Donovan and Heather Drew hope to join the 1Hope team towards the end of 2010. Their sending church is Bethel Grace Baptist Church, near Long Beach, California (www.bethelgrace.org).

Donovan was born and raised in Durban, South Africa. Heather was born in Bellevue, Washington, but she moved to Leon, Spain when she was 8 years old (her parents served as missionaries there for 13 years).

We met at our sending church, Bethel Grace Baptist. Donovan had come to America to study at The Master’s College (B.A. Biblical Studies), and became a youth pastor at Bethel Grace in January 2006. Heather began attending Bethel Grace when she returned to the U.S to be a student at Biola University (B.A. Liberal Studies - Elementary Education). She became the Children’s Ministry Director at the church after she graduated in June 2007. We were already good friends, and after serving together for a few months, things became pretty clear!  We were married in June 2008.

God has given us both a love for the local church, a love for children, and a burden for the needy, especially orphans. We started dialoging with Josh and Marda at the suggestion of Dr. Mark Tatlock, a former professor and mentor of Donovan’s from The Master’s College. It’s been a huge encouragement getting to know them and brainstorming with them about ways to minister to the desperately needy in South Africa. We’re so blessed by the opportunity to learn from them and help them further their ministry!

We look forward to serving in whatever ways are helpful. Amongst other things, we hope to work on ways to help local churches minister to orphans, and to equip and encourage South African Christians to adopt. We will also be caring for orphans ourselves.

We’d greatly appreciate your prayers!

Thank-you very much!

Donovan and Heather Drew

E-mail:
Donovan: donovantheafrican@yahoo.com
Heather: hdrew84@gmail.com

Facebook:
Donovan: www.facebook.com/donovan.drew
Heather: www.facebook.com/heather.drew

Our blogs:
 www.masimdumisene.wordpress.com - Life updates and recent pictures
 www.faithfuldiscipleship.wordpress.com - Miscellaneous posts on Christian life, philosophy of ministry, etc