A Short Bio Of Don

BORN TO RAZE HELL-ABOUT DON....

Don Hildenbrand was born in November of 1960 in Portland, Oregon.

Because his birth father was involved in a bank robbery gone awry and left for dead, then was arrested and jailed after his recovery, Don and his brother were put into the local foster care system. Because his foster mother was a devout Christian, he began attending church at a very young age.

At the age of eight, Don was enrolled in his church's "Timothy Class", a program for young men who showed potential for public ministry. In this class, he was taught the basics of public scripture reading, leading worship, preaching, and other aspects of public ministry. Thus, from a young age, Don was involved in the work of the ministry.

When he was 14, Don began learning to play guitar and bass, and began writing songs, although most of those early songs were quite.. forgettable.

At the age of 17, Don became involved with a local youth program, and sang and played bass with a Christian band associated with that program.

At the same time, he played locally in Portland at various venues, ultimately singing together at events with a local band known as Seafood Mama, which later changed it's name to Quarterflash and recorded the hit single "Harden Your Heart".

Don joined the U.S. Army at the age of 18, and spent time in South Korea and Germany, as well as being based out of various bases in the U.S.

During this time, he had walked away from anything related to churches and God, and became addicted to alcohol and other substances.

After being arrested and spending time in jail for an alcohol related driving charge, he began to once more seek a relationship with God.

Through the help of a friend who had once been a "drug buddy", but had found a relationship with God, Don was led back into the path of fellowship with God.

Don had hurt his back severely during a mission, and upon leaving the military, found that he was entitled to VA benefits, including having his higher education paid for.

After serving as a Youth Pastor for a small Church Of The Nazarene congregation, Don enrolled at Eastern Nazarene College, associated with the Church Of The Nazarene, and began the Ordination Track program, which included all educational requirements for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene, with a major in Religious Studies and a minor in Psychology.

During this time, he also served as Associate Pastor of a Congregational Church in Boston, Massachusetts,took first place in a Public Scripture Reading competition, and was the first non-senior in the history of the College to address the student body at a chapel service.

After graduation, Don was offered an Interim Pastor assignment of a Nazarene congregation in a small rural town in Maine, which turned into a full time assignment. When he arrived, the church had 17 attendees. When he left, the church had an attendance of close to one hundred. Don then accepted an assignment to another Nazarene congregation on the coast of Maine, and helped to grow the church from an attendance of about 40 to a size of well over one hundred members and attendees.

Don left Maine and returned to his home state of Oregon, where he went through a painful divorce and lost contact with his two children, reembarked on his journey into and through drug and alcohol addiction, finished the program then worked with a faith based Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation center as the Director of Public Relations; held a position as a Public School Liaison Officer with the Portland Police bureau, earning a Commendation Medal from the department, and, after leaving Portland, enrolled in Southwestern Oregon College, earning a degree in Substance Abuse Counseling.

He then started a not for profit Halfway House for drug and alcohol addicts, and served as Executive Director until its closing in 2002, due to funding problems related to the 9/11 attack.

During these 10 years, Don also was involved in Music Evangelism, and served as assistant Pastor in a number of congregations, encompassing a wide variety of theological persuasions, and regularly filled the pulpit, led worship, and provided special music in a church of over 3000 members.

After working for a period of time as the Director of Intensive Outpatient Therapy for a detox center in a coastal Oregon town, Don left Oregon, moved to Missouri, and worked with a traveling carnival for two years, where, along with his other duties, served as an "unofficial" carnival Chaplain.

During this time, he met his wife, Brenda, and they now live in Wisconsin, where they are both very active in their local church.

Don's theology is a bit more "relaxed" than it was as a Nazarene minister; let's just say that he isn't a fundamentalist! (NOT that there's anything WRONG with that!)

Although personally following the Christian path, Don is an INTERFAITH minister, and believes in helping anyone he can, regardless of their personal faith path, as they walk through this journey called life.

Don's passions include writing, recording and performing uplifting Gospel music, preaching, and spiritually based motivational speaking, as well as writing books which uplift, edify, and motivate.Oh, and eating.... and did I mention sleeping?

Don is now ordained with Oregon Gospel Ministries, a non-denominational fellowship of Independent Ministers,(That's his evangelical side...) and with Universal Ministries, an inter-faith association of ministers.(That's his more liberal side...) (Yes, they co-exist peacefully!)

If you'd like Don to sing or speak at your church, organization or event, or perform a "difficult" wedding or affirmation service, just contact him! Don is available for a wide range of services, all on a donation or no fee basis!

By the way, Don is probably the "least preachist" preacher you'll ever meet.....  ;-)