Like many, Don grew up thinking that he was a Christian because everyone born in America was a Christian. When he was a junior in college the Lord helped him to truly understand His love and power to change a life through Jesus. Don came to Christ at a Billy Graham Los Angeles Crusade in the 1960’s. While completing his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration at Cal Poly Pomona, he sensed the call of God on his life to follow Jesus Christ completely and to forget business and prepare for the ministry. He studied both in England and at Talbot Seminary in La Mirada, California.
Early in in his ministry, he was an assistant pastor to Chuck Smith at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, California. Next, he and his wife Jean moved to Lake Arrowhead where he planted and pastored Calvary Chapel of Lake Arrowhead. During those years he founded Calvary Chapel Bible College in nearby Twin Peaks at the Calvary Chapel Conference Center (The college is now located in Murrieta Hot Springs). Sensing the Lord’s direction to move on, they then pioneered and pastored another Calvary Chapel in Redlands, California, for eleven years. In 1991, still having that pioneering spirit, they moved to San Jose with the heart to plant a number of churches in the Bay Area.
In September 2002, he responded to a request from Chuck Smith to return to Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa to serve as an assistant pastor. In 2004 he took over the leadership of Calvary Chapel of Laguna Beach to help guide it through a difficult time.
That work being completed, he responded to a long time desire to step out and serve the churches, schools and missionaries around the world through teaching at conferences, retreats, Bible colleges, intern programs, church services, and any other door God opens. The teaching style of both Pastor Don and his wife Jean is simple and practical. With a heart that is encouraging, inspirational, and challenging to all in their desire to know our Lord Jesus and serve Him completely. Their ministry is now named “Calvary Way Ministries.”