“one of the best spiritual autobiographies I have ever read”
—W. Hall Harris III, New Testament Professor
I AM ENOUGH is the resounding answer to the deep question that everyone asks at least once in their life: Am I enough?
I AM ENOUGH is a memoir for spiritual seekers who are wondering if God really does have more in store for their lives.
Donna learned to overcome challenges, embrace differences, build friendships (and congregations), and inspire the leaders of the future throughout her career.
Now, readers can put these lessons at work in their own lives to strengthen their faith, navigate anxiety and restless moments, take brave steps in their personal and professional lives, and go from spiritual seeker to spiritual success.
In the 1970s, women pastors were rare. Donna wondered if she could handle the pressure, but more importantly, she wondered if God was right about her – that she was truly enough just the way she was.
Spiritual seekers who are restless and looking for direction in their lives will find fresh perspective and deep inspiration from Donna’s firsthand account of what one woman’s 40-plus-year career in a male-dominated church is really like.
Told with frank honesty and uplifting clarity, Donna’s story is a model of spiritual seeking to be known, to be heard, to be enough.
In this hope-filled account of a pioneering woman minister, readers will learn what it takes to break down barriers, trust God with their lives, and take a leap of faith.
Donna Whitehead is a pioneering pastor in the United Methodist Church who knew from a young age that she was destined for something beyond her small-town life in rural Louisiana.
Donna had everything she needed – a caring family, a nurturing church, and a childhood filled with memories. She married, graduated college, became a mother, and settled down. But something pulled at her. She never felt like she could fulfill the cookie cutter role of a housewife and mother. God clearly had other plans.
When an influential Jewish rabbi entered Donna’s life and changed her whole perspective, she made the decision to enter seminary and launch a career in Christian ministry.
If you’ve ever wondered if you’re on the right track or on a detour, this book will inspire the spiritual seeker inside of you to find the path God is laying out before you and encourage you to take the first step.
Advance Praise for I Am Enough
“Donna lays bare her soul in this stirring and thoroughly engrossing read. She takes us along on her journey from small town girl to pioneering female minister, giving us access along the way to the deepest wells of personal struggle and self-doubt that most of us would sooner run and hide from, much less publish for the world to see, as Donna has so bravely and graciously done for us in I Am Enough. And we are the better for it. Donna’s inspiring story is a gift that will touch readers of any age and give a richly informed perspective on the human spirit in its search of ultimate meaning, truth, and joy.”
—Dustin Lance Black, Academy Award-Winning Screenwriter
“Whitehead has written a thoughtful spiritual autobiography that is honest and inspiring. With transparency and vulnerability, she weaves together her own spiritual journey, the stories of two leading churches in America, and the work of the Holy Spirit in such a compelling way that I could not put it down.”
—Adam Hamilton, Pastor and Author of Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith
“Rev. Donna Whitehead’s I Am Enough offers a powerful and timely message of hope, purpose, and the enduring love of God, particularly relevant for young clergywomen of color who often navigate spaces that challenge their worth and sense of belonging. Rooted in both scriptural truth and contemporary analysis, Donna encourages churches and individuals to reclaim their God-given missions, moving beyond fear, division, and scarcity. In a world that often marginalizes and divides, the affirmation that “we are enough” is transformative. This book is a must-read for any clergywoman, particularly those who feel overwhelmed by the demands of ministry or the weight of societal pressures. It is a bold declaration that in God’s eyes, we are enough, and through His love, we are empowered to make an extraordinary impact on the world around us.”
—Christina Winbush Hardy, Campus Minister, Texas A&M University at Commerce Wesley Foundation
“Donna Whitehead is a colleague whom I’ve served beside for a quarter of a century. I am but one who could say I have never witnessed anyone who joyfully experiences ministry more than Donna Whitehead. For those who know Donna, they smile at her positive approach to life and her love for learning. I Am Enough is a story that had to be told from a lifelong learner who could definitely be a teacher, expert, or authority on the subject of women in ordained ministry. The tenor of I Am Enough at times reads like an appealing memoir; the overall impression of the book, however, is one of a humbly presented testimony to learning and growing in God’s grace and through life-changing revelation.”
—Stan Copeland, Senior Pastor Lovers Lane UMC, Dallas
“This is one of the best spiritual autobiographies I have ever read! Donna is a storyteller and accomplished writer; both make for a good read. However, what really makes this book stand out is not just its down-home style, but the journey of calling and career that are marked by personal growth, insight, and committed transparency and vulnerability. My late wife Ursula and I first met Donna in the summer of 2015. We had requested a meeting to see if a professor from the other seminary in Dallas would fit in at Lovers Lane UMC. Not only were we welcomed, but Donna encouraged us both to use our teaching gifts to strengthen the church. We never looked back.”
—W. Hall Harris III, ThM, PhD, Senior Professor of NT Studies (ret.), Dallas Theological Seminary
“Donna's new memoir shares the wisdom that has guided her through a remarkable life: ‘There is always something to learn.’ I have known Donna as a mentor and colleague for over nine years, and I've seen first-hand how her life has been a testament to the power of continual growth and resilience. This book goes beyond mere words, as she shares her journey of a life well-lived, where every challenge is met with the opportunity to learn and thrive. I know you will enjoy Donna's story as she reveals the lessons learned from a life of rich experiences and unending curiosity.”
—DeDe Jones, Associate Pastor of Modern Worship and Evangelism, Lovers Lane UMC
“Donna is a spiritual seeker who, in her study of adult development, Jungian psychology, and insights into self-development through the Enneagram, along with her continuing study of Scripture and pastoral work, realized that her true Self could only be realized by letting go of ego-driven goals. She shares openly the ongoing necessity of personal willingness to go deeper within, as well as expanding her love and ministry in more inclusive dimensions than numbers and accomplishments. Her tone even becomes confessional in the service of being clear about the challenges we (and the church) have to face to move forward in becoming truly Christian community. She has discovered and here proclaims the wisdom of Irenaeus: ‘The Glory of God is Humanity Fully Alive.’”
—Betsy Alden, Visiting Professor, Founding Director of Service-Learning, Program in Education, Duke University
“I hope that both women and men—clergy and laypersons of all denominations—will read, enjoy, and learn from Donna's story of what it has been like to be a woman in ministry through decades of challenges and changes. Her memoir is also a personal reflection on spiritually maturing through the stages of life. She writes with disarming candor and clarity, bringing the reader through her own journey while prompting reflection on their own. Donna has touched many lives for God and for good, and I am convinced that this wonderful story will influence and bless many more through the years to come.”
—Joan G. Labarr, retired District Superintendent, North Texas Conference, UMC
“Laypeople, seminary students and pastors alike will be energized by this refreshingly honest narrative to replace egotism with humble trust in God as the motivation for their ministries. Rev. Donna Whitehead’s memoir of ministry, I Am Enough, is an invitation to readers to learn from and share in her journey, one we all must make, from faith in our own abilities to faith in God. Donna, one of the first women ordained in the North Texas Conference, UMC, interweaves family memories, insights from her seminary days in the late 1970’s, professional lessons learned from her church experiences over the past forty years, and wisdom that has inspired her from authors and mentors.”
—Alyce M. McKenzie, Le Van Professor of Preaching and Worship and Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor, Co-Director, The Perkins Center for Preaching Excellence at SMU
“Clergywomen everywhere, hear these words from Rev. Donna Whitehead, ‘I Am Enough!’ Throughout history, clergywomen have shared similar stories of doubt. In her memoir, Rev. Whitehead courageously and boldly proclaims, ‘I Am Enough!’—three of the most important words a clergy woman can hear. In a real, vulnerable, and humble spirit, Donna helps us join hands as we travel the journey together and proclaim along the way that ‘We Are Enough!’”
—Cynthia Harvey, Bishop, Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, President of the Council of Bishops, 2022-2024, First Hispanic Woman to lead the Council