News at ABWE
Donna Messenger's Testimony and Ministry History
Donna was born March 20, 1956, and grew up in a church-planting pastor’s home. Her parents modeled love for the Lord and His work from an early age. Don and Marjorie Messenger frequently hosted missionaries in their home, and Donna eagerly listened to their stories and asked endless questions.
She graduated from Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Christian Education and a missions minor. Upon graduation, she sought the Lord’s direction for employment where she could use her gifts in full-time ministry.
Donna worked at the Baptist Children’s Home in Valparaiso, Indiana, for a year and then two years at Calumet Baptist High School in Gary, Indiana. The Lord then gave her an editorial position at Regular Baptist Press in Schaumburg, Illinois. In 1984, she became the Resident Director at then Grand Rapids Baptist College (now Cornerstone University), while earning her Master’s of Religious Education degree at Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary. After three years, she took the position of Associate Dean of Students and remained in Grand Rapids for seven more years. She worked with MKs as part of her ministry with students and thought perhaps the Lord gave her a love for missions to more effectively minister to the MKs.
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the door to Eastern Europe opened to western missionaries and an entry to missions also opened for Donna. She became aware of ministry opportunities and personnel needs with the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism and realized the Lord was leading her into missions.
Donna was appointed by ABWE in July of 1993, to Central and Eastern Europe. During the next eight years, she worked with the Church Ministries Institute in Odessa, Ukraine, in a number of capacities. She managed Ukrainian staff and scheduled classes and use of the building. She also taught Christian education courses and seminars and participated in local church ministries.
The Lord directed Donna back to the United States in the fall of 2002 to begin a three-year ministry at the ABWE Home Office in January of 2003. She received the role of Coordinator of Communications, including the responsibilities as Editor of the Message—the quarterly publication of the mission. She also served as Director of Publications entailing oversight of book projects, other publication projects, and writing and editing for the ABWE website.
In 2005, the Lord began to lead Donna overseas again. Now, she is preparing to serve in Asia through the Asia Baptist Theological Seminary as Director of International Student and Alumni Relations. Next year (2008), ABWE and Cornerstone University will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ABTS partnership, which has delivered graduate-level theological education to Asian pastors, missionaries, Bible college professors, and other Christian workers at 11 teaching sites, drawing more than 250 active students from 20 countries in the region. After working at Cornerstone University for ten years before serving with ABWE for the next 13 years, Donna believes that teaming with the ABTS combines all she has been doing for the past two decades.