Jill Goad, the executive director of Feed Lake Highlands. Photography by Kathy Tran.
After a decade of serving hungry families in Lake Highlands, Feed Lake Highlands is changing directions in leadership.
Executive Director Jill Goad, who’s served the faith-based nonprofit within Lake Highlands United Methodist since founding it in 2012, has announced her retirement.
Her retirement date will be effective Dec. 31.
Goad made the stunning announcement in an email Wednesday evening and a blog post the next day. In it, she stated the impact the nonprofit has made on the community, from helping out 14 families in 2012 to helping 334 families just last month.
“I believe God is calling someone new to take us into the next 10 years and beyond,” she wrote. “I clearly hear God calling me back to Outreach to focus on feeding the soul and providing spiritual nourishment.”
Now, however, is the season for change. Still, she’ll participate in Feed Lake Highlands activities through Lake Highlands UMC’s Outreach Ministry.
Here’s a snippet of what she shared in her announcement:
I will remain a part of FLH through the work of Outreach and New Room church and all the ways we can feed people the Word of God. Going part-time allows me family time to visit my 6 grandsons and their parents in CT, TN, and TX. It also gives me the opportunity to volunteer at food distribution, book mobile, and in the schools with our tutoring programs. My heart is with all things FLH and always will be! I am committed to feeding the body, mind, and soul of our neighbors. I am not leaving FLH – only stepping aside as the Director. And excited to be focusing on the “feeding the soul” part of FLH. Our board is actively following a transition plan as they search for God to bring forth the next ED.  – Jill Goad
Feed Lake Highlands Board Chair Lisa Sides says Goad will be greatly missed in retirement.
“Jill has been really fantastic, and I’m just really sad to see her go. But the ministry is a very important ministry,” Sides says. “It is a wonderful ministry. We love loving our neighbors and meeting neighbors who may not meet otherwise, and Jill’s been very relational. Our program members just love her, and we’re hoping to find somebody who can carry the torch.”
If you have any questions or are interested as a candidate for executive director, email Sides at lisajsides@gmail.com.
