Growing up in a pastor’s home, Donna grew to love the church and developed a heart for ministry and missions at an early age. She graduated from Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa, in 1978, intending to head to the mission field immediately after. However, God allowed her several years of stateside ministry before taking her into career missions. A decade of that time was at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she served as Associate Dean of Students. After the Soviet Union opened in the early 90s, the Lord led Donna to serve with ABWE in Ukraine for the next decade.

She returned to the US in 2003 and for a few years served at the ABWE home office in Harrisburg, PA, as director of publications and editor of the Message magazine. Then, when the Lord closed the door to move back overseas, Donna joined Barnabas International in June of 2008 for the purpose of ministering to college-age MKs (Missionary Kids) and their families. For twelve years Donna directed the MK Reentry Transition Seminar that Barnabas International offered at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio. Over those years, she and her staff ministered to around 500 MKs. She has a heart for missionary families and is involved in family debriefing with Barnabas. She also assists organizations with their development of MK care. She currently resides in Sebring, Florida.