A Legacy Measured in Love

Even now, we can hear Don’s voice saying, “Hey, don’t make this about me.” But here we are, trying to put into words the impact of a man whose life was so much bigger than himself. He lived to make sure others knew they were special. Don’s energy outpaced most people in their 20s, whether he was peddling his bike down Highway 65 in a storm wearing his yellow rain jacket or riding on the back of a motorcycle in rural Cambodia. But it was his unwavering love that changed lives. How do you capture the essence of someone who lived and breathed the love of Jesus in everything he did?

Generous. Compassionate. Accessible. Disciplined. Humble. Genuine. Obedient.

These words barely scratch the surface of who Don Brewster was and the legacy he leaves behind. Don meant so much to so many people. He wasn’t just our Founder. He was a Friend, Mentor, Pastor, Husband, Dad, Uncle, Papa, and so much more. 

At his core, Don unapologetically loved and lived for Jesus. Everything he did flowed from that singular truth. He was never trying to become famous leaving a legacy with his name on it. For Don, it was always about furthering the kingdom of God, being more like Jesus, and helping others do the same.

After serving for many years as an executive pastor at Adventure Christian Church in Roseville, California, Don and his wife Bridget decided to visit Cambodia on a mission trip in 2003. Once they returned home to California, they happened to watch the Dateline special “Children For Sale in Cambodia,” which exposed them to the horrors of child sex trafficking present in the area they had just been. 

“You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”

― William Wilberforce

In that moment of shock and heartbreak, God planted a seed in their hearts. Thus began the journey that would lead Don and Bridget to establish Agape International Missions (AIM) in 2005, with the goal of ending sex trafficking in Cambodia one life at a time. They uprooted their entire lives and moved to Cambodia to lead this organization, hands-on and hearts-first. AIM may have started with humble beginnings, but (spoiler alert) God had a much bigger vision. As AIM’s team saw a growing need for more aftercare for survivors, we opened our first Restoration Home. And when there were roadblocks to justice, Don led the charge to form AIM’s very own SWAT Team.

That was the thing about Don. He never saw a need as someone else’s problem to solve. Each challenge was a personal call to action. He had a way of discerning needs and finding the right people to join the mission. If you ever worked with Don, odds are you experienced a time where he led you out of your comfort zone, equipped with all the confidence and support to see it through. 

AIM began to grow organically, responding to each need as they became apparent, all thanks to the dedication and generosity of the close community of supporters Don and Bridget created. It wasn’t about building an organization; it was about answering God’s call one “yes” at a time. In fact, this is part of where AIM’s value of “Yes to the One” comes from – the example Don and Bridget set by following in Jesus’ footsteps. 

“The power belongs to God. The results are up to God. Our job is simply to say “yes” to his call.”

-Don Brewster, Co-Founder of AIM

Excerpt from “Don’t Look Away, Saying Yes to the One”

Don’s legacy isn’t just in the programs AIM created or the lives saved, although those are incredible testaments to his work. His true legacy is in the culture of love, compassion, and unwavering commitment he built within every facet of his life. He showed us all what it means to love like Jesus – fiercely, unconditionally, and willingly sacrificing everything for the one in front of you.

Since Don went home to be with Jesus, the outpouring of love, grief, and gratitude has been overwhelming. This comes as no surprise, because if you met Don, even just once, you felt it. He had this incredible way of making you feel like the most important person in the room. And alongside Bridget, his amazing wife and partner in everything, they showed a kind of love that made you feel seen, valued, and cherished just as you were.

And how do you just write about Don without Bridget? AIM would not exist without their beautiful, inspirational partnership. Don took every opportunity to champion his bride. He often shared how the unique relationship AIM has had with our donors was all thanks to Bridget – to the countless letters, emails, texts, or messages she would send, and the genuine love and care she held for each and every person. Together, they built the foundation of our organization and through their example grew a culture of transparency, grace, and determination for justice. 

Early on in his life, Don was an entrepreneur, salesperson, and corporate executive in New York. He could have done many things that would have brought him wealth, comfort, and recognition. But what Don cared about most were souls who needed rescuing. He lived a life of love, but that doesn’t even begin to cover it. He loved with a purpose, driven by a mission bigger than himself: to rescue the vulnerable, heal the broken, and bring transformation to entire communities. This wasn’t just work for Don, it was his life.

In the nearly 20 years he served through AIM, Don fought for victims as he would his own children as well as advocated for policy change to government leaders in Washington D.C., Cambodia, and Hong Kong. He wrote for international publications, spoke to thousands, and pioneered new methods of intervention. He took up projects no one thought possible, like building one of the biggest schools in Cambodia or getting jurisdiction as a foreign nonprofit to conduct investigations and arrests on traffickers. He could see past the surface of an issue and see to the heart of it, showing the love of Christ to traffickers and addressing the demand for sex driven by pornography and a lack of leadership for men. His innovation was unmatched. 

Don was more than a founder. He was Papa and Dad not only to his direct family, whom he loved with all his heart, but to hundreds of girls who learned from him for the first time that they were daughters of the one true king. He was a loving father figure and friend to staff members, mentees, volunteers, and countless others, who all carry on his spirit in their hearts.

His legacy will echo across the globe, a testament to his profound devotion to Jesus and his selfless love for others. He poured out his life unreservedly for those who were suffering and lost. We were privileged to witness how his boundless compassion brought genuine healing to countless lives, always guiding them toward Jesus.

In remembeing Don, may we commit ourselves to honor his memory by continuing the work he so passionately began. As we strive to embody the love, compassion, and dedication that defined his life, we know that the best way to honor Don’s legacy is to carry forward the mission of bringing hope, healing, and transformation to those in need.

So many of us look at this man’s enormous life and think, “Gosh, I want to be like Don when I grow up.” But carrying out his legacy doesn’t mean being more like Don, it means being more like Jesus.

"Well done, good and faithful servant." - Matthew 25:23

A special thanks to Ashleigh Wright, Renee Love, Stephanie VanTassell, Julie Morales-Harrold, and everyone who helped create this tribute.

LOOKING BACK | DON’S LEGACY AT AIM