Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Psalms 82:3-4 (NIV)
We hope to unite the church behind this vision. Showing the love of Jesus is ultimately our fuel.
When the Saints dream is to see Africans minister to Africans and to utilize resources from within the country as much as possible. We do not wish to promote dependency as a result of a hand out, but rather seek to empower through sustainability.
We actively seek to partner with foreign and local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) as well as churches of any denomination to oversee on the ground services and operations, which fall within the mission of “When the Saints”.
Our first project is to open a safe home for girls who are enslaved for the purpose of sexual exploitation in the country of Malawi in SE Africa. We are in the process of raising 125 thousand dollars to fund a rehabilitation facility for up to 50 girls. We hope to break ground by July of 2012. This facility will ensure the educational, vocational, nutritional, emotional, psychological and most of all spiritual care of the girls.
When the Saints is working toward creating a documentary, a small groups curriculum, and writing a book that will all empower the average Christian to fulfill Psalm 82:3-4
A Missouri native, David Peterka, founded the non-profit organization “When The Saints” in November 2010. David’s passion is to bring awareness to the issues of extreme poverty and social injustices around the world, and to help teach churches the roles they can play to combat it. David is currently the Missions Director at his local church and is also a child advocate through Compassion International helping children find sponsors. Although David is in his mid twenties, he has extensive “hands-on” experience and has been an advocate for social injustice issues for over six years. In the fall of 2011 he graduated from St. Louis Christian College with a Christian Ministries degree and emphasised Intercultural and Urban missions.
David’s background includes extensive traveling and mission work throughout poverty stricken areas around the globe. All his travels are for research and first hand knowledge of the difficulties and challenges as well as the joy and contentment that poverty ironically brings.
June 2007 - Made his first international trip to Kenya with the organization, "Feed the Children" in, where he helped feed children, garden, and educate on horticulture.
Fall of 2007 and Spring of 2008 - Helped organize and lead a campus club on the grounds of Meremac Community College called the "Global Justice Project". There were events such as a campus Fair Trade Market that raised $1800; a Dafur "die-in" where people actually laid on the concrete in the quad of the campus to bring awareness to the genocide in Dafur. Over 86 blankets were donated and shipped there with Bibles through "Voice of the Martyrs".
July 2008 - Traveled to Mexico with his local youth group as an assistant leader while helping out in the local community.
March 2009 – In Guntar, India, taught the gospel to thousands of people, built wells, and worked in an orphanage in India. While in Calcutta, David did research on sex trafficking.
July 2009 - Traveled across Europe and through six Eastern African countries including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, D.R. Congo, and Sudan for a total of 4 ½ months living on a $1.25 a day for food and water. The purpose of this trip was also to help film and produce a documentary by the name of “Give a Damn?”
Four separate trips to Mexico March 2010 In Monterey, Mexico he helped a church with their vacation bible school materials. 2009 Crossed to boarder at Tijuana and spent some time at an orphanage. March 2007 - Visited Mexico with Amore Ministries where he helped build a house for a family in Juarez. June 2006 - Traveled to San Miguel, Mexico where he laid a foundation for a local church.
David is currently leading a self-developed small group curriculum in his home teaching how to biblically fight injustice and poverty. This will become the guide to help small churches find their role in defending those who are exploited.
He also feeds the homeless on a semi-regular basis in the streets of downtown St. Louis and has been doing this for over three years.
He is the assistant producer of a documentary called “Give a Damn” which focuses on the average Americans role toward poverty around the world.
Hal Miller retired in 2000 and is now an active trader in the stock market. He and his wife, Susan, spend much of their time in local mission projects. His main job now is that he is an "on call" Papa to six grandchildren, ages 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, and 2.
Blair Fingland joined the board as a case manager with Covenant House Missouri where she dedicated her time to working with homeless teens in the St. Louis metro area. Blair has a BSW from the University of Missouri, and will is attending Washington University for a Masters in Social Work. In her free time, Blair is an avid rock climber. She also enjoys international travel, and has had a variety of experiences traveling to serve on multiple continents.
Mary Cibulka is a proud mother of two busy teenagers, and is currently residing in Ellisville, MO. She has been an active member of her local church, by teaching Sunday School classes, and directing summer Vacation Bible Schools. Mary has also been on staff as the Children's Ministry coordinator and Office Manager. She has served on several missionary trips, including locations to the Cherokee Indian Reservation and Kenya, Africa. Because of Mary's strong adminstrative skills and love for serving those in need, she is honored to be the Secretary to "When the Saints".
Majoring in Biology and Education, Gabriel has a passion for life sciences (including Agriculture) and teaching. Being intrigued by other cultures and languages, Gabriel has traveled to many different countries including: Mexico, Italy, Germany, and Japan. He lived for a year and did missions work with a church in Japan where he learned a lot about the culture and language.
Dan is David's father and has watched him grow into the man of God that he is today. Dan grew up on a farm in South Dakota, received a degree in Agriculture from South Dakota State U and a masters of Divinity from Bethel Theological seminary, St. Paul Minn. He pastored for 14 years, and then became involved in the real estate and construction business for the last 20 plus years. He has been married to Roni, his college sweetheart for 38 years and they have 4 grown sons.