Faith, Courage, and a Life Abroad: The Inspiring Story of John Donhowe

John Donhowe is a devoted missionary and ordained minister with a profound passion for sharing the gospel. Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, John spent over three decades as a missionary in Bolivia, South America, where he committed his life to ministering to local communities, developing Christian education programs, and spreading his faith. A graduate of Roosevelt High School and Central College in Pella, John’s life changed at 27 when he turned to faith after a personal health crisis. He went on to attend Kingsway Bible College, earning a bachelor’s degree in theology. Over the years, John has led various
ministries, including a local church and a Christian school in Bolivia. His enduring commitment to missions and his deep love for Bolivia continue to inspire his work in both the United States and abroad.

In this episode of the Courageous Crossroads podcast, Jeff interviews John Donhowe, a missionary with over 35 years of experience in Bolivia. John shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Des Moines to dedicating his life to ministry and missions. He reflects on how his faith shaped his decisions, his experiences in Bolivia, and the courageous steps he took to follow God’s call. This episode offers insights into the trials and joys of missionary work, the importance of faith, and the profound impact of sharing the gospel across the world.

Thank you for listening! We hope you feel inspired and encouraged by our conversation today. If you did, be sure to share this episode with others.

Let’s stay in touch:

• Follow us on Instagram @crossroadsapologetics
• Email us at info@crossroadsapologetics.org
• Visit our website www.crossroadsapologetics.org

See you in the next episode! Be blessed!

Full Transcript

Intro:
Welcome to Courageous by Crossroads Apologetics, a look into what motivates us to step out in courage and the everyday bravery of men and women like you. In each episode, we hear a personal story of bravery centered around this. What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done? And now your host, founder of Crossroads Apologetics, Jeff Johnson. 

Jeff Johnson:
Well, well, I have got a Wonderful episode for all you listeners today. John Donhow is my guest, and John and I know each other through a local men’s ministry that meets in West Des Moines on Wednesdays. And John and I got to talking after one session one morning and I got to learn a little bit more about his story. And I was amazed, and you’re going to be amazed as well, somebody who really lives by faith and listens to the call of God on their life and goes where they’re supposed to go. And John did that. And anyway, he’s got an amazing story to tell and I just can’t wait for you to hear it. So enjoy this one and also remember to email in and let us know if you’ve got a story similar to John’s or maybe very dissimilar to John’s, but something that’s called out courage in your life. And you’d like to share it. Because we’d all love to hear it. But without further ado, here is my dear friend John Donhow. 

Jeff Johnson:
Well, John, thanks so much for joining us today on the Courageous Crossroads. And I’m so excited to talk to you and hear your story today. Thank you very much for being here. 

John Donhowe:
Well, I appreciate it. Thank you for inviting me, Jeff. I really enjoyed hearing you share Cross Trainers. I’ve always learned something new. 

Jeff Johnson:
Oh, well, that’s what how nice of you to say that. So this is how John and I know each other. For the listeners out there, I get the opportunity to speak at Cross Trainers, which is a men’s group hosted by Gary Rosberg, America’s Family coaches. Gary and Barb Rosberg have a ministry called Cross Trainers, and they have it every Wednesday morning in West Des Moines. And it’s for you men out there that are listening and are in the Des Moines area or clinic close to it’s worth a Google. And anyway, I get to be one of the speakers that speaks quarterly. And John and I got to know each other through those speaking endeavors. And John, you came up after the last time I spoke and we got to know each other a little bit more. 

Jeff Johnson:
And I was surprised that maybe you have not been around the Des Moines Area that long? 

John Donhowe:
Well, I was born and raised in Des Moines, but been here the last five years, but the time before, 35 years in Bolivia, South America. 

Jeff Johnson:
So you were gone for quite some time there in the middle, and I sure want to get to that. And of course, here on the courageous crossroads, we come down to the question, what’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done? And I won’t ask you that just yet, but I want to do a little background, John, if that’s okay. Can you tell people, maybe a little bit of your backstory, what you were doing before you ended up in Bolivia, and maybe a little bit of your faith journey and that sort of thing? 

John Donhowe:
Well, I grew up in Des Moines here and graduated from Roosevelt High School, went to and graduated from Pella College down in Pella, and business and economics degree there. I think a minor in Latin American studies too. I was always interested in Latin America, but I didn’t do much about it. I didn’t know the Lord. In 1977, I came to the Lord. I was 27 years old. 

Jeff Johnson:
Wow. 

John Donhowe:
Kind of get to the end of your rope there. All of a sudden I had a fever, high fever of 104 and hadn’t eaten for about five days. And I went to the clinic and they said, well, he just kind of laughed and said, you got the measles. I didn’t think it was so funny. So I went home the next day was Saturday and tried to make deals with God. Nothing happened. You know, these prayers just didn’t reach higher than the ceiling. And that day, at 5:30 in the afternoon, I had no problem to know that I was a sinner and I deserved to go to hell because I’d been to church and read some of the Bible. And so I just realized he wanted me to give my life over to him. 

John Donhowe:
So I got on my knees and I said, well, here, I’ll turn my life over to you, Lord, forgive me my sins. 

Jeff Johnson:
This is when you’re 27 years old. 

John Donhowe:
Yes. 

Jeff Johnson:
And you’re, you’re single. Are you in the working world now? 

John Donhowe:
Yeah, I’m single in the working world. And then I just, I got up, back to bed and the peace of God just came over. And with a half hour, I completely healed. The doctor told me I need to be quarantined for 10 days. But Jesus is so wonderful that he even not only cleanses your soul to feel righteous. My hardest part was could he forgive me? Could he forgive me for all the things that I Did. And he does. Praise the Lord. He does. He wipes us clean and gives us a new start. I opened up the door of the house the next day and said, wow, it’s like I woke up from a dream. I saw the world the first time through the eyes of Jesus. I got up in the morning, started reading the Bible, and I haven’t stopped. 

Jeff Johnson:
That’s many, many years ago. So then what kind of trade were you working in at that point? 

John Donhowe:
Well, actually I was working at as amfac drug company. 

Jeff Johnson:
Okay. 

John Donhowe:
Working on the drugs on the shelf, filling orders and. But my family had a bank, the Norwalk Bank. And somehow I asked about going to the bank there to work. My grandfather wanted me to go to another one, but then my dad insisted that I come. They saw a change in my life. They saw a difference in my life. I had to ask them forgiveness three times until they really believed it. And so I got to work seven years with my dad. What a privilege that was. I enjoyed it. Making loans at the bank. It’s just a small bank and it was the best job I ever had. And just hunger for God fill my heart from the beginning. That’s why a year later I started going to Bible college. Kingsway Bible College. Those small Pentecostal Bible college. 

John Donhowe:
The presence of the Lord just filled everything. We get up from work at night, we studied. But you couldn’t wait to get there. I. I wasn’t thinking of being a minister or anything. I just wanted to know more about God. 

Jeff Johnson:
So what were you. Were you pursuing a degree path at Kingsway? 

John Donhowe:
Yes, yes, I want to start out. I didn’t really know, you know, I just. I started out in the middle of the year and I ended up pursuing it and I finally found out what I wanted to study in. Economics and business were okay, but that was. I was not in any direction. Yeah, good. It’s just. 

Jeff Johnson:
So what did you land on? A. What did you land. What degree did you land on at Kingsway? 

John Donhowe:
Well, a bachelor’s degree in theology. 

Jeff Johnson:
Okay. 

John Donhowe:
And I’m a licensed ordained minister with Kingsway Fellowship International, which has been around. I think next the end of the month is celebrate over 50 years, 55 years, maybe, that ministry. 

Jeff Johnson:
Wow. So then what happened after Kingsway, then? You’re working in the family business. You’re working at the bank down in Norwalk. You’ve gone to school at Kingsway. You’ve already. Prior to that, you’ve got, I assume, an associate’s degree from the college Impella. 

John Donhowe:
Well, a bachelor’s Degree in business and economics. I don’t know how I got those two degrees. And well, just being involved a lot of ministry, going street witnessing, door to door witnessing, preaching in nursing homes. I think the first place I preached was in the Bethel Mission and in my church doing all kinds of activities. And I was just involved in so much. I was also an elder in the church. They started an eldership program and. And I asked him to pray for me in January of 1984. I’m tired of being in everything. I wish God would narrow it down to something. And in April I had a meeting with a pastor, Allen Hendrickson. And he said, well, John, you got a call on your life. You just need to receive the call. So we prayed a short prayer. Nothing happened. 

John Donhowe:
But I couldn’t sleep that night. I prayed all night. And the next day I told my dad in the afternoon, dad, the Lord’s called me into the ministry. I’m going to leave the bank. And of course he asked the next following question. Well, what are you going to do? I didn’t have answer. When the call of God comes, it’s a precious thing when a call God touches your life. It’s something that really grabs hold of you deep. And that’s what’s maintained me in the ministry all these years. He’s knowing that he called. And so I asked my dad three days off to go pray and fast in Colfax. They used to have a monastery there. And so I went there. I thought, well, I thought about missions, but. 

John Donhowe:
And I’d been on, I’d taken the youth group on a couple missions trips and that from the church. But I thought, I can’t even pound a nail into a wall. I’m not a handyman in any way. My wife is more handy than I am. And so I thought, well, I couldn’t do that. So I, I prayed. And he said this verse, and I think it’s in John 6, I always get confused. 37 that says, all that the Father gives me, she’ll come to me. And him that comes to me, I will no wise cast him out. And so I took that as a yes. He was going to accept me. Because when I read about the disciples, Matthew 4:19, it talks about talking to the fisherman there. Jesus said to them, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. 

John Donhowe:
And they straightway left their nets and followed him. And I said, that’s what I wanted. I want to be a fisher of men. I want to be a soul winner. 

Jeff Johnson:
Yeah. 

John Donhowe:
And before that, I didn’t have a burden for souls. I didn’t even know you had to win souls. I was saved. Going to the Lutheran Church, that didn’t talk too much about winning souls. And I’d go to the Bible college. All I talked about was winning souls and missions. And so I said, well, God, I don’t have this passion. You’re going to have to do something with it. And he did. 

Jeff Johnson:
And this has all taken place in your three days. Little reprieve that you’ve asked. 

John Donhowe:
Three days was at the end of this. 

Jeff Johnson:
Okay. 

John Donhowe:
It was taking place before. It involved me in going to ministries. 

Jeff Johnson:
Now, was your dad a good, strong believer? I mean, was he understanding this language? Was he on the same page with you? 

John Donhowe:
Well, yes and no. I don’t know how he was, but yeah, he certainly knew and he saw that. He said, I don’t think you could do any more without leaving the bank there, because if you wanted it alone, you had to hear the plan of salvation. And my tracks on the desk. I mean, I mean, they got a big leverage there. People want something from you. And so, I mean, I prayed for broken marriages, prayed for different things that happened there. But, you know, it’s a small town, a community there. And so it was a great opportunity place to witness. I didn’t know any other thing to do, but wherever you were, I just encourage anybody here. Says, wherever you work, you’re called to be a missionary. Right there, Charles. Virgin says every man, every Christian is a missionary or an imposter. 

John Donhowe:
And so we’re called to win souls. So you, wherever you’re at, just get out there. That’s the main purpose you’re there for. 

Jeff Johnson:
That’s right. That’s right. Okay, so now take us to. You’re getting close, I think, to go into Bolivia, John. I can just sense it. 

John Donhowe:
Yeah. 

Jeff Johnson:
Your story. 

John Donhowe:
Yeah, well, yeah. What a longing to go. The church really backed me with a nice commissioning ceremony in November of 84. And I think everybody was happy, except my family was crying. They didn’t really understand much. Parents give up a lot to let a kid go to mission. They can either encourage it or enforce it, but in my case, my dad always wanted to be a musician. And his dad said, no, you study business. And he resented that. And they decided when they got married, they decided if our kids want to do something, well, let them go. And so they did. They didn’t stand in the way. Others said, thank you, guys. People, I don’t know why you’re going. You got everything Here, a good job. You’re. You’re ministering to the church. You’re. It’s just, I mean, so many people have heard the gospel. 

John Donhowe:
Is it fair that they keep hearing it time and time again when they haven’t heard it in other places? And so you read that book, Passion for Souls for Oswald Smith, and that would turn you on to souls or souls. And so that was it. And in Bolivia, I’d been to South America. Never been to Bolivia. I’ve been to Chile. I thought that was a beautiful country. But I thought, no, a missionary has to suffer. I couldn’t go to that place. All I knew about Bolivia was the high plains and the breeze that blew over the cold wind. 4,000 meters high. That’s high. But I got to go to a tropical place. So finally worked out, I was writing letters to some people in Bolivia for our church on the missions committee. 

John Donhowe:
In fact, our mission committee disbanded, I think, because they all went to the mission field. And so we writing them. And I thought, well, Bolivia is a place we’d pray, we’d fast for them. They had tough times there. And so actually it touched ground In Bolivia in 1985, January 27, it stamped my past. 

Jeff Johnson:
Wow. Now hold one second. Now hold one second. John, before you do that, apologize for interrupting. But I, you know, I hear from a lot of people about hearing God’s call on their life. And you in earlier on, you said, you know, that it is a very powerful thing and it’s something that sustained you for a long time, you know, decades in Bolivia to do the ministry, because it was so clear to you know, this call on your life. But now you’re coming down to a decision of where to go. And you’ve got this sending thing that happened at your church. You said it was very beautiful and they sent you off and your parents are upset and everything, but somewhere in there, and you just said, you know, you’d been sending letters back and forth. 

Jeff Johnson:
But was it very clear to you, 100% clear to you that Bolivia was the answer? Or was it more like an easy thing? Because you were already familiar with it. So it was like skipping a stone across the lake. You know, people are going to say, how do I know where God wants me to go and what God wants me to do? So I want you to stop here for just a second and speak to that, if you would. 

John Donhowe:
I can remember coming home from Bible school. We get there after chapel, be late at night. I’d lay on the floor prostrate, cried, lord, I want to go. I want to go. Call me Lord. And the director’s wife one time prophesied over me. He says, the Lord has heard your cries, seen your tears, and he’s going to answer your prayers. Nobody knew that. It just confirmation that comes if you find it out in the secret place hidden with God. And there’s just a knowing in your spirit. And so I, I don’t have any doubt it was Bolivia. God put a love in my heart for Bolivia. My wife even says I taught her to love Bolivia. She’s a Bolivian. 

Jeff Johnson:
Wonderful. 

John Donhowe:
Yeah, it’s just a sure thing. I submitted, I went with in the Lutheran church a world Mission prayer league. It’s a prayer league that many godly men and women I met through that. And there was the discipleship, evangelism, that was their goal. And, and so they told me about Bolivia more and yeah, I just got cemented in me inside. Wonderful. It’s great to know. I, you know, it wouldn’t make any difference, you know, after I went there and I had to study the language and I got. I can remember one day waking up, getting out, beautiful day, I’m finally here. It’s not a vacation, it’s not a short term mission trip. I can stay as long as I want. I don’t have to go back. I can speak about Jesus every day. I mean, what a fulfillment of a dream. 

John Donhowe:
God puts the desires in our heart when we seek Him. He puts the desires in our heart to fulfill his plan. And wow. I never repented when I went. I never missed the States. I was so fulfilled there. 

Jeff Johnson:
Wow. Wow, that’s amazing. Okay, so now you got us, you’ve got us on the ground in Bolivia and then what do you do? 

John Donhowe:
Yeah, well, I was a new missionary there. They haven’t had for a long time, so they wanted to put me in every place. They took me around to all their spots. But I was supposed to go to this one spot called Karanavi and that is, you know, it’s a tropical place, a beautiful place there. God, God knows your heart, what he can put up with something. It’s hot weather, good fruit and everything. And so after studying the language, I went to Kadanavi and I started walking to. There’s like all kinds of farming communities around. You walk three or four hours and go there and you get to share the gospel. I remember going to one place and here they’re just waiting there and so share the gospel and they get on their knees and Pray and receive Christ. You know, it’s just amazing. 

John Donhowe:
Out in the middle of nowhere. They’re there. And I was with a friend of mine that took me there, and I was living in his what we call Poweetchi straw hut. And I said, looks like they’re killing a chicken. I think we got some food tonight. It’s going to take a while. I’m going to share the gospel. Wow, wonderful thing. And then there was. Then there was nobody to run the radio station. And so God told me, they’re going to ask you to do it. I said, okay. What do I know about a radio station? Nothing. Nothing. But I went there. I knew Chuck Putrigs of KDMI years ago, the closest thing I knew about a radio station. And so in that time and even before that, we took evangelism trips through all the zone. 

John Donhowe:
It was a time of somewhat of a revival in that time where God really built up churches, awakened the area when we traveled with evangelism team. So that was. That was exciting. Just many instances, people being saved, some getting healed. One place went to, only three people came forward to receive Christ. We go back six months later. They built a church. It was packed and they didn’t let us go to sleep until one in the morning. And they said were making fun of you in the shadows. 

Jeff Johnson:
And look at what happened. 

John Donhowe:
Look what happened. It’s so in seeds. You sow seeds, you don’t know how they’re going to come. 

Jeff Johnson:
John, that’s amazing. So all along. Let me stop off here for just a quick second. I don’t want to interrupt any of this story, but I’m curious what you think about courage. Courage in you to take this leap. Because now you’re down at Bolivia and you’re by yourself. I mean, you’re meeting people. Maybe you were just an extroverted kind of a guy. I mean, I’m an introvert, so maybe it was super easy for you to do that and meet a bunch of people. But you’re down there by yourself and you’re kind of going to parts unknown and on a real adventure here. And you’ve left behind a family business, you’ve left behind parents, you know, you’ve left behind everything that you’ve known from your youth. And you’re following the Lord boldly. 

Jeff Johnson:
You said that when you got there, you were super happy, but that had to have been a real courageous endeavor. Did you feel like you were full of courage when you were doing this? 

John Donhowe:
Not at all. It’s the indwelling presence of God that pushes you, that drives you. I’m an entertainment, I’m an introvert. And maybe I’ve come out more over the years, but it’s just that. And there’s something that just pushes like I, I just remember when God baptized me in the Holy Spirit. I, before I, I just take tracks to the gas station and leave them in the bathroom when nobody was looking. I was afraid to hand them out. And then afterwards I, I go before the pay and he tell me, tell him about God. I just started witnessing wherever I went and leaving a track or something. It just impels you. We had a mission down there. There were people helped me that guided me and made connections for me. So in a sense I wasn’t really alone in that. 

John Donhowe:
God has been so merciful, his grace and boy, you know, learning the language. I lived with a family and sometimes I’d want to share a joke or something, but it took it so long to get it out and then it didn’t translate. They were very kind. But I decided I learned to talk to God more because he was the only one I could really talk to. 

Jeff Johnson:
Wow, so you’re down there. Do you sense already that you’re gonna stay? Like you’re not going anywhere? Because you said it was so joyful being able to share the gospel and do that. Did you have any pangs of man, that Iowa sweet corn is kind of nice. 

John Donhowe:
And I didn’t miss the food. Maybe peanut butter, but I didn’t know if I run and go home and see, I could have got. Anyway, it was a smorgasbord to choose. You go for a year, you could go for months. You could go pick your nation. You know, it’s wide open. I thought, I really like Mexico, but if I go there, the family will pressure me with problems or something and maybe I have to come back home. And this was a four year commitment. I wanted something I could sink my teeth in. And so I, I, but I, I didn’t know, who knows that it’d be a lifetime career missionary. Many people go, they’re called for just a short time and that was just a wonderful thing to be blessed with that. And God just kept opening doors there. 

John Donhowe:
That was probably one of the courageous things is to leave the country. I had no promise of support from anybody. I just have a problem asking. 

Jeff Johnson:
You didn’t have anybody. You weren’t independently wealthy and you had some. 

John Donhowe:
Apparently it was lower middle class. It was a small bank. 

Jeff Johnson:
Okay. And you didn’t have the church that had a big chunk of money that they were. 

John Donhowe:
Every month they would support me, you know, and so. But we don’t have our meeting until such and such date, you know, to decide on that. But you got the call. You’re not going to wait. When it’s time to go, you go. You’re not going to worry about it. God provides the finance. Learned before I married my wife, she was explaining our relationship to her mom. He said, you know, we pray really well together. And she goes, well, you can’t live on prayer. But we’ve lived on prayer. When there’s no money, you repent. If you’re doing something wrong, you get on your knees and you cry out to God. And he provides. And it’s just to trust God. It’s just a wonderful thing. And probably the biggest thing that happened when in the radio station there was. 

John Donhowe:
We started a prayer meeting and every Monday morning. Did you want to interrupt there? 

Jeff Johnson:
No, that’s catching me. Of course you would start a prayer meeting with. You said nobody could come into the bank without hearing about Jesus. So if they give you. If the Lord gives you a radio station, guess what’s going to happen? 

John Donhowe:
Yeah. Yeah. And so we started a prayer meeting with pastors and lay people coming up and. And there’s a prison farm we used to go to. And I remember the other missionary is. I’m in his mission now, but he was there, his father started the radio station. He was born there. And we’re going to the prison farm. And I asked him, well, what are you going to do for the education of your kids? And I never realized, I don’t know what he said, what the answer was, but that stuck with me. And so we started praying for school with the leaders. They wanted their kids to go to a Christian school. They had Christian teachers and learn the word of God. So the first year we had a place, we had a teacher, he had students, but nobody wanted to be the director. 

John Donhowe:
I never dreamed of. And so we prayed another year. And at the end of the year, I said, did this other guy fail? I think God wants me to be the director. What do you think? I think they’ll accept you, John. And so went there and we started out the school. It was illegal to start schools at that time, but Darmenia’s church had already started a school about four years before. And so they helped us and guided us and things, even gave us some of our first school desks and tables. We started out with six students and first grade Six students in kindergarten was a kindergarten teacher and another. Another teacher was. She was my. What do you call it in English. She. She worked in the radio too. And. And so. 

John Donhowe:
And then one of my other radio workers, I made him the education guy and a music guy because he’s very talented. Music. And so we started off adding one course a year. This year they got about 800 students. It’s 36 years they completed. 

Jeff Johnson:
Oh my. 

John Donhowe:
Yeah. A year before that, we started a church. You know, out of the church is where they supported and came our big support. The local church there. The mission never gave them a dime. It’s their church they own. They. They’ve done it and it’s going well. And so, I mean, what did I know about a school? How could I envision a school? We had no backing. The mission I was in had a school before, and they had so many problems, they didn’t want another one. And so I started school and the same year I get married with my wife, which was a blessing. And she’s a real prayer warrior and sold out to God, a holy woman of God teacher. And so we. In September 23rd, it’s going to be our 30, 35th or 36th, I think. 36th wedding anniversary. 

Jeff Johnson:
Wow. 

John Donhowe:
This year. School. The church was started in 87, 1987, and then the school in 1988. And man, how step after step we. We did. We finally. We got permission as went along but for the final graduation. Our first graduation was in 1999. And I received the papers to give value to their diploma one day before the graduation ceremony. And I had to take it back. I was sweating it out. Some of the moms were really after me. We only had like six in the first graduated class. But this is growing and how God’s been faithful, how it. How has touched the town. We’re in that. How it’s. It’s just amazing. No. And many of the graduates are studying, are teaching in the school. Others have their kids in the school, really. And not a while back, one of the. 

John Donhowe:
One of the young guys wrote a note to me and his was Facebook or something. And. And he’s a. He’s a pastor now, his grandfather’s church in that town, and he was president of the pastor’s group. He says, I remember when you prayed with me to receive Christ. It was maybe seven years old, something like that. And so it gives you a lot of pleasure. All the ones that went through the school have been touched and heard the word of God and much of the community there and it has a good reputation, other schools. But that was a. That was a. It’s consuming with a church and with a school. You’re busy. 

Jeff Johnson:
Yeah, I can imagine. John. So how did you. Well, there’s other questions that I have about how you met your wife. Maybe we’ll move past that just now. And how did you. How did you decide to come out of the mission field? What finds you back here in Iowa? 

John Donhowe:
Well, I mean, the last six years went to La Paz, the city, and we left the school. I went back a few times and it was time to just turn over. There was an orphanage that was formed there too by Dutch missions missionaries. And they put their kids in the school because they already had a school and a Christian training center and they had a discipleship program there. And so that were involved. We’re still on the board of those. But there was a fraudulent election in 2019 and things were really confusing. We were, I think three or four nights in our house in a blackout in the neighborhood barricades all around downtown. We had two by fours, just in case they were going into some houses and taking people out. 

John Donhowe:
There was a lot of the president, they had prayed for the president to resign. This one guy, a Catholic guy, said, I want to return the Bible to the presidential palace. I mean everybody prayed, even if they weren’t a Christian. And he resigned. He was a big drug dealer. 

Jeff Johnson:
Wow. 

John Donhowe:
Pedophile. Just that there’s some things he did good, I won’t deny that. But he was in power 14 years and he resigned. The vice president resigned. And so it left an empty space. President of Mexico sent an airplane for him and took him to Mexico. And he. 

Jeff Johnson:
The bad guy. Yeah, took the bad guy back. 

John Donhowe:
He’s the president before, now the lady president, but the one before. And he gave him a mansion. He had more bodyguards than the president and an $8,000 a month stipend. 

Jeff Johnson:
Wow. 

John Donhowe:
And then they got outraged for that. He went to Argentina. Now he’s back in Bolivia trying to run again. My mom just said, well, come. And my sister who never offered said, you can stay at our place. We had no plans of going back. And we could just see the economic situation was going to be bad for our young men. We got four young men. And so we all came as a package. We usually do. We stick together and arrived here in 2019 just a little bit before Christmas. And in that time they’re able to get jobs. We sold our car in Bolivia. We were able to buy Some cars here. And then the pandemic broke out a week after, just in time. 

Jeff Johnson:
Good timing. 

John Donhowe:
And I can remember having a vision one morning here in the States. Just a dark that came up over the earth like a blanket covering the United States and that. I felt like I came back to a Third world country. We’ve seen the playbook of all things that are happening. We’ve seen the socialism and that, because outside of the U.S. It’s all socialism, communism. 

Jeff Johnson:
Wow. So what’s your. You said you’re connected with the ministries back in Bolivia still? 

John Donhowe:
Yeah. My wife’s got a class tonight on Zoom with. When went to La Paz, we got involved a group of kids. They went to the discipleship training course in Taranavi where were, and they formed a group called Gold Missions. And they adopted this for covering because we met them, we got to know them and stuff. I think they were more a blessing to us than were to them. But anyway, it started with them, a group. They asked Armenia to teach in a school Bible, and then I think the teachers wanted a break. Then the next year, there’s four more schools. Now they got 14 schools that they’re going to. These are small Aymara communities there, and they’re teaching English and Bible. And then we got going to six Bible clubs. Now there’s seven Bible clubs. 

John Donhowe:
Child Evangelism Fellowship is such a wonderful organization that we work with. And so she’s an instructor and trains people online. And when we first came here, we met with our Go Mission kids three times a week by Zoom Pray, and the courage. And it’s wonderful, the technology today to be able to use that. And we got a jail ministry was going. Armenia had a tremendous jail ministry. I go to men’s ministry. When she come back, somebody got delivered, somebody got healed, somebody got saved. Every week. Every week, though. And William Booth said, go for souls and go for the worst. Go for the most need. 

Jeff Johnson:
Yeah. 

John Donhowe:
So that was a. That was just a joy. It’s a joy to share the gospel. When you fall in love with a gospel minister, you can’t help but share. You can’t help but tell people this is. 

Jeff Johnson:
Has it. Is it a. Is it a moot point now to ask you the question, what’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done? Or. I know you thought about that prior to this podcast, is, do you have answer for me about it? Because your whole life, what’s impressive about you, John, to the glory of God, is you’re almost. I can see a comet’s tale coming from you and your wife, of God’s fruit. And from my perspective, and I’m sure I’m speaking on behalf of quite a few of the listeners, I’m sure that it was. Had difficulty along the way, but it seems as though it was just a very easy thing to say yes to the Lord and then to hold on and just go. But it. It appears as though everything you touch has. Has God’s fingerprints all over it. 

Jeff Johnson:
And I’m just blown away by that. But do you. Are you able to answer the question, what’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done? I mean, I know you can, but is there more? 

John Donhowe:
Well, I thought about three. Three things and one was just to leave. To go in the first place, to break out of this society in the United States, to break out, it is tough. It required prayer and fasting just to get through all the cultural things and. And that. And. And it just. It’s. It’s a spiritual battle even to go. I mean, some got up and went, but others were sent, and I’d rather. I want to be sent. And that’s what sustained me, to know that God sent me, that the elders confirmed it, the church confirmed it, and I had a backing and I knew people were praying for me. And so I got to a point, well, if nobody else is praying for me, I know Jesus or he’s laying them on the hearts of others. 

John Donhowe:
But we had so many wonderful experiences with those little kids of first and second graders. In the afternoon was classes, and we take a break for milk and cookies. And that’s where we pray for the Iron Curtain countries. And I believe we had a part in seeing that wall come down. We interceded. Those kids, they remembered that was a big part of the school. Before they start classes to pray for missions, to pray for nations. We had a team visiting us. I couldn’t get into my class, and I had something else to do, so I told her to go. And here the kids, they already sat around in a little circle getting ready. Okay, we’re praying for. I don’t remember what country it was, but you pray for the church, you pray for the children, you pray for the unsaved. 

John Donhowe:
And they named out the things they knew what to do, to pray. And this is like fourth or fifth graders. I mean, kids catch it, and so it’s just so rewarding. The other thing starting the school is, man, I can’t even imagine. But God leads every step of the way. We are at one point and building here. I was in the States for Christmas. And the guy, the other missionary that’s in charge now, he called me and said, I have to stop construction. We ran out of money. I said, well, let’s pray. And two days later, I got a phone call from a good friend that was. I just went out to dinner with him recently that supported us all the time. And he said, I just sent a check for $50,000 to the school. Wow. Wow. You know, God is so faithful. 

John Donhowe:
And that was one of the biggest gifts we ever got. And so in different ways, he just performed one miracle after another. And you just want to be sure that you’re in the center of God’s will, pleasing his heart. And there are times that God told me before I left, he said, you know, it’s not going to be easy. You’re going to get. If you want to do something, it’s going to take you at least 11 to 14 years, and you’re going to get to the point where you want to quit and give up. And I can remember that time wasn’t that big a deal. But the kids went up. You’re there again. 

John Donhowe:
Kids in the school, they went out and drank, and their parents tried to cover up for them because they were ashamed that they didn’t want to, you know, do that to me. They were grateful for what were doing. I said, I don’t know if we can stand this anymore or not. I had some idea, false idea. You’re going to get to a point where there’s no more problems, no help. That reality hit in life is just not in Christ. You look at Paul, one run into problems, another. He’s stoned, he’s shipwrecked. Whatever happens, you know, it’s not easy. Look at Christ, his life, it was not easy. So I realized it got to the point when we had a problem in the school. I said, we had a director of administration, and I was the general director. 

John Donhowe:
Then we had an education director, and we have a problem. I said, well, what does Jesus want to do with this? Sit back and hear what they had to say. He’s our ultimate source to go to, and so we want to go to him first. I don’t know if we’re talking too much. 

Jeff Johnson:
No, this is perfect, John. 

John Donhowe:
Yeah. Just the love of God, the Holy Spirit poured out the love of God in our hearts, that it was shed abroad in our hearts. And that love. I basically went to be a friend there. And really, there’s ways you can do leadership. You can take the thing and lead it all the way up or you can go slower with the people. And that’s basically what I did most floor. If I’m going to sink with others. And we had a eldership program was good in the church. So that it was nice there that the director of the. There’s another director at a radio station that I hired before as when I was there, he was one of the elders. And then the orphanage. The director of orphanage was an elder. And then the Christian Education Christian Training center. The director, he was another elder. 

John Donhowe:
These guys are already busy in ministry, but they’re the ones that preached. We had about seven and different ministries and that. And Cardenavi was blessed. This town was really blasty. We took possession of the hills. In Bolivia, in the small towns they usually have Calvary where they have shrines up there, people walk up, you know, pagan sacrifices. But the radio was one hill. The school was on another hill. And farther up on the hill was orphanage. And then there was one other place that used to be the Norwegian ministry. They turned it into a place for retreats, fasting and praying. And so I had covered the bases up on the hill. That was just really impressive to me how God formed it together and unity. That was one of the things I strived for is unity. 

John Donhowe:
We have to be of one mind, one spirit after. And even to now. The church has never split. I mean, many times they. They do split or something, but. But the unity of fellowship and the strive in the school to have that. I think the school should be a joyous place to go to. And that’s. It’s just essentially God moves in unity. 

Jeff Johnson:
John, I’m a little thunderstruck, honestly. I mean, we haven’t known each other that long. And isn’t it amazing what the Lord has done with your life? And I just think it’s fantastic that you answered his call and said yes and just followed. It’s a picture of courage. I don’t have to ask you any other questions about defining courage or what’s the nature of courage. It’s evident in the way that you’ve walked it with the Lord. So my last question for you would be. I think it’s my last question. Let’s try to have it be my last question. But forgive me, what’s next for you now? Well, that’s a full life of ministry right there. 

John Donhowe:
Yeah, it’s a full life, but I’m too young to quit now. I’m only 73, 74 in October. Yeah. Now I need a heart valve Replacement. And so. And this time in the States I’ve reconnected with my mom that didn’t see me for 35 years and my sister which has been wonderful. Our two oldest boys are interpreting and learning more about the States and the youngest is in Bolivia. He’s finishing up college right now. He just finished all his classes. Has to do some practice work that he wants to do with the mission down there. And so what we continue here. There’s a Spanish church. The church I went to Redeemer has reduced drastically from that time. And we live in their parsonage and we rent it from them. But they rented out to a Spanish church too. 

John Donhowe:
And so we came along with a Spanish church and so we’re ministering there and I prefer Spanish. I can understand that my adult life reading the Bible in Spanish than I did in English. I’ve read over 30 times. And it’s just. It never gets old. It’s new and vibrant every morning and so on. Zoom. We have. I do the motions sometimes for classes. We have a marriage class with some of our kids once a month which are having problems trying to get scheduled. Busy, busy schedule for these young kids. And so I want to go back to Bolivia I thought. But right now it’s on hold. It’s probably going to be back and forth. You know our boys are 35, 31 and 29 and 25. So they’re. They’re men. 

Jeff Johnson:
Wow. 

John Donhowe:
And. And that. And so if they’re going to be here I’m sure we’re going to want to be nearby too. We still have a house in Bolivia, an apartment and stuff. 

Jeff Johnson:
And somebody looking after it for you. 

John Donhowe:
Yeah, we rented out the youngest boy had to deal with that. 

Jeff Johnson:
You left him there to. 

John Donhowe:
It was that our apartment of La Paz is connected to my sister in law’s place. It was a family place there. And so yeah we rented out some teachers. Very cheap price but it’s nice to have them. We gotta bless the teachers that are in the school. And so we hopefully get back this morning too. Monday mornings we have what they call the kitchen table and that’s with a couple cold water submissions. I’m with. We have 47 missionary leaders and about eight countries. Eight or nine countries and so they can come in and we share and pray for one another needs. Today we pray. I had a call from a guy from Brazil yesterday needing prayer for his daughter was real sick. And we had the. 

John Donhowe:
The fires in Bolivia this morning too raging and the drought and so they put me in charge of that figured I needed something to. We’re the second oldest missionaries in the. 

Jeff Johnson:
Mission, so people need to watch out when you start praying, John. 

John Donhowe:
Wow. To learn how to pray through, if that. I could tell anybody. You know, they say sometimes prayer is a preparation for the ministry, but prayer is the work. It’s. It’s a work at the thing. You can’t do it without prayer. You have to be shut up with God to hear his voice. You have to calm down your. All your emotions and everything, your mind, and hear from God. That’s the only way you can. You can’t be holy without spending time with God. 

Jeff Johnson:
Yeah. 

John Donhowe:
It just doesn’t work any other way. So if anybody’s out there, let’s don’t be lackadaisical. Today we need to pray more than ever to be firm and be in the word of God. Let that word of God rule our heart and our mind. I don’t know if we’re going to have Bibles in the future, so I hope I memorized enough to keep something going. 

Jeff Johnson:
That’s right. That’s right. Well, as a learned man and somebody that’s been in the ministry for a long time, John, I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask you for two or three good book recommendations for people that might be listening. Maybe it’s that bank teller that’s telling people about Jesus all the time. You know, they better watch out because he’s going to share the gospel as soon as they sit down in front of him. But what kind of. What books would you recommend to a younger version of John Don? How? 

John Donhowe:
Well, the books on prayer by Em Bounce are very good books. He’s got. They got small ones. There’s probably about 10. They put them in small editions. The Power of Prayer, the Necessity, that Prayer and the Preacher, different volumes. When you type up embounce, you can get it. I just started rereading Passion for Souls by Oswell Smith, and that’s just a tremendous book. And the one that I read a few years ago. What’s the only thing you can’t do in heaven? And that’s witnessing. And so as a book full of things, how to Witness, that’s tremendous quotes from Charles Spurgeon. It just. Well, it just burns in my heart, you know, and that encouraged me. And then I would say the biographies. Oh, that. You know, sometimes when I fast, I read some biographies too. 

Jeff Johnson:
Yeah. 

John Donhowe:
But Hudson Taylor, he’s the one that coined the phrase the Great Commission. Oh. I mean, his Quotes. I got a notebook with a list of quotes. You know, I like our friend Leonard Ravenhill. 

Jeff Johnson:
Oh, yeah. 

John Donhowe:
Oh, yeah. He puts it right out front there. He’s a man that spent 14 hours a day in prayer and studying the word of God. Right. He’s been through revivals and that, and just all the great missionaries and people here. William Booth was a hero that. I think it’s. Richard Collier is the author of a biography of William Booth, which was really good. And, man, what a tremendous work. You know, he’s preaching. He was a fiery preacher in England there, his church. And he said, what am I doing preaching? All these people that want to hear gotta go out. And so he goes. He goes out one night and walks down to the blind beggar bar, starts preaching, and all of a sudden, someone throws an egg on his face. It hit his forehead and comes down over his face. 

John Donhowe:
And, well, he finishes and goes home, and he says, catherine, I found my destiny. He takes his son Bromwell, and he goes to the bar there and opens up the door. Son, this is our congregation. 

Jeff Johnson:
There it is. 

John Donhowe:
He went through all the world. How many countries went through this man? He said, I’m not waiting for a move of God. I am a move of God. I love that. Oh, my. You can look up the quotes on him, but those things inspire me. I want to be challenged, you know, and just amazing things that men have written. 

Jeff Johnson:
Why not? Well, you talk about witnessing is something that we won’t be able to do in heaven. I remember I had a conversation with a friend of mine, and he was pointing out to me that faith is something that we only get to practice this side of heaven, you know, the other side of heaven, we’re not going to have. There’s no need for any of that. And, boy, that just. That turned it into a. You know, sometimes you think of faith as a desperation kind of a thing, and it can be, for sure, but that it’s a joy, that it’s an absolute pleasure that we get to lean on the Lord and plead to him and cry out to him, and. Yeah, it just changes it. John, I. 

John Donhowe:
By the way, that was Mark Cahill. Mark Cahill that wrote it. He’s got a lot of good books. He’s a famous personal evangelist that inspires many people. 

Jeff Johnson:
I’m so grateful to talk to you today, and I’m so grateful to learn more about you and to call you a friend. And you better watch out now at Cross Trainers, when we get done after the deal, I might bending your ear a little bit longer now that I know a little bit more about your story. But praise God for you, John. And. Yeah. That if you find yourself in love with the Lord and you happen to be working behind a bank counter right now and you’re telling people about Jesus, I know what’s coming for you. I know what’s next. So just hold on. Thank you so much, John. 

John Donhowe:
Thank you. Appreciate it. Look forward to seeing you again. 

Outro:
Thank you for joining us today on Courageous. If you’d like to hear more about the work and ministry being done at Crossroads Apologetics, please visit our home on the web@crossroadsapologetics.org Would you or someone you know like to be featured on Courageous? Send us an email at infocrossroadsapologetics.com or infoossroadsapologetics.org telling us about the most courageous thing you’ve ever done.