'Totally devastated': Major Christian broadcaster suffers catastrophic firebombing
Joe Kovacs
It’s one of the largest Christian networks in the world, and it has now become the victim of a catastrophic firebombing.
The Jerusalem studios of Daystar were completely destroyed over the weekend during a weekend arson attack.
“Reduced to a pile of rubble and ashes,” said network owner Marcus Lamb. “I’m certain the enemy thought this attack would be fatal to our efforts to share the Gospel across Israel. But as usual, he’s wrong. What the devil meant for evil, God will use for our good.”
An arson attack left the Jerusalem studios of the Daystar Television Network in shambles on May 18, 2019 (Photo courtesy Daystar)
“We have opened an investigation,” Israel Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told the Jerusalem Post. “All directions are being looked at.”
The pro-Israel studios in Abu Tor on Mount Zion overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem were in the final stages of a year-long renovation, and a celebration with Daystar’s key stakeholders had been set for June 1.
The fire was intentionally set at about 2:15 a.m. on Saturday, according to reports.
Dave Sharett, the contractor overseeing the renovations told the Post that security cameras were able to snag the arsonist in the act.
“They see the explosion, then the fire,” he explained. “The next second, you see a rope going over the balcony and him climbing down the rope. He goes down to the floor below, gathers the rope and runs off.”
“The control room I would say is probably totally devastated,” Sharett told CBN News. “The controls actually start here with the electric panel, the main electric panel and anything plastic is totally melted.”
“It was a beautiful like living room set up, real casual set up, nice chairs, stools, tables, nothing survived. If it didn’t burn, it melted.”
An arson attack left the Jerusalem studios of the Daystar Television Network in shambles on May 18, 2019 (Photo courtesy Daystar)
He indicated police have two working theories concerning possible motivation.
The first is the firebombing was religiously motivated since “the TV station is Christian and it’s Ramadan, and Muslims are upset and blah, blah, blah,” he told the Post.
The other scenario involves an Arab worker at an adjacent studio who in recent days became upset with some of Daystar’s employees. That employee has not returned to work since the blaze, Sharett said.
“We’ll find the truth,” he said.
“I believe that God has a reason and a purpose and at the very least he’ll redeem what has happened here. So, these ashes will raise up, be raised up and proclaim the glory of God,” Sharett told CBN.
Daystar is fastest-growing and second-largest Christian TV network on the planet, sending the Good News via satellite to more than 680 million households in 200 countries.
At age 27, Lamb and his wife, Joni, began what would eventually become the Daystar Television Network in 1984 at a single station in Montgomery, Alabama. In 1990, the Lambs transplanted themselves to launch a second station, KMPX-TV, in the Dallas-Fort Worth market. Daystar’s first live broadcast as a network was on New Year’s Eve 1997.
Today, in the wake of the catastrophe, Lamb is urging people to keep looking on the bright side:
Even now we’re exploring every option and discovering how best to rebuild on a foundation the Lord laid for us long ago. Just as it was in the days of Nehemiah, who rebuilt the crumbling walls around Jerusalem, God will stand with us as we remain fully committed to the work of His Kingdom. And my hope is that you’ll join with us!
I wonder what areas of your life need restoration? Keep in mind we serve a God who knows every hidden wound and heartbreak, and nothing is ever beyond repair. I believe that as you partner with us to rebuild the Jerusalem studio, the Lord will release His healing power to redeem what seems utterly lost or completely out of reach in your heart.
He’s not simply a good God; He’s also good at being God and wants to mend the frayed edges of your faith as you put your trust in His promises. So I invite you to give today, and let’s believe for full restoration in every area of your life. Together, we’ll watch the Lord bring beauty from the ashes of tragedy and make all things new!
NOTE: Daystar has set up this link for those interested in helping the network rebuild its studio in Jerusalem.
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