“I consider the 14 years I was able to serve as Precious Lamb’s Executive Director a tremendous, life-changing gift. I still recall my interview around a kitchen table in 2007 with then Board members Kris Asgian, Barbara Willie, and Harry Slatzgaver. As they spoke about the mission of Precious Lamb, I remember my heart leaping inside.
Nothing has transformed my life, my skills, and my faith as much as Precious Lamb has. I will be forever grateful for the role this place and this community have played in both my professional and personal life. It’s hard to narrow down my time here and sum it up in a story or two, but a few defining moments always come to mind.
What a ride those years of expansion and growth were. They were challenging, exciting, and fun. To be able to serve more families, expand our services, grow our staff and board, and become a reflection of the diverse families we served—it felt like God’s favor was over everything we were doing. I remember standing at the playground renovation ribbon cutting in 2019 and looking out at the sea of people who had gathered to support Precious Lamb. It felt as though God’s grace and the opportunities before us were limitless.
More than anything, though, I will always cherish the relationships. I remember the first time a mom called just to see how I was doing. I remember being invited into first apartments for meals, attending birthday parties, graduations, the births of babies, and even funerals. When the moms from Breakfast Club surprised me with a baby shower for my first child, they told me I was now “part of the real ‘hood’—motherhood!” It was in those moments that I truly felt like family.
There is something incredibly special about working in a place where our passions and gifts align for a greater purpose. The teachers, parents, volunteers, and children I met through Precious Lamb will forever remain a part of my life.
I believe what sets Precious Lamb apart from any other program is the unconditional love and acceptance extended to every family. It doesn’t matter what they have been through, the choices they have made, or the circumstances they are facing. When they walk through our doors, they are welcomed with respect, dignity, and treated as equals—they are simply in a different part of their journey.
My hope is that as Precious Lamb continues for the next 20 to 200 years, the legacy of Precious Lamb will always be love, love, love.“
— Lailanie Jones, Former Executive Director
