Thirty minutes into absorbing a lecture in her 1960’s LIFE Bible College classroom, Donna Winsor gets the call for help again. An aide slips into the room and whispers, “Um, excuse me, professor. Donna is needed.” With a simple nod from her professor signaling permission, Donna exits quickly and follows the aide directly to the side of the Angelus Temple parishioner who needs her help. As she assesses the woman’s vitals and starts to care for her physical needs, she also whispers a prayer to the Great Physician.
A nurse by profession, and a pastor by calling, Donna Winsor’s bright intellect and passion allowed her to pivot gracefully from full-time nursing into life as a minister-in-training. Born in Tacoma, Washington, and a 1965 graduate of Hudson’s Bay High School in Vancouver, Washington, Donna earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Southern California before bringing both academic excellence and a deep sense of calling to her studies at LIFE Bible College. Her vibrant personality drew many classmates to her side, but Donna’s focus was steadfast on the goal of graduating. In late spring of 1970, she earned her Standard Ministerial Diploma from LIFE Bible College.
Her classmates already recognized the unique combination of intellect, compassion, and ministry calling that would define her life. The 1970 LIFE yearbook noted Donna’s desire to become a medical missionary and highlighted her nursing experience, hematology research work, campus leadership, and favorite Scripture, John 15:16.
Shortly after graduating, Donna and fellow ministry partner Karen Arnold ’70 embarked on a ministry assignment at West Hollywood Foursquare Church, where they co-pastored for over a year before Donna moved back to the Pacific Northwest. There, Donna served at Eugene Foursquare Church (Faith Center) in Eugene, Oregon, where she was on pastoral staff under senior pastor Roy Hicks, Jr. The church was growing rapidly.
Her next appointment in 1975 was as an assisting minister at historic Angelus Temple Foursquare Church in Los Angeles under the leadership of Dr. John and Doris Holland, before Dr. Holland became the president of the Foursquare denomination.
After a year of serving at Angelus Temple, Donna returned to her roots in Washington state. Born in Tacoma and raised in Vancouver Foursquare Church, she had attended Northwest District camps as a girl. Years later, she returned to serve the very district that had helped shape her, where she faithfully served on staff with the Northwest District for just over a year under the leadership of District Supervisor Dr. Roy Hicks, Sr.
After this time, Donna took an appointment as an assisting minister at Hillsboro Foursquare Church in Hillsboro, Oregon, under the leadership of Dr. Coleman and Mary Phillips. She served at Hillsboro Foursquare from 1978-1982. While preaching one day during this season, Donna’s gaze fell on David Brink. Something inside her said, “You’re going to marry him.” Donna later laughed that her first reaction was to wonder whether the thought could possibly be from the Lord, as she and David couldn’t have seemed more opposite; David an introvert and Donna an extrovert. However, in time she came to realize that the Lord intended for her and David to be partners in life and ministry, and they were married. Soon after, their first daughter was born. She was named Aimee. Later, another daughter, Emilee, would also be born into the Brink family.
After their season of serving at Hillsboro Foursquare concluded, Donna and David embarked on the adventure of running camps in the Northwest District. David had an MBA, which enabled him to innovate and set up systems for registrations and check-in. Foursquare records show Donna as serving both as Camp Staff and an Assisting Minister/Evangelist over the course of 14 years from 1982-1996. Together, David and Donna helped create camp experiences that shaped and encouraged generations of young people throughout the Northwest District.
In 1997, Donna transitioned into an assisting minister role at Eugene North Foursquare Church, and in 2004, Donna was asked to step in as the interim senior pastor. The church grew exponentially during the year she served in that role, and Donna was asked to continue. Grateful for the opportunity but committed to the specific calling the Lord had placed on her heart, she declined and moved back into the role of associate pastor upon the appointment of a new senior pastor. She served faithfully in the Eugene North Foursquare community until 2011.
Donna’s last Foursquare ministry appointment was at Junction City Foursquare Church, where she served as an assisting minister starting in 2014. During that time, she also was asked to speak for a United Methodist spiritual development program. Donna served faithfully at Junction City Foursquare Church for a decade.
Beyond her pastoral ministry, Donna served as a youth curriculum writer for Strang Publications (now Charisma Media) and David C. Cook. She was also a sought-after conference speaker whose ministry extended far beyond the congregations she served.
Donna closed the earthly chapter of her life and entered her eternal reward in 2024. She is survived by her beloved husband David, daughters Aimee and Emilee, and now also by a grandchild.
Friend and fellow LIFE alumna Vickie Becker ’71 remembers Donna as “a quick wit, and more than usually brilliant for her time.” Vickie shared, “Donna stood out as someone who was extremely intelligent and engaging; everyone wanted to be her friend.”
Throughout her life, Donna faithfully answered God’s call to ministry leadership, serving churches, mentoring others, and encouraging countless people along the way. In honor of her legacy, David Brink established the Donna Winsor Brink Scholarship to support women preparing for or serving in ministry leadership within Foursquare churches.
Long before she embarked on her ministry journey, Donna’s LIFE Bible College yearbook described a young woman whose desire was to serve God wherever He called her. More than fifty years later, that same calling continues to inspire others through the lives she touched and the students who will benefit from this scholarship for years to come.
If you would like to give toward the Donna Winsor Brink Scholarship, click here.
