Christian broadcaster Marcus Lamb has died at the age of 64 after a battle with Covid-19. 

"It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Marcus D. Lamb, Founder, President, and CEO of Daystar Television Network, went home to be with his Heavenly Father this morning," the channel announced on its social media. 

The channel held a special morning broadcast on Wednesday in which his wife Joni explained Lamb suffered from diabetes and had been hospitalised because of his oxygen levels dropping.

The statement continued: "As we remember this Great General of the Faith, let us never forget his devotion to the Great Commission. His heart's passion was that all may come to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour and experience the transformational power of the Holy Spirit."

"The family asks at this time that their privacy be respected as they grieve this difficult loss, and they wish to express their deep love and gratitude for all those who prayed during Marcus's health battle. Continue to lift them up in prayer in the days ahead," it concluded. 

The televangelist was a vocal antivaxxer and during his shows he had featured well-known vaccine-sceptics such as Robert Kennedy Jr and Del Bigtre on the channel. 

Late last month, his son Jonathan described the virus as a "spiritual attack from the enemy" on his father as he urged Christians to continue to pray for his recovery. 

"As much as my parents have gone on here to kind of inform everyone about everything going on to the pandemic and some of the ways to treat COVID - there's no doubt that the enemy is not happy about that. And he's doing everything he can to take down my Dad," Jonathan said during a broadcast. 

Lamb and his wife Joni founded the Christian television channel in 1997 after feeling God had called them to do so. The Christian channel now reaches millions of households across the world. 

Many tributes for the televangelist have been led by prominent Christian figures.

"Please pray for Marcus Lamb's family. I will always be grateful for Marcus. He said 'yes' every time we wanted to reach more people through Daystar," Greg Laurie said on Twitter.

Pat Robertson, the founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, said: "We mourn the passing of Marcus Lamb, a great man of God, whose life will be remembered by millions…Our prayers and sympathy are with Joni, the entire family, and everyone at Daystar."  

Lamb is survived by his wife Joni and their three children, Jonathan, Rachel, and Rebecca.