We recently spoke with long-time collector and club member John S., and we think you'll find his enthusiasm and optimism infectious! John’s passion for Precious Moments began around 35 years ago when he was a young man. “There was a Hallmark store near where I lived, and I would often go there to browse,” John explains. “On my 25th birthday, I treated myself to a figurine that had caught my interest: ‘Onward Christian Soldiers.’”

Over the years, John has collected around 700 figurines. Each one was chosen because of the unique message it shared. “It’s not so much about the theme or the way they look; it has always been about the message,” he says. “There has to be an emotional connection; what attracted my attention was not only the artistic component but also the good, encouraging message.”

The more John delved into the history of Precious Moments, the more he fell in love with the inspirational messages. “I started taking an interest in the history of Precious Moments. I’d read the collector magazines, the Green Book (a former Collector's guide to Precious Moments), and I started learning about the figurines, Samuel J. Butcher, and what got him started. The more I investigated the history, the more invested I became,” John recalls.

John and his wife, Stephanie, don’t follow traditional household roles. He proudly states that the Precious Moments collection is his own. “Stephanie is amazing; she can fix the furnace and the plumbing, but I am the collector!” he jokes. Stephanie does have a curio cabinet filled with figurines that others have given her, including “Thou Art Mine,” the figurine John gifted her as a wedding present.

John is a proud admin for the Facebook group, ‘Precious Inspiration.’ This group is not about buying or selling Precious Moments. John explains, “We started as a small collector group, and it started taking off! If you need encouragement or a virtual hug, that’s what it is all about. Plus, we have raised over $20,000 for the Chapel! My job is, once or twice a week, to provide a little sermon that centers around a figurine. That’s my thing. Mr. Butcher was all about spreading the gospel, spreading the word of God, and we are trying to honor that.”

One of John’s goals was to visit the Chapel and meet Mr. Butcher. In 2022, he finally made that trip and helped during the family reunion event. He met many wonderful people and had a fantastic time, but one moment touched his heart deeply. “After having lunch with Mr. Butcher, I was able to have a private conversation and pray with him. I was the pastor of a neighborhood church in our community, so being able to put my hand on his shoulder and pray for him was huge. As soon as I said ‘Amen,’ my trip to Missouri was complete,” John says.

All these years later, he still has that first figurine, “Onward Christian Soldiers,” and the inspiration he draws from it endures. We hope the message of Precious Moments continues to touch all our Club members and fans as it does John. Learn more about becoming a Club Member.