Former DAYSTAR Employee Jeanette Hawkins Doesn’t Recognize Rachel As The Person She Knew

Former Daystar Executive Janette Hawkins Shares Her Story and Reflects on the Relationships That Once Defined the Ministry

For many years, Janette Hawkins worked behind the scenes at Daystar Television Network, helping oversee one of the organization’s fastest-growing departments during a period of rapid expansion.

Although her name later became associated with public lawsuits and controversy, Hawkins says the story that many people heard never reflected her own experience.

Appearing in a recent interview, she spoke publicly about her years at Daystar, the legal disputes that followed, and the personal toll she says the controversy had on her life.

Hawkins explained that remaining silent became increasingly difficult as online discussions continued to repeat claims she believed misrepresented her role.

She described reaching a point where she felt her story had been buried beneath accusations and public narratives that she says left her feeling isolated and emotionally exhausted.

Speaking publicly, she explained, was motivated not only by a desire to tell her own story but also by the hope of encouraging others who feel trapped by false accusations or painful experiences.

Before the controversy, Hawkins played a significant role in developing Daystar’s marketing operations.

She joined the ministry as Director of Marketing when the department was still relatively small.

Over time, she said she helped expand it into a much larger operation that included graphic designers, web development, special events, writers, and creative teams responsible for supporting the network’s growing outreach.

Managing that expansion required constant coordination across multiple departments.

Although she acknowledged that deadlines were demanding and expectations could be intense, Hawkins described her leadership style as deeply personal.

She said she viewed many of the employees under her supervision as extended family and took pride in mentoring younger staff members entering the ministry.

Several former colleagues have publicly expressed appreciation for her leadership.

During the interview, the host shared comments from former employees who described Hawkins as one of their favorite supervisors, praising both her encouragement and professional guidance throughout their time at the network.

Much of the conversation centered on Hawkins’ memories of Jonathan and Rachel Lamb during their younger years.

She recalled first meeting Jonathan while he was rotating through different departments as part of a workplace training program designed by his father, Marcus Lamb.

At the time, Hawkins said she had no idea he was expected to one day lead the ministry.

According to Hawkins, Jonathan’s humility immediately stood out.

She remembered him quietly delivering materials to her office without drawing attention to his family background or future role within the organization.

Only after another employee identified him as Marcus and Joni Lamb’s son did she realize his position within the family.

For Hawkins, that experience reflected what she described as Jonathan’s consistently humble personality.

Her memories of Rachel Lamb were somewhat different.

She described Rachel as energetic, determined, and confident from a young age.

Hawkins recalled Rachel joking that one day she would become her boss and eventually lead Daystar herself.

Rather than interpreting those comments negatively, Hawkins said she viewed them as signs of youthful ambition and admired Rachel’s enthusiasm for learning about marketing and creative work.

She also remembered Rachel’s generosity.

One story involved Rachel immediately giving Hawkins a pair of earrings after hearing her compliment them.

Hawkins said the simple gesture reflected the kind-hearted young woman she knew during those years.

Because of those memories, she admitted finding today’s public conflict especially painful.

She said the person she now sees in public discussions feels very different from the teenager she once mentored.

While acknowledging that people naturally change over time, Hawkins expressed sadness over the fractured relationships now surrounding the Lamb family.

Jonathan’s future leadership also appeared clear during those early years.

Hawkins stated that employees consistently understood Marcus Lamb intended for Jonathan to eventually lead Daystar.

Although Rachel demonstrated strong leadership ambitions, Hawkins said she never witnessed open rivalry between the siblings while she worked there.

Instead, she remembered Jonathan and Rachel displaying distinctly different personalities rather than competing directly for influence.

The interview also explored the broader family conflict that has unfolded in recent years.

While discussing today’s public disagreements, Hawkins repeatedly emphasized her sadness over the breakdown of relationships within the family.

Coming from a close-knit family herself, she said it was difficult to watch relatives become divided so publicly.

She also reflected on seeing Rachel during more recent public appearances.

Although acknowledging the sharp criticism Rachel has received online, Hawkins said she still remembers the compassionate and generous young woman she once knew.

Reconciling those memories with today’s public controversy, she admitted, has been emotionally challenging.

Throughout the interview, Hawkins avoided portraying people as entirely good or entirely bad.

Instead, she suggested that complicated family situations often involve emotional struggles that outsiders cannot fully understand.

While expressing disagreement with certain developments, she stopped short of making sweeping judgments about the individuals involved.

The conversation ultimately became less about organizational disputes and more about the human cost of prolonged public conflict.

Hawkins described how years of legal battles, public accusations, and internet commentary affected her personally, while also expressing hope that truth, healing, and reconciliation remain possible for everyone involved.

Her story offers a perspective shaped not only by professional experience but also by personal relationships formed long before Daystar became engulfed in controversy.

Whether discussing her former colleagues, the Lamb family, or her own experiences, Hawkins consistently returned to the same theme: people are often far more complex than the public narratives built around them.

For her, understanding those complexities remains essential if genuine healing is ever to replace years of division, misunderstanding, and public conflict.