Collin Lambert Remembered

As the Christian Radio community mourns the loss of one its own, we reflect on the life and career of Collin Lambert. Lambert passed away Thursday (8/6).

Lambert served Moody Radio in a variety of roles during his 15 years with the ministry. He began in the Promotions department, later became an on-air host, and was named vice president in the fall of 2010.

After concluding his time with Moody Radio in 2018 and returning to Austin, Lambert continued using his media experience to serve Christian ministries. He launched Lambert Creative Media, provided his expertise during Moody Radio’s annual Share events, and assisted numerous ministry partners over the years.

Lambert also continued his connection with Moody Radio as the host of “Missions Today,” a program that aired on Saturdays, highlighting the work and impact of Christian missions around the world.

Mourning expresses the pain we feel when something we deeply value has been taken from us. It can also reflect a sincere acknowledgment that we have violated God’s moral law and a desire to be reconciled to Him.

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Doug Hastings – (Former VP Moody Radio) “I was privileged to serve as General Manager under Collin as he served as Vice-President of Moody Radio. He was kind, level headed even amidst stressful situations, and above all, believed that the gospel changes everything. He always leaned into his leadership team, allowing each of us to do our jobs with his full support. Above all that, he was a dear friend as we spent time together talking about family, church, and ministry opportunities. His legacy will impact many for years to come.”

Matt McNeilly – Moody Radio National PD – “Collin was a faithful leader and has left a lasting impact on Moody Radio. His love for Jesus, unwavering commitment to Radio, and deep devotion to his family were evident in the way he lived every day. While I am saddened by his passing, I rejoice that he is now with the Savior he loved and served so faithfully.”

Kai Elmer (Fair Trade Vice President of National Promotion) – Collin Lambert was one of the very first people who took me under his wing, encouraged, and championed for me early in my career at Moody Radio in Chicago, IL.  I’ll always be thankful for him!  Moody sent us both down to South Florida in 2006 to help out during their local Pledge Drive.  The rental car facility was out of normal cars, and so they let us have a convertible for the week… and we took full advantage of the sunshine.  One afternoon, we decided to explore near the ocean.  We found ourselves in a neighborhood with mansion after huge mansion, until we found one in particular that was especially extravagant and had a giant American flag in the front yard.  The front gate was open, so Collin pulled the convertible in so I could get a picture.  As I was taking the picture, I heard Collin frantically yelling for me to get back to the car.  Turns out, security was coming down the driveway in a golf cart and didn’t look friendly.  We peeled out of the driveway and as we drove back to the station, couldn’t for the life of us figure out whose house that could have been.  When we got back, the staff knew immediately who it was – The Apprentice star Donald Trump.  Yup, Collin and I had trespassed at Mar-a-Lago… and didn’t even know it.

John Summerville (TWR) – “Our friendship blossomed after Collin moved to Austin and we began collaborating on fundraising projects together for TWR.  Whether it was off-air or when the mics went hot, Collin was always upbeat, humor shining through, and creative with his ability to communicate.  If you didn’t know he was fighting a battle, you wouldn’t know it, and I admired him for that.”

Denise Pagano (Air Talent, Formerly Moody Radio) – Collin & I hosted “Prime Time Chicago” on WMBI together . I never met him before that; and we became fast friends! We had so many great memories but one that I’ll never forget was when we interviewed Dick & Mel Tunney of First Call. We were both HUGE fans; and could hardly contain our excitement when they showed up for the show. There are so many more memories that I wish I could share with you but it would take days and days.

Paul Martin (iEncourager, Encourager In Chief) – “As a radio talk show host, Collin got people to call–not by provoking the listeners, but with his sheer energy. Decades later, as a Vice President for Moody Broadcasting, Collin helped people get involved with a cause or corporate initiative with the same winsome energy. Collin impacted people by galvanizing others to join him on the mission. I’m thankful to have witnessed the Holy Spirit working through Him with contagious enthusiasm.”

Dan Craig (former Moody Radio programmer) – “Collin loved the Lord, his family, and the people with whom he worked. During my first year working under Collin, my family endured the loss of our 15-year-old great niece, my mother, and then my father. As I was about halfway into delivering the eulogy at my father’s funeral, I spotted Collin sitting in the back of the church. He cared enough about me and my family, to make a trip from Chicago to San Diego to be present for us! That will always mean the world to me. That was Collin, consistently and sometimes quietly caring for teammates, ministry partners, and listeners. The impact of his life and ministry will not be known this side of heaven.”

Wayne Pederson (Former WMBI manager) – “Collin Lambert was one of the first to welcome me when I arrived as manager of WMBI. He was also one of the first to ask if I would be his mentor. Out of that, he was able to be my successor as VP for Moody Radio. Collin was an amazing combination of intuitive radio skills, the ability to connect naturally and effectively with his team, and a singular focus on his calling as a Christian radio professional accountable to God. Out of all of this came a humble, effective and loving model of leadership. And during the challenging times, he kept his focus on the mission without being distracted or intimidated by the disruptions. I loved him as a friend and respected him highly as a media professional. I will miss our tender and professional conversations.”

Bruce Everhart (Moody Bible Institute, Chief Development Officer) – “I had the privilege of hiring Collin Lambert for his first job at Moody, at WMBI in Chicago, and then watching his career and ministry grow from local radio to national and ultimately global influence. He soon became VP at Moody Radio and led the ministry and traveled abroad. From the beginning, Collin had a remarkable combination of talent, perseverance, deep faith and a genuine love for people. He had a relentless drive! He didn’t simply work in Christian media—he saw media as a means of serving people and advancing the Gospel. Collin and I spent countless hours together through the years, particularly during radio fundraising campaigns. We worked together so closely that eventually we could simply look across the studio at one another and know exactly what the other was thinking or where we needed to go next. You don’t often develop that kind of trust and instinct with a colleague, and I treasure it today. What was especially meaningful was watching Collin’s ministry continue to expand. His career took him from local ministry to national influence, but I believe his real sweet spot was the work he eventually did with ministries and people around the world. He poured himself into others, encouraged ministry leaders and used everything God had given him to strengthen the work of the Gospel. Collin was a wonder—a persevering saint and a man deeply blessed and used by God. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to give him that first job, but I’m far more grateful that over all these years I was able to call him my colleague, ministry partner and friend. I will miss him greatly.” 

Check out the exclusive HisAir 2021 interview with Collin Lambert HERE