News · 05.19.2010 Meet a LifeHouse Board Member: Bill Donovan

Meet a LifeHouse Board Member: Bill Donovan

What does a retiree who doesn’t like to serve on boards do with all his spare time?

For Bill Donovan, the answer is: serve on the board of LifeHouse of Houston!

Bill and wife, Karen, have been married for 43 years. Raising their two children, Will and Jennifer, they were church-goers, believing, Bill says, but not making God a major part of their lives. Will was different, though – he was serious about his faith, a fact that was to be a huge influence on the rest of the family. Will’s death at the beginning of his third year at the US Naval Academy led them to turn to God. Bill says, “We were stimulated by his active faith to emulate him.” The Donovan’s becamefocused on Christ and their involvement in church.

The Donovan’s learned about LifeHouse through Sue Baumgarten. “Sue kept trying to get me to go to some dinner,” Bill says. One year, he sat next to her at a party, and she kept talking about LifeHouse. Bill remembers her enthusiasm, but says he really didn’t pay much attention. The next year, they attended the same party again, and again, Sue sat next to Bill. This time, he says, “The Lord opened my ears.” Soon after, Sue approached him about serving on the board. “I don’t like being on boards,” Bill says; but Sue’s persistence, and especially her love for the ministry of LifeHouse moved him to get involved. “I could see what LifeHouse was doing, helping save the life of a child, helping the mother find eternal life – it’s a multiplying effect – that’s what got me turned on.”

For a man who doesn’t like serving on boards, Bill speaks warmly of his experience on the LifeHouse board. They don’t always agree on everything, he says, but the differences are over “trivial things.” He refers to the pleasure of being with other board members: “We share a common faith; faith is the driving force in their lives. Everybody’s pulling on the oars in one direction.”