Pastor Don graduated with a dual degree in Economics and Religion from the College of William and Mary in 1984. After working as a salesman for McGraw-Hill Book Company for six years, he attended Denver Seminary and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1994. He was ordained in the Evangelical Presbyterian Denomination in 1995.

From 1996 until 2009, Pastor Don and his wife Pam, were missionaries with One Challenge International based in Nairobi, Kenya. This was a wonderful ministry adventure with their family; son Austin (2 years old when they arrived), daughter Elianna (born in Nairobi in 1998) and daughter Michelle (born in Nairobi in 2001). Pastor Don spent much of his time in leading training conferences and mentoring groups with Kenyan Pastors, and Pam (as an occupational therapist) became an invaluable medical advocate for many in Nairobi. Pastor Don and Pam returned to Colorado in 2009 and joined Cornerstone Community Church in January of 2010 where they have enjoyed working as a team to lead the church into a multi-ethnic, multi-social and multi-generational direction.