegedly threatened to reveal the story unless the Lambs paid them $7.5 million. The Christian TV network owners vowed their marriage is now “stronger than ever.” Days later, one of the former employees sued Daystar, claiming her knowledge of the affair before it transpired caused emotional pain—to which Daystar countersued with an allegation of attempted extortion.
Moving
Darlene Zschech, to Church Unlimited in Australia’s Central Coast as senior pastor, along with her husband, Mark (pictured). After 25 years at Hillsong Church in Sydney, the well-known worship leader and writer of “Shout to the Lord” announced her departure from the megachurch in early November and will begin her new role at the nearby Pentecostal church later this month.
Named
Jack Hayford, as president of The King’s University. As the school’s founder and former chancellor, the 76-year-old Hayford, who also served as president of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, replaces Kenneth Ulmer.
Appointed
Daniel Kolenda, as president of Christ for all Nations (CfaN), the ministry founded by evangelist Reinhard Bonnke. Bonnke, 70, remains active with CfaN but believes passing the baton to the 29-year-old Kolenda, who has preached with Bonnke since 2006 and led more than 10 million people to Christ, is in response to the directive God gave him: “The anointed must be appointed.”
“We do not pass the plate.” —Robert Morris, pastor of Gateway Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, on how his congregation emphasizes giving. The megachurch, which receives most of its donations online, dedicates a new 206,000-square-foot, $72 million building this month.
1 in 20
Christians say their church holds them accountable for integrating biblical beliefs and principles into their lives. Only 2 percent of believers practice accountability through small groups, which is the most frequently used method by churches.
