Pastor Don Johnston grew up on a farm in southwest Iowa. He is one of six children, and was blessed in having genuine Christian parents who lived for Christ, had family devotions, and were faithful servants in their local church. He was saved at age 6, and followed the Lord in believer's baptism at age 9.

He attended Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa. While there, he married his wife, Jennifer, and graduated from college in 1976. He has pastored 3 churches: Faith Baptist Church in Knoxville, IA (1976-1985), First Baptist Church in Hibbing, MN (1986-2002), and currently, Calvary Baptist Church in Grinnell, IA (2002-present). By God's grace, he has enjoyed continuous pastoral ministry for over 30 years.

He and his wife, Jenni, have four grown children who also all attended Faith Baptist Bible College, they are also all married and they now have 2 grandchildren.

Pastor Johnston currently serves on the trustee board of two other ministries: Faith Baptist Bible College (his alma-mater) and the Iowa Regular Baptist Camp (where Don and Jenni met as teenagers!). He enjoys several hobbies including table tennis, and his classic car, a 1964 Chevy Impala.

He has several favorite verses including Deuteronomy 29:29, I Chronicles 4:10, and II Chronicles 16:9.

His life's motto is "Keep doing the hard, right thing", a statement borrowed from an admired colleague in the ministry, and the essence of inspirational verses such as I Corinthians 15:58, Galatians 6:9 and Hebrews 11:6.