My name is Donald Jensen; I am 22 yrs old and have lived in Rio Rancho since I was 4. I have a younger brother who is almost two years younger than me and I also have a 6yr old sister. My testimony begins in November of 1996. I was 7yrs old, my dad was in a biker gang and my mom was a stay at home mom. We were walking home from McDonald’s and when we got home I remember seeing flashing lights. There were police officers there and when we got inside my mom sent us to our room. Then she came and got us and a chaplain sat us down and with tears in his eyes told us that our dad was dead. This chaplain was Pastor Robert Hall. From my knowledge what happened was that the night before a man whom had issues with my dad shot at our house and my dad went to go take care of it. When he got to that mans house the man shot my dad to death.
My life from that point on was hard. My mom had some boyfriends and my brother and I grew up without the love of a parent. When I was 14 we got evicted from our house and we were homeless for about a year. We spent most of our time in hotels, some time at friend’s houses and a few times in my mom’s truck. At this time I got involved in drinking and smoking marijuana. I was depressed and angry at my life and my mom and I got into trouble at school often.
After the year of being homeless my brother and I were put into foster care. Foster care was terrible but I was happy because I was not with my mom anymore. During this time my mom got saved and 8 months later she had custody of us. Shortly after that I accepted the Lord as my personal savior, it was May of 2004 and about 10 months after that my baby sister was born.
I just recently graduated with honors from Calvary Chapel Bible College with my AA in Theology. I am engaged and plan on pursuing my Masters in Biblical Studies once I am finished with my BA, as well as go into full time Pastoral ministry whenever the Lord presents the opportunity.
1. What are some of your hobbies?
I like to draw, read, study the Word of God and spend time with my fiancé. I also like to hang out with they youth group kids. I love to play ultimate Frisbee and working out.
2. What is your favorite book in the Bible?
My favorite book in the Bible right now is probably Philippians or Hebrews. I also really like Isaiah.
3. What is your favorite Bible verse and why?
My favorite Bible verse as of now would probably have to be Philippians 1:20 & 21, “according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
This is my favorite verse right now because this is what my attitude as a Christian should be and what I am praying to achieve. As a Christian my attitude should be, “it doesn’t matter what happens to me as long as Christ is glorified and His Gospel sent out.”
4. What is your best childhood memory?
My best childhood memory was before my dad died and my family went to my great grandma’s house in Farmington for the 4th of July. A lot of my extended family lived out there and we would BBQ and listen to the national anthem as we watched the fire works.