Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Donald.
Hi Richard, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
“You’ll never be anything special.” That’s what I was once told—but I’m living proof that God’s word always has the final say.
I am a native of Greenville, SC, where I was born and raised. Growing up, I looked at myself as an underdog. I was never seen as anything special. I didn’t fit the mold. I wasn’t the smartest in the room. I remember my 1st grade teacher told my parents I had a learning disability, but I’m very thankful God had other plans. I always told myself, “There is more to me than meets the eye. I’ve always used that as my motivation to accomplish many things. After high school, I went on to earn a Bachelor’s in Divinity, a Master’s in Pastoral Counseling, and an Honorary Doctorate in Theology. I’ve been a pastor for over twenty-three years; twelve years at my current pastorate at Open Heart Baptist Church, Greenville, SC, walking alongside people from all walks of life—millionaires to the homeless, whole families to broken ones, from divorce to deliverance. These experiences have shaped my heart for ministry. Through all of it, it has allowed me to teach and prepare people to walk with the King. Truly, Jesus said it best: Heaven and earth will pass away, but only His word shall stand.
Many have stated I’m a dynamic communicator, pastor, teacher, mentor, and author with over a decade of ministry experience. I am known for my compelling blend of biblical truth and practical wisdom. It is my intention every time I stand, every time I speak to inspire audiences to overcome adversity, embrace their divine purpose, and walk boldly into destiny. My messages are rooted in the redemptive power of God, offering hope and transformation to individuals from all walks of life.
I am a passionate advocate for community empowerment, and I lead a ministry that extends beyond church walls—offering food banks, clothing closets, recovery resources, and mentorship locally and globally, including pastoral training in Ghana, Africa. My personal mission is clear: and that is to help people “Be Prepared to Walk with the King.”
Whether I’m on stage, in a pulpit, in a classroom, through a page, or one-on-one, it is my desire to empower audiences to believe a simple but life-changing truth: “You are built for this.”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
How much time do you have? I could talk about this all day! A Smooth Road is not one that I have traveled too often. What seemed easy for others often felt like a struggle for me. Even the smallest tasks could feel like a battle. From lacking financial resources for ministry and business to learning by trial and error, I’ve had to fight for nearly everything I’ve accomplished.
I taught myself graphic design, how to write and publish a book, and even how to do marginal trading—all through what I like to call “YouTube University”. Overcoming setbacks, especially divorce, was definitely an obstacle I didn’t think I could handle. I mean, who gets married and thinks they are going to get a divorce? I never imagined I’d have to walk that road. It broke me in ways I didn’t expect. Depression, discouragement, and shame followed. But even in that, God had a plan. That season taught me one of the greatest lessons in life, and that is Mindset Mastery. Learning to Shift from “Why is this happening to me?” to “What is God growing in me through this?” It was hard to come to this place, but I was fed up with being the victim, I was tired of feeling defeated, so I changed the narrative. I learned to embrace challenges as opportunities for development. You grow stronger when you’re stretched, and this is where I learned firsthand that God uses discomfort to reveal and refine your gift.
The effort that this took to embrace this moment in my life was pivotal. God was creating a new norm in me. It’s easy to say I’m going to do something, but when pushed to be persistent, that’s another lesson. To break some of the unhealthy cycles and thought processes of depression, I had to learn a new process of mindset. A process to be positive no matter what. That took discipline, being intentional, but most of all, being consistent in becoming a better me. As the scripture says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” I wish I could tell you this happened overnight. That this is something I have perfected, but it’s still a work in progress. I wanted it to be perfect, but God wanted me to be persistent. Your gift grows with consistent effort, not perfection. God rewards faithfulness, not flashes of brilliance. Effort is the evidence of commitment. Keep showing up, even when you don’t see immediate results.
Failure? Oh, they came. But failures are something that have a lesson in them by themselves. So many times, we see the glass halfway full, but what would happen if we saw it halfway empty? I stopped seeing Failure as final—I started seeing it as feedback. Every mistake teaches, shapes, and prepares us. I learned a solid rule in life. Failure is not in our DNA. We are either winning or we are learning a powerful lesson. View failure as fertilizer—it stinks, but it helps things grow. We must cultivate a Not Yet” Mindset. As the scripture says, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” You may not be there yet, but you’re moving. You may not have succeeded in your goal yet, but you’re growing. I remind myself daily that delay isn’t denial; it’s development. Say that to yourself, “I haven’t mastered it yet,” instead of “I can’t do it.” To cultivate means to intentionally nurture, develop, and care for something so it can reach its full potential. Just as a gardener tends the soil, waters, and patiently waits for plants to grow, cultivating your gifts involves mindful practice, learning, and commitment so that what is within you can flourish. This road may not have been smooth, but it has been successful. See, I see success not as something you obtain or accomplish, but as how well you have embraced and learned from the journey. Your gifted life will always have lifelong learning. Stay teachable. Stay humble. The more we learn, the more we unlock what God placed in you. The gift inside us grows when we’re open to wisdom outside us. Recognize God’s Role in Your Growth. That’s what I ultimately learned on this path. You cultivate, but God causes increase. Trust the process and the One in charge of it. God is not just the Giver of your gift—He’s also the Grower of it. That’s why I can tell myself and I can tell you, “You Were Built for This”! The things that happened along the journey, It Had to Happen!
It had to happen so you could share your story, so that you could use your gift to activate somebody else’s gift. Gifts are meant to be used, not hoarded. Giving sharpens what God gave. The more you serve with your gift, the more your gift will serve you.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Destiny Design Christian Counseling?
This journey in my life is what motivated me to create Destiny Design Christian Counseling. The greatest blessing in my life is that God has given me the opportunity to meet incredible people and help them reach their full potential. At Destiny Design, it’s just not a business, it’s a movement. At Destiny Design, we help people move from where they are to where their Given Purpose desires for them to be. We help people create a blueprint from their dreams or desires through coaching, pastoral counseling, mentoring, and vision casting, helping them turn their dreams into visions, and then into a plan. We specialize in life coaching, relationship building, business startups, employee training, and motivational speaking.
What sets us apart is our faith-based approach. We build a custom blueprint rooted in God’s word and their unique vision. We walk alongside you—not just with strategies, but with spiritual support and real-life accountability.
Watching people accomplish what they never thought possible? That’s what drives me. That’s why Destiny Design exists.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
One last thing I would like to share is You Are a Gift, and You Have a Gift. You are not just gifted—you are a gift. And that gift needs to be stirred, sharpened, and surrendered to God. Your value isn’t based on perfection but on purpose. When you embrace challenge, press through failure, and stay yielded to God, your life becomes a vessel of impact. You owe it to yourself to discover the best next version of yourself.
I just published my first book in June 2025.” The book is called, It Had to Happen, it challenges readers to see life’s difficulties as divine preparation.
“It Had to Happen”, offers a deeply personal and faith-filled roadmap for anyone navigating the storms of life—pain, betrayal, loss, discouragement, and doubt. Drawing from over two decades in ministry and my own life-altering trials, I walk alongside readers through the emotional and spiritual weight of setbacks, offering wisdom, hope, and biblical insight.
At the heart of this powerful journey is the story of Joseph in The Book of Genesis, whose betrayal and imprisonment became the very path to his destiny. Woven throughout this narrative is my own story—marked by ministry, divorce, self-discovery, and a renewed understanding of purpose. Through every page, readers are invited into a candid conversation—one that validates their pain but refuses to let it define them.
This book will challenge you to:
• Stop seeing your pain as punishment
• Let go of the victim mindset
• Reclaim your identity and God-given strength
• Rebuild, even with broken pieces
• Step boldly into your next season of life
“It Had to Happen” is not just a book—it’s a declaration: you were never meant to be destroyed by what broke you. You were built to rise from it. Prepare to be inspired, equipped, and transformed.
This book—and my life’s work—are for anyone navigating pain, purpose, or transition. I speak at conferences, churches, summits, and recovery workshops where faith, resilience, and destiny intersect.
Let me remind you: You owe it to yourself to discover the next best version of you.
You are not only gifted—you are a gift.
Website:
www.destinydesigncc.com
www.myohbc.org
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rtdonaldjr
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/richard.donald.338/
Pricing:
- Christian Counseling; $95
- Coaching: $75
- Couples Counseling:$175
- Couples Coaching: $150
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rtdonaldjr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richard.donald.338/
- Other: https://www.myohbc.org
