December 2025 | 11
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Ohio IMB Missionary: You Are Part of My Journey By Margie Drane, IMB Missionary, Europe
sent among people groups where the name of Jesus is unknown. Later I assisted with starting new churches. Through my IMB ministries, I have led Bible studies, created children’s Bible curriculum, trained leaders, helped with disaster relief efforts, cared for abandoned babies at an orphan - age, taught English at a Christian school, and discipled and mentored children, students and young adults. I have worked with volunteers in a variety of outreach endeavors and ministered to human trafficking victims, homeless, addicts, parolees, refugees, and many more. There are so many stories I could tell. The joys and heartbreaks, the adventures and dangers and miracles. The many things God has taught me. The mistakes I’ve made and the challenges I’ve faced. The laughter and tears. The wonders and beauty. The incredible and un- ending need. So many faces and so many places. Yet thinking about it all, the thing that stands out the most is the overwhelming and urgent need for people to know the love of Jesus. You are a part of my journey. Every penny that you give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering supports mission - aries like me and the ministries that enable us to teach people about Jesus. Everything I have accomplished on
Margie Drane, IMB missionary, Europe
I laughed with the Ukrainian children as I developed creative ways to engage them in English classes. The international university students eagerly gathered at my apartment to join in fellowship and Bible study together. Professional Ukrainian women built friendships through the free baking classes I offered. Young adults met week - ly to ask spiritual questions and discuss why I believe in Jesus and trust the Bible as God’s word.
“You must be on the road within two hours. Take only one or two suitcases and leave every- thing else behind. You don’t have time to say goodbyes, and you won’t be coming back.”
One video call with leadership changed everything. It was time to evacuate Ukraine, and our team had less than two hours to begin the journey. It was another end and another beginning. I have had a multitude of addresses internationally and in the U.S., yet there is no place I call home. My family lives in South Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee, and they are to whom I return. For the 25 years that I have been serving with the In- ternational Mission Board (IMB), I have travelled to 75 countries and lived in south Florida, South Africa, En- gland, Ukraine, and now in France. My call to missions has been similar to Abraham’s – with God telling me to go to the land He will show me … until He sends me somewhere else. As an IMB missionary, I began as a photo and video jour- nalist and storyteller, sharing what God is doing around the world through various forms of media. I created evangelistic materials in local languages and was often
the mission field and the many ways God has worked through me to touch lives is thanks to your financial and prayer support. In the midst of the tears and hardships of evacuation, we never had to worry about the logistics. The IMB provided the vehicles we needed for transport. Housing was ar- ranged for each stop along our route. Legal documents and medical tests for border crossings were prepared and debriefing with licensed counselors was available. When starting new lives and ministries in other countries, relocation expenses and visas are always provided. Re- sources are given to learn languages and cultures, gain security awareness, lead trauma healing or orality train- ings, assist with disaster relief and humanitarian needs, and utilize a multitude of evangelism and discipleship methods. All of this is provided through your generous giving. Thank you for the love and support which makes it possible for me to share internationally about the Good News of Jesus Christ!
Made with FlippingBook Converter PDF to HTML5