Drena & George's Story
Drena met George Verwer in 1958 whilst she was working at Moody Bible institute and taking evening classes there. Drena became a believer in 1955 and was already interested in mission work. For much of her childhood she lived in Wisconsin, the oldest of eight siblings, she lived with her mother and Stepfather who was not a believer. She became engage to George in January 1959 and they married in January 1960, after George graduated from Moody Bible College in December. She gave up her studies at Moody to move with George to Mexico.
She was twenty-one when she married and for the next 20 years she moved with George and their children every three to six months, never having a place to call home. As a family she has lived in over fifteen countries, including Mexico, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, India, Nepal, Thailand, Pakistan and the UK. For five of these years, they were on-board the first OM ship called the Logos.
Forty-three years ago, the Verwer family moved to a rented property in London and this became the main base for George’s office and international team. However, this did not mean that Drena stopped travelling. With their three children now grown up, Drena spent most of the year on the road with George. Supporting him in his role of OM’s international Director and with his speaking ministry. In addition, she worked full time on George’s personal post and maintaining their prayer partner database. She also wrote and sent out the “Verwer Family” letter which was distributed to over 6000 people world wide.
Drena and George were committed to seeing the word of God spread to all the unreached peoples and she remained a steadfast partner to George during their 63-year marriage.
She continues to be committed to seeing that Gorge’s books remain in circulation, either in printed format or digitally. She passionately believes that the books George wrote during his lifetime should live on as his legacy in the years to come and through the work of Verwer/ Hession Trust and was happy to become Patron to the Trust in 2023.
Drena has two sons and a daughter, five Grandchildren and six Great Grandchildren who live between Britain, America, and Switzerland.
