Lucas Donato

First steps

My teenage years were a time of active fellowship and spiritual growth. Early on, I got involved with children’s ministry and youth group leadership, and attended every possible retreat. Thus have I made friends for life, some of which have become pastors and deacons since then. Through these friendships I got more acquainted with the doctrines of grace, and became more able to understand the faith I had embraced.

Church planting years

“And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.” — Neh. 11: 2

My college years were marked by struggles regarding vocation and career choices and at the same time a growing passion for church planting. From 2012 to 2021, I was involved in planting efforts that led to the organization of three new presbyterian congregations in South America. One of these churches called and ordained me to the diaconate.

Also present and active in all these church planting works was my diligent and charming Amandah. We both shared some of the very same passions in the life of the church, such as children’s ministry and music. Throughout the years we co-laboured in church planting, our relationship gradually evolved from that of good ministerial partners into husband and wife.

Call to ministry

“. . . I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, . . . Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” — Amos 7: 14, 15

While I intended to continue investing in my career as a musician, the Lord brought to my heart a concern for the current state of the church, particularly the lack of elders. Having been raised in the church, I have always trusted that “if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work” (1 Tim. 3: 1). Although the thought of being myself called to ministry had always sounded to me like a very remote possibility, I committed to the Lord that I should at least submit to my elders’ examination.

Thus, the session at Laramie RP, my congregation at the time (and currently), offered me an exploratory internship, providing me with opportunities for testing and developing my gifts, for about 10 months before sending me to seminary. During that time, the session had me preach and teach on several topics, lead mid-week studies and prayer meetings, participate in discipleship and counseling, as well as meet and pray with pastors from our congregation and others nearby.

What now?

Amidst the several trials that are common to seminary life, our family has grown in size and grace. Our church in Laramie and other congregations in Colorado have blessed us greatly with their kind prayers and support, and we have made many new friends at seminary and especially at the RPC of North Hills, where we have attended since we moved to Pittsburgh. We have been able to engage with the ministry of the local church in a variety of ways and enjoy the fellowship and care of this lovely church-family.

Since then, I have had the privilege to serve the church by filling pulpits occasionally in the area and across five more states. I have also interned at College Hill in 2025 and North Hills in 2026. Moreover, I have attempted to remain active in music-making by promoting the singing of psalms. One of the main projects I currently participate in is the spanish translation of the metrical psalter sponsored by our denomination.

“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands.” — Ps. 90: 17