by Tammy Taylor
Staff Writer
Arriving in Jacksonville in July, Pastor Adam Donner is still the new kid on the block at the First Presbyterian Church downtown.
Donner’s move to Jacksonville was the first time the minister ever lived outside of his home state of California. The only reason he chose to leave his native habitat was to take the job at First Presbyterian.
“My wife and I were looking for an urban church with redevelopment in the community and a pastor who could communicate where he was heading with the gospel message,” said Donner.
These requirements led a friend of Donner’s to tell him about the church.
“We were looking for stuff in California, but this seemed to be where God wanted us,” he said. “We wrestled with it, and it was tough to leave our family and friends, but the people here are great. The church has welcomed us and the traits of the church go beyond the superficial.”
Donner is the associate pastor for youth and families at First Presbyterian. He leads youth groups, trains volunteers, plans outreach ministry, weekend retreats and teaches bible studies.
Being a youth minister was a far cry from what Donner started out to do. As a mechanical engineering major at California Polytechnic, he worked for three years at a nuclear power plant and decided he had no interest in any of the jobs. The time he spent time with bible study groups and missions led him to consider the ministry.
“I made a deal with God. I would give it a year, I interned and I loved it,” said Donner.
He worked with a youth ministry for four years and then completed his formal education at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena. His background in math and science was useful to him during seminary. He tutored students to pay for his living expenses.
Donner and his wife Amy live in Riverside in a house they spend a lot of weekend hours remodeling. Donner is also an avid surfer. Although “severely disappointed” with the waves off the Florida coast (except during hurricane season) Donner spends as much time as he can at the beach.