Fantastic 2023
Through the grace of God and your incredible generosity,
When the Saints experienced a fantastic 2023!
Following are some of last year’s highlights:
-WtS built a fourth dormitory and increased the safe home capacity of girls from 54 to 72.
-Our full-time, all Malawian staff, went from 55 to 70.
-The number of counselors went up by 5, bringing us to 10 full-time counselors.
-Men’s Ministry groups increased from 8 to 14 groups.
-Men’s Ministry Groups range from 10 to 80 men in each group. The estimate is that there are around 400 men consistently attending our Men's Ministry Groups each month.
-WtS built a Chapel/Multi-Purpose Building. Not only are we now able to hold devotions with all the girls on our campus at once, but we can also hold other special events for the ministry.
-We opened our school (1st-8th grades) up to the community and we currently have just over 200 students in attendance.
-WtS has implemented several security measures, including:
-Building a wall around the land between the safe home and the school, so that the girls no longer have to walk on the public road.
-Increasing our guard staff from 11 to 14
-Purchased a bus so the girls can travel easier and more securely
-Increasing the number of security cameras around the facility.
-We have strengthened the internal structure of the organization with a variety of policies and procedures, put safe-guards in place regarding visitors to our campus, have better internal staff assessments, safe-guarded assets, better and more secure satellite internet, and working to strengthen the interactionand relationship of the Malawian and U.S. Board of Directors. (Our desire in doing this is to solidify our goals and methods of following the will of God through our daily oversight of the ministry.)
-WtS has formed a Missions Committee to assist with groups and individuals who desire to visit our campus. The goal is to provide safety to the girls and to our ministry while offering others a chance to participate in and contribute to our mission.
What an amazing year! And these are just the highlights... Some of the miraculous ways in which we see God working in this ministry every day.
Thank you for your love, prayers and continued support of
God’s ministry through When the Saints!
-The WtS Team
"Our Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power" -Rev 4:11
Prayer Committee
Prayer Committee
WTS Prayer Committee Information
Our weekly prayer group meets every Monday at 7 a.m. (CST) in the spring and 6 a.m. (CST) in the fall. However, people join as time allows. Some join every week; others, once a month. The purpose of this committee is to pray over When The Saints and its current issues, community needs, fundraising needs, and any extenuating circumstances that may arise.
Currently, our prayer group is in need of a volunteer to take the notes from our prayer calls and put them into an email to send to others who subscribe to our prayer emails. We would also like to highlight certain praise reports on social media.
To join the WTS Prayer Committee, send an email to Cathy at CHartke553@aol.com with your name, phone number, and email address.
We’d love to have you on board!
OUR GROWTH PLAN
To see girls in Malawi living free of sexual exploitation, ruled by the transforming love of Jesus, and the men around them walking in sexual integrity.
Profile of A Malawian Girl's Life, Impacted by When the Saints “Save us and help us with Your right hand, that those You love may be delivered.” - Psalm 108:6
Profile of A Malawian Girl's Life, Impacted by When the Saints
Spiritually Rooted - A girl who is growing in her faith by understanding her worth through Jesus as she continues her healing journey.
Walking in Dignity - She is assured of her value in Christ. A girl who has come to a place of peace and forgiveness in her outlook toward her abuser and is not harboring bitterness that will hinder her own freedom.
Well Educated - A girl who is able to graduate high school. She is equipped through vocational training for multiple life-options.
Contributing to Community - As she is welcomed back into her community with love, she has something to contribute to her family and society.
Our Values
Christ – Our desire is to bring healing to both the oppressed and oppressor through the Gospel and love of Jesus Christ. Our hope is in Jesus alone for the transformation we seek.
Dignity – We respect each person’s story and journey toward healing. Our goal is not to exploit anyone’s experience but, rather, to walk with them to a place of redemption and healing.
Empowerment – We empower the girls in our program by helping them step into the true purpose of Jesus for which they were created. We empower men through mentorship in biblical relationships,
demonstrating how men renew their minds to view women as Christ views the Church.
When you invest in When the Saints you provide the fuel to mobilize four strategic priorities:
Our Safe Home currently provides long term trauma counseling, faith development, and education to fifty-four girls per year. Our vision is to care for one hundred forty-four girls per year by 2027 in eight dormitories on our current campus. Over the next ten years, we will move toward opening a second campus, anywhere from ninety minutes to six hours from the safe home in the northern or southern region of Malawi.
When the Saints are on a mission to evangelize villages within forty-five minutes of the trauma counseling safe home. Currently, we share the gospel in one village each month, impacting on average three thousand six hundred Malawi citizens every year. Within the next five years we will hire an Evangelism Coordinator and support staff to organize and facilitate evangelism meetings.
When the Saints mentors over 200 men in 7 villages each week through our Men’s Ministry. Within five years we will be sending out the leaders of our current groups to start leading their own groups. This step will allow us to go from 7 current groups up to 14 weekly men's gatherings. Our plan is that in the next 10 years we will be ministering to 21 groups in 21 different villages.
As we structure a follow up process for girls leaving the program, with the support of two social workers, we will build an action plan for reunions to continue engaging graduates longterm. We wish to also design a “mentoring” program where older girls help with the daily care for the younger ones.
Our goal is to fund a program for girls to go on to college, and to create an opportunity for them to come back and serve with WtS if they'd like.
Based on our strategic priorities to grow the ministry we have identified three critical steps. The metaphor fromJesus’ parable of the sower of seeds is utilized for the titles.
Over the past 5 years, 1,000+ donors have contributed a total of $1,300,000 to accomplish the following scope of work:
Provide excellent care to 220+ girls in the 3 dormitories housing 54 beds
Open a school to provide comprehensive education to those in our care, grades 1st - 8th.
Build our ministry team from 7 to 53 paid staff composed entirely of Malawi citizens.
Invest $20,000+ to establish sustainable and dependable infrastructure through the installation of solar energy systems and water wells on all three campuses.
Build our professional team by hiring 3 counselors to provide trauma therapy, 2 social workers to navigate systems of care for girls, and a teacher to add 8th grade.
Construct a general purpose building for a nursery, library, 2 counseling offices, a meeting space for Men’s Ministry group leaders, vocational training space and a church.
Establish 12 counseling offices onsite in Dorms 4 and 5 in order to counsel more girls.
Build our administrative capacity to support and sustain ministry impact.
Hire a farm manager to help oversee our animals, the orchard and the farm expansion to continue taking steps toward sustainability.
Establish dependable transportation for staff and girls with a 42-seat bus.
Launch STEM classes in primary and secondary schools to position students for competitive post-high school programs and careers.
Expand Community Based Services in the homes of the girls, including the hiring of a social worker and counselor.
Expand to a second campus 1.5-6 hours away from the current Safe Home which would then include all the elements of our current and expanded program.
Download a printable PDF of Our Growth Plan
Our New Bus
We got a bus!
Thank you to everyone who financially and prayerfully contributed to our goal of raising the $60,000 we needed. The girls are overwhelmed with excitement, and it has been nothing short of a blessing for our WtS Girls Academy.
Watch the Video to see our principle Lodrick speaking from his heart as well as the girls dancing and cheering "It's a bus!" as it pulls into the school campus for the first time.
Speaking of the school, the staff duplex for our principal and vice principal is now complete! As for the chapel, construction is still underway, but it is just weeks away from being able to be used.
On another note, David and Essy have about 6 weeks left before they go back to Africa. Their time stateside has been full, as always, but so, so good. They have been meeting with old and new friends, preaching and fundraising. Here is Brandon (below), our old friend and pastor of one of our church partners in Winfield, Missouri.
Lastly, our annual review board meeting is July 15th. We would love it if you would pray with us for God's discernment, vision, and provision over this meeting and the upcoming year for WtS.
With Love,
The WtS Team
Want to engage another way with When the Saints? Check out our Donor See project and contribute to help us get backpacks for the girls in our program for this upcoming school year. Your help is seen and appreciated while you get to also see follow up videos of the people your donation impacted.
Simplicity of Life
In the picturesque village of Mponela, near the men's ministry home, lies a beautiful family whose story resonates with the essence of simplicity. ✨🏡
As you can see in this heartwarming picture, the mother, with utmost care, is seen meticulously cleaning the corn before it goes into the grinder, where it will be transformed into wholesome corn flour. 🌽✨ Each grain represents sustenance and nourishment for her loved ones.
Meanwhile, her two energetic children, just like kids all around the world, are fully engaged in their playful antics. With contagious laughter and boundless enthusiasm, they monkey around, spreading joy and filling the air with their carefree spirits. 🐒💫
But here's the twist that makes this image even more delightful: all three of them are covered in a fine layer of corn flour! Their innocent mischief has brought them closer, bonding them in an unexpected way. It's a joyful mess that symbolizes the beauty found in life's simplest moments. 🌽😄
The simplicity of their lives is truly remarkable. Amidst the busyness and complexities of the modern world, they have discovered a treasure trove of contentment and gratitude. They embrace each day with open hearts, cherishing the blessings that surround them. 💕✨
In a world often consumed by materialism and constant pursuit of more, this family reminds us to pause, reflect, and appreciate the beauty in simplicity. They teach us that true happiness can be found in the smallest gestures and shared experiences.
Let us strive to capture and celebrate these precious moments that define our lives. May we find inspiration in the joy, laughter, and love that radiate from this beautiful family. 📸💖
Glorious Freedom
Thank you to all of you who joined us at our 12th Annual Banquet! We appreciate each and every one of you who came out and made the night a success. We're honored and grateful for your support!
Of our $60,000 goal, we have already raised nearly $58,000! We can't wait to see how God is going to use this to further His Glorious Freedom!
There are two ways you can still be entered win the free trip to Malawi!
1. Follow the directions in this Share the Love link and share one of our pre-made social media posts. This will enter you into the drawing for this trip.
2. Donate at least $100 to our School Bus Donor See project and help us meet our $60,000 goal. This will also enter you into the drawing.
*You can enter twice by doing each of these two things above.
The last day to enter this drawing is end of the day Saturday, May 6th.
The winner will be drawn on or before May 20, 2023.
We love you!
The WtS team
Taxi of Malawi
In a world that often measures success by material possessions and wealth, it's refreshing to come across individuals who redefine what it means to live a fulfilling life. Picture this: a humble young man, his worn-out bicycle serving as his trusty steed, ferrying passengers from the Men's Ministry home to the When The Saints safe haven in the beautiful country of Malawi. In this snapshot, we capture not just a mode of transportation, but a testament to the indomitable spirit of the human heart.
In a nation where resources are scarce and the cost of living is challenging, a journey of just over three miles from the Men's Ministry home to When The Saints safe home is an everyday reality for our young hero. With a mere cost of 80 cents in Malawi, his bike taxi serves as a lifeline for both visitors and staff members, bridging the distance between destinations with remarkable efficiency.
In the midst of a chaotic world filled with noise and excess, it is essential to pause and celebrate the quiet heroes who embody compassion and resilience. This picture of a young man and his bike taxi paints a thousand words, weaving a tale of simplicity, selflessness, and the transformative power of human connection. May we all be inspired to embrace the beauty in the everyday, to appreciate the abundance that lies in the simplest of gestures, and to find joy in the journey, just as our humble hero does.
Six-mile trek
Step into the captivating world of "When the Saints" and meet our fearless protectors, Joel and Tobias. As you gaze upon this snapshot, you'll immediately notice the tranquil surroundings - a lush, verdant landscape that instills a sense of serenity and calm.
With their watchful eyes and unyielding dedication, Joel and Tobias stand guard over our girls and esteemed staff, ensuring their safety at all times. And they're not alone in their mission - a team of fifteen committed guards work tirelessly around the clock, aided by eleven trusty canine companions who prowl the grounds at night, ever vigilant against any potential threat.
For years, Joel and Tobias made the grueling six-mile trek to and from their shift each day, a true testament to their unwavering commitment. But thanks to a generous donor, they now have brand new bikes that make their daily commute much more manageable. And as they pedal along the scenic route, they're able to take in the breathtaking beauty of their surroundings.
Now, living closer to home and still utilizing their trusty bicycles, Joel and Tobias remain a vital part of our security team, standing steadfast in their commitment to keeping our precious home safe from harm.
Let us all take a moment to show our appreciation for this incredible security team, who work tirelessly day and night, rain or shine, to ensure the safety of everyone in our care.
Capturing the Essence
Sarah King's visit to When The Saints in Malawi was a transformative experience that has left an indelible mark on our hearts. Through her exceptional photography, Sarah has gifted us with a visual narrative that showcases the true essence of our safe home for girls, brimming with love, resilience, and unwavering hope. We encourage you to follow Sarah's incredible journey as she continues to shed light on the untold stories that deserve to be heard and celebrated. Together, let us be inspired to create positive change in our world, one photograph at a time.
Tap the image below to follow Sarah on Instagram
One More Day
Do you have your tickets yet?
If not, there are 14 seats left and you can buy them here!
A couple quick things:
- Walk-ins are also welcome. We have a limited number of seats in addition to the 14 tickets still available.
-If you are unable to attend in person we will stream parts of the event on FB LIVE.
For those attending, here is the agenda:
1. Doors open at 5:30pm
2. Event will start promptly at 6:30 w/ dinner
3. David speaks at 7:20 and our guest speaker at 8:00
4. Event ends at 8:45
- Dress code is Business Casual
- You can park in the building 110 parking garage (see green star in picture above)
- The address for the event is:
130 Edward Jones Blvd
Maryland Heights, MO 63043
- Children are welcome, they do not need a ticket, but please make sure you have a seat reserved for them if needed.
We look forward to continuing to partner with you in the months ahead, together impacting lives in the beautiful nation of Malawi.
With Love,
David
A Special Opportunity: We are giving away a trip to Malawi! To be entered into the When the Saints, Malawi Trip Giveaway, you need to post one of our prepared graphics to your profile story AND tag When the Saints (directions on how to do this are in this “Share the Love” link).
An extra benefit to those who attend our in person event or our FB live stream will earn extra chances. So feel free to take as many pictures of yourself while at the event and post them for multiple entrees.
Spring Has Sprung
Hey everyone,
We wanted to remind you that registration is still available for our annual banquet, happening at 6:30PM on Saturday, April 22nd. As of this email, we have 57 seats still available. We hope to fill them all up!
If you missed the discounted ticket price in our last email, don't worry! You get one last chance at the discounted price. This discount will only be available through March 25th however, so we encourage you to make your selection as soon as possible.
Purchase Here: Single seats are available for $18 (10% off!)
*Would you host a table? Click the link above, Click "Get Tickets" and then click "Buy on Map". Select and buy all of the empty 8 seats at one available table.
We're looking forward to connecting with our donors and supporters at this event! Feel free to bring anyone you'd like to introduce to what God is doing through our When the Saints. This will be the perfect opportunity to invite folks to participate in the many ways we are working to see transformation in the lives of both the oppressed and the oppressor in Malawi.
See you there!
Join Us In Intercession
We would love to extend the invitation for anyone who might want to be a part of our WtS weekly prayer Zoom call. The prayer call is held every Monday @ 7am CST and typically runs for 35 minutes. If you'd like to participate, simply reply to this email to let us know you'd like to receive the Zoom link for Monday. Alternatively, if you are unable to join our calls, but would still like get our weekly prayer needs through email also respond to this email and let us know.
Get a little taste of our prayer calls by listening to last week's prayer call using the link below! We would love you to add your agreement to the things we brought before the Lord during this time.
–> Listen to Our Last Prayer Call
With Love,
David
A Special Request: The WtS Girls Academy would be honored to have your help in buying a school bus. This is one of our fundraising goals during our Glorious Freedom Annual Banquet April 22nd. If you are unable to attend the fundraiser you can still partner with us in this need! Click HERE or on the image above to learn more or contribute. Thank you!!
Great Start
Registration is now available for our annual banquet, happening at 6:30PM on Saturday, April 22nd!
The theme for this year's event is: Glorious Freedom. We'll be showcasing the beautiful liberty the graduates of our program are able to experience. We invite you to join us as David Peterka and our Board celebrate what God has done through When the Saints and share updates about both current and future projects. In addition, we'll present ways you can partner with us in transforming the lives of both the oppressed and the oppressor in Malawi.
If you missed the discounted ticket price on our social media don't worry! Since you are on our email list you get a second chance at the discounted price.
Single seats are available for $18 (10% off)
*Individual seats are coded in Orange
Or, invite your friends, family and coworkers to join us in our mission –
and reserve a whole table of 8 for $144 (10% off)
*Full tables are coded in Yellow.
Watch for more updates!
Some New Developments For The Future!
Recently, our ministry was given a generous grant to support our work. A charitable foundation provided us $10,000 – enough to drill a brand new water well on our future high school's property. This grant will also cover the expense of a water tower, some needed sound equipment for our evangelism ministry and two motorcycles our men's ministry team can use to travel from village to village.
We are so grateful to know that the students will have a fresh, clean water source right by the place they are being educated! This will allow them more time to focus on their studies. It prevents them from having to transport water from other parts of our campus.
In the future, we also have a donor who is looking to fund half of the costs for us to build our high school buildings for the girls. We do not have plans to start building this in the immediate future, but we are excited to know that we already have a significant chunk raised – before others have even begun to give toward such a project!
A Canvas Rebel Magazine Interview
Years ago, when I was 18, I put a “bucket list” together. The list did not have a lot of things on it. I would say, not more than 10. The one that stuck out to me the most was, “Help save someone’s life.”
From time to time I’d wonder if I would ever get the chance to do this... I would even go as far as to daydream about coming upon a bad car accident and helping a person out of the car in order to get them to the hospital or diving and pushing someone out of the way of a moving vehicle. Maybe part of it was selfish and I just wanted to feel like a hero, but the thought of someone being alive because of something I did was intriguing.
Seven years later I had started our non-profit organization. We just opened the first and only long-term trauma counseling safe home in the southeastern African country of Malawi. We brought a 5 year old girl into this safe home who was being abused by her own biological father. He was arrested and sentenced for 14 years. After she went through the 1-year counseling program, I tagged along with our social worker to her grandmothers home where she would be reintegrated back into her community.
The grandmother came running up to me and grabbed my arm. She looked me in the eyes and said, “This granddaughter was not the only one to be abused by their father. I had another 3 year old granddaughter that had wounds which got infected from the abuse and that 3 year old died as a result of those wounds. I believe this granddaughter here is alive today because of what When the Saints did to help us. You helped save her life.” In that moment I realized I could check an item off my bucket list.
This is an excerpt from a recent interview Cavas Rebel magazine did with David. Read more here...
We look forward to continuing to partner with you in the months ahead, together impacting lives in the beautiful nation of Malawi. God bless you and yours all throughout 2023!
With Love,
David
A Special Request: Our WtS Girls Academy now has over 130 students! The teachers recently requested playground equipment for the girls to use while they are on recess. Would you be willing to help us get closer to our goal of $720 for a slide, swings and other pieces of playground equipment so the girls can enjoy their school breaks even more? Click HERE or on the image above to learn more and contribute. Thank you!
Child is Born
We are excited to announce our 2023 banquet, happening Saturday, April 22nd! This will be held at the Edward Jones campus in Westport Plaza (111 West Port Plaza Dr. St. Louis, MO 63146). It will be a wonderful time of sharing testimonies and casting vision for where our ministry is headed.
More details will come soon, but we encourage you to put the date on your calendar now. We would love to see you there!
Information and tickets will be available on our website later. Consider bringing a friend (or tableful :) who might be interested in hearing about the work of When the Saints!
Unto Us A Second Child Is Born!
If you haven't already heard, Essy delivered our second child recently – Nuru Naomi Peterka! The little one was born Saturday night, Nov 5th. Her name is Swahili for “Shining Light,” and she was 7.5 lbs and 18 inches long.
We did have a bit of a scare during the birth but we are grateful to the Lord that the nurse was able to stop the bleeding and that Essy is healing well. She is still facing some issues and continued prayers would be appreciated.
Thanks to everyone who prayed over the birth, and for joining us in celebrating our precious new baby's birth!
A Moving Report from Malawi
As we mentioned in the last update, Mathias Lot Church (of St. Charles, MO) sent a team to Malawi last October to spend some time with us on our mission base. We had such a great time hosting them, and thought we'd share with you a reflection one of the team members gave us about the team's experience with us.
Laura wrote, "During our visit to When the Saints, I saw the Lord's faithful goodness manifest in real time. Upon arrival at the safe house, our team was greeted by beautiful smiling faces and a large group of singing and dancing young ladies – full of joy. These same girls, once abused and broken have been given 'beauty for ashes' and 'a garment of praise instead of despair' (Isaiah 61:3). I kept thinking, 'This place, this ministry, is nothing short of a miracle. Only God can do this!'
"We wept... we prayed, a lot. Weeping because of the suffering... Crying out to God on behalf of the survivors and the abusers, crying out because of our own sense of helplessness. Such need! And yet, testimonies of hope and the faithful hand of God also abounded.
"A 14 year old girl, severely abused and left for dead, told us the detailed story of Joseph from the Old Testament and how the Lord took what was meant for evil and turned it for good. She applied the truths found in Joseph's story to her own life and has forgiveness toward her abusers. Her spiritual strength and maturity – her faith in the mercy and love of Jesus – left us speechless..."
David's Chat with Pastor Marc Sikma
Have you had the chance yet to listen to David's interview with Mathias Lot Church's pastor, Marc Sikma? A link to the video is now available on our website's media page for anyone who would like to check it out!
You will certainly be both challenged and encouraged by this discussion about the how the redemptive power of God works in our own hearts as well as in restoring the lives of the downtrodden.
As 2022 comes to a close, we reflect on how grateful we are for your continued support. We can't wait to see what God has planned for the New Year!
Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas as we remember and give thanks for the greatest gift ever- our Savior Jesus Christ!
With Love,
David
A Special Request: Would you like to see a cute video of Essy? Here she is requesting work boots, rubber gloves and work suits for our construction team to use as they build our multipurpose building! You can also help meet this need of $280. Click on the image above to learn more and contribute. Thank you!
Only God
We're excited to report that God is bringing an increase to our organization and to the lives we are serving with you! We are all in this together, and as always, we are grateful for your incredible support.
"Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." -1 Cor 3:7
Breaking Ground for Our New Chapel
On Monday, October 10th we broke ground on the first addition to our new property — a chapel! There was much dancing and celebration as we thanked God for what He is starting with this project. This will give our staff and the girls a new space to regularly worship together on our base and meet a variety of other needs.
Once completed, this facility may serve as a place for us to host church services, counseling sessions, daycare for the girls' children, a library, vocational training, men's ministry trainings and special events.
This year has been such a great time of progress for us. We are days away from completing our 4th dorm, we are half-way to a new school staff duplex and our school is operating at full steam! We believe God's heart is being reflected through When the Saints and we are thankful that He is being faithful to bring glory to His name through us.
Supporting Our Local Police Force
Supporting the local community here in Malawi is a high priority for When the Saints. It helps to build bridges, maintain solid relationships and accomplish more ministry. In fact, it would be incredibly difficult to fulfill our vision without outside help — especially from our local police! Our partnership plays a crucial role in our goal to reduce sexual abuse in our region.
For this reason, when we heard that the city's electrical blackouts were causing issues at the Mponela Police Station, we felt moved to do something about it. On September 30th, we were privileged to be able to donate quality solar flood lights, allowing the police to continue their work at night without interruption and to help keep their station secure.
Assistant Commissioner John Zidana said he was elated by our gift, and is very thankful. He said, "We are grateful for our own partners who bless and invest in our township!"
Thank you for all that you do to encourage and participate in this life-giving ministry.
-Much love to you all!
A Special Request: Would you be interested in helping us provide some waiting area furniture to a local police station? We have a Donor See project that's currently at 32%, with another $196 to go. Click on the image below to learn more and contribute. Thank you!
Going Big
Hello everyone,
Thank you for following along with our unfolding story, and participating in this journey with us. We couldn’t do this work without the support, encouragement and prayers of folks like you!
Remembering Our Grand Ceremony
We didn’t get the opportunity to share this story with you all previously, but thought you might enjoy hearing about it. Last December we were able to finally host a “Grand Ceremony” in Malawi. It was a huge success! We wanted to wait several years before officially, publicly announcing our presence in the nation — so that we could get our feet on the ground and be well established to handle a potential influx of referrals to our program. We felt like the time was finally right to celebrate the ministry, so in December of 2021 we hosted a major gathering.
Praise God, we were able to have dozens of members of the Malawian government in attendance — including the official Minister of Gender, our member of Parliament, and the First Lady! Three different major news stations covered our event, and over 500 people came to participate. A number of major non-profit organizations were represented among that number too, including both UNICEF and UN Women.
It was a wonderful time as we introduced ourselves to people across Malawi and shared the heart of our mission with them. We are so grateful for the relationships we were able to build, and we trust they will continue to grow stronger in the years to come.
A private Christian in-patient medical center is running near our safe home in Malawi. It is called the Mzati (or in English, “Cornerstone”) Clinic. Anytime the girls have medical needs, we take them here and have become very good friends with the doctor who founded it. We recently heard about several needs that were keeping them from providing in-patient care. We recognized this as a divinely-appointed opportunity to build a partnership for God’s Kingdom and decided to extend a helping hand. Thanks to a generous donor, we were privileged to be able to provide several essential items including a 5,000 liter water tank, an electric generator, and a combination of maternity and hospital beds.
We are excited to see how the Lord will use this new ministry to serve our neighbors, and are grateful to have this medical facility so near to our safe home. This will allow the girls to have good access to quality in-patient care, rather than having to travel to another district to get such help.
We can’t wait to see all the lives touched in our community through this informal partnership.
Recapping The Sent Conference
David had a wonderful time sharing at Mathias' Lot's annual Sent Conference in St. Charles, MO last month. There was a great turnout and an overwhelming response from those attending the event. It was a blessing for him to get to connect with those who attended!
Set aside some time to watch or listen to this talk, you won't regret it. David discusses the power of simple obedience to the Lord’s plans for our lives. You will be challenged to embrace the sacrifices God is calling you to face in your work for the Kingdom, and you will hear inspiring stories about how His Spirit is moving in Malawi. You might particularly appreciate hearing a beautiful testimony of miraculous healing shared in his message – which helped a former alcoholic turn his life around and become a Christ-centered family man.
Click here to experience the full message.
David has since returned to Malawi and jumped back into the work there, but he and his family look forward to being back in the US for an extended visit next spring.
We hope you are all enjoying the beginning of this autumn season in the States, and will share more with you next month.
Love to you all!
One quick request. Would you be interested in helping us do a community sensitization program to help reduce sexual abuse? We have a Donor See project at 20%, but still have another $300 to go. Click on the image below to learn more and contribute. Thanks!
Summer Highlights
Hello friends,
There are some important and exciting developments happening at When the Saints. We may soon be heading into the fall at last, but wanted to share some things that have been happening over the summer.
Our Campus In Malawi Is Expanding
Recently we were blessed to be able to purchase a few small plots of land (300 yards long) that are located between our primary school building and our safe home. This will allow us to join the two parts of our campus into one, giving us 20 acres of continuous property.
This addition will now allow the girls to walk safely every day from school to the safe home, without our drivers having to pick them up or the girls walking on a busy public road. It will also increase the sense of privacy and security, as we just finished building walls around the new section of property. In the future, we plan to use this new land to build a high school for the girls. In the meantime, the land will not sit idle, but will be used for farming.
A Visit from Our Board President
Our ministry’s Board President, Darrell Clark, has been working with When the Saints since 2016. He hoped to make his first personal visit to Malawi in 2020, only to have that plan derailed by the pandemic. After much waiting, he was finally able this summer to make a trip to our mission base!
Darrell visited for 10 days this past July and was overjoyed to see what is being accomplished up close and in-person. It really blessed him to observe the care provided to the girls in our program. He was especially impressed after meeting with all of the counseling staff, learning more about and observing the incredible mental health services that they provide for the girls.
Dorm building number 4 was under construction while Darrell was visiting, and he got to see it just as the roof was about to go on. He got to check out the school buildings too, which to him seemed to be built better than the government schools in the area. He was encouraged to find out that most of the teachers we have hired at WtS Academy have over 30 years of teaching experience.
Lastly, this trip was a great opportunity for Darrel to meet with some of the local village chiefs. He was able to encourage them to know and serve Christ, and to provide them education on abuse-prevention methods that they can implement within their communities. Some great relationship connections were made in the process.
Darrell says he is looking forward to returning to the country as often as possible, hopefully as soon as next year!
The Sent Conference in St. Charles
David is visiting the States again for a very brief time. You are invited to come hear him speak at the Sent Conference at Matthias Lot Church in St. Charles, MO. This will be a 2 day gathering focused on wrestling through scripture and prayer with our call to live as Christ’s ambassadors carrying out the Great Commission. David will be sharing about the work of When the Saints, and we believe it will be an inspiring time that will help us all grow better equipped to live a self-sacrificial, missional lifestyle.
This event will be held on Friday August 26th from 6pm-9pm, and Saturday the 27th from 9am-12pm. The ticket is $15. Register today
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As always, we thank you all so much for helping make our work possible!
Blessings to you
Progress
Hey everyone!
We hope you are enjoying your summer so far — despite the sometimes oppressive temperatures! We wanted to touch base with you about a few things you'll be interested in knowing...
Progress On Our Fourth Dormitory
We have some exciting news... Thanks to a generous donor, anyone who gives now toward our 4th dormitory project will have their donation doubled with a matching general gift to WtS! We are only about $21,000 away from reaching our goal to increase our capacity for incoming young girls.
This new building will enable us to welcome 18 more girls who have been sexually abused into our trauma counseling program. Our maximum capacity will go from 54 up to 72!
To give, simply make sure you send your support through our online DonorSee account at donorsee.com/dorm4.
More exciting news! If you are a follower of When the Saints on their platform or if you click on a DonorSee link we share, then platform fees will no longer be taken from your donation! Our "Donate" tab on the WtS website is still an option for giving.
Simply go to https://donorsee.com/whenthesaints and hit the "follow" button today to support us!
Shoutout to Our Prayer Team!
We want to say a big thank you to all of you who pray so faithfully for our ministry. We truly believe your intercession helps carry us through every challenge we face, continually putting a fresh wind in our sails.
If you are not already signed up to receive our regular prayer-request updates, feel free to do so via the form on the bottom of our homepage at whenthesaints.com. This month we have also kicked off a weekly prayer call that you are welcome to participate in from 7-7:30 AM CST on Mondays. Simply email info@whenthesaints.com if you would like to participate in that!
Sad News From Our DonorSee Friends
Many of you know what DonorSee is. For those of you that do not, it is a 3rd party giving platform. There are many different "partners" that fundraise on this platform and When the Saints is one of them. This is one of the ways you can donate to us in addition to donating directly through our website as well, of course.
This last week sadly we got some horrible news. The founder of DonorSee, Gret Glyer, was tragically shot to death in his home in Virginia around 3 am Friday night. A suspect was just recently apprehended on June 29th.
We've had the honor of working with Gret and DonorSee for many years now and have come to know him as a friend and Godly partner. Our deepest sympathy and our prayers go out to Gret's family and friends.
Be blessed, friends.
We are so grateful for you all!
"A proclamation was made louder than the loudest temptation
With more beauty than all his creation
More eternal than eternity more angelic than the heavenlies
It Is done for you and bought with blood
Accept
Rejoice
For freedom has come"
-The Benediction by Jimmy Needham
Prayer Team
Hello our dear prayer team,
We are extending an invitation to be a part of a new WtS weekly prayer Zoom call. It will be held every Monday @ 7am CST and will run for 30 minutes.
It’s free to join, but will cost you the death of some of your flesh 🤣. To get the link we need to know if you are interested. Please reply to this email and let us know how frequently you'd be able to join in. We'd love to have you join us as frequently as you're able.
We anticipate this being an exciting way to co-labor with David and the team in Malawi. We just had our first official meeting. David joined the call and shared that 7am CST works well for him too, at lease for this season in life as he waits for baby #2 🤰🏾.
During the first meeting we covered the two italicized topics below (#1 & #10) which you're welcome to lift up throughout the week!
In closing I want to emphasize that you deciding to join our new prayer zoom call would mean the world to us. Our hope is that having weekly meetings will open up new possibilities as to your involvement.
Looking forward to meeting everyone,
Melissa
P.S. Just in case your looking for a good book, “Why Revival Tarries” by Lenard Ravenhill was recommended by David in the last meeting.
1. Curses can instill fear in people in Malawi. Sometimes girls and even adults will stay silent when they see or have evil things done to them. They can be scared of being cursed or even poisoned by the people they expose. Pray against this fearful power that is perpetuating evil practices and preventing people from bringing them into the light. In keeping with God's word, we hope that people will find Jesus even if they are not looking to him or for him.
-Romans 10:20 "Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying, “I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”
2. Pray that God would draw more people to the Malawian mission field as the harvest is plentiful. Also that God will prepare and provide their needs in coming.
3. Ever increasing measures of Christ centered unity for all involved in the day-to-day running of our safe-home and the ministry.
4. Protection and "on the ground" collaboration between our staff and our Board President (Darrell) during his upcoming trip to Malawi (June 22th).
5. Godly wisdom for our counselors as they work with each girls' specific needs. Pray for protection from second hand trauma so they can press forward with health and in Christ's power.
6. Godly sorrow that leads to repentance for every oppressor that has exploited one of the girls at When the Saints.
7. Health over Essy’s pregnancy as Taji becomes a big brother!
8. New, faithful donors & consistent giving during this inflationary period.
9. There was a recent devaluation of the Malawian currency by 25% in one day. Pray for Godly strategy for the board and staff on how to move forward in its wake.
10. That God would direct our path in Malawi to find three new counselors during our up coming interviews. We are also looking to select a much needed Human Resource manager before the end of the year for our current and growing staff of 47 Malawians.
Our Picnic
Hey everyone!
Can you believe it's been over a month since our picnic at Faust Park? We absolutely loved being able to gather in person together once again. We so appreciate everyone who came out to join us! It was a joy to connect with you and share a little about what the ministry has been up to lately.
Shoutout to the Local Church!
A big thanks to all the churches that have decided to partner with us... Matthias Lot, River Tree, Redemption Road, Freedom Hill, Everyday Fellowship, Jacob's Well, The Loft, Mid-Cities and Immanuel Fellowship. It means the world to us to have you all on our team. We are very grateful for your congregations and for the opportunity to serve the Malawian people together with you to the glory of Jesus. This kind of beautiful, fruitful, collaborative work is what the Body of Christ is here on Earth to accomplish!
If you know another church that might be interested in developing a relationship with When the Saints, feel free to encourage them to check out our website and contact us.
Did You Catch David on the ManUp Podcast?
Check out this inspiring interview David recently had! In it he shares powerful stories from how God is moving in Malawi, including a wild testimony about a young girl he encountered who experienced a dramatic deliverance last year. You will be blessed to see and hear how the Kingdom of God is advancing & how hearts are being impacted by the love of Jesus!
Find this and other amazing talks about our ministry by visiting the Media pageon our website.
STL Post Dispatch did a Feature on WtS!
Also, we were blessed to have When the Saints featured in the local news last month! The Post Dispatch covered the story of how our ministry began, and we were very pleased with the excellent piece they wrote about us. Take a read if you get the chance. A link will be included on the homepage of our website for you to access.
Announcements & Prayer Request:
David, Essy & Taji are back in Africa for another extended season of work on the mission field there! Currently they are visiting loved ones in Kenya, and they will be on the ground in Malawi again May 18th.
Please pray for the Lord to cover the Peterkas and lead them as they serve over the next several months there — and as they prepare for (drum roll....!) BABY NUMBER TWO. Excitingly, Essy is due to give birth to their next little missionary in early November!
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Thanks for reading...
Until next time, abundant life to you all!
The WtS Team
"Be curious, not judgmental"
-Walt Whitman
"Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's."
-2 Chronicles 20:15b
Looking Forward
We are so looking forward to finally seeing you all at our
In Person Celebration!
When:Saturday, April 9th
From 12 Noon - 2 PM
Where:Faust Park Main Pavilion (15025 Faust Park Chesterfield, MO 63017)
We'll gather together to get an update from David and Essy and find out what God has been doing through When the Saints.
We will also get a glimpse of what is ahead from members of the board.
All this PLUS a free lunch from Sugarfire BBQ!!!
It's going to be a great afternoon and we sure hope to see you then!
(Please let us know you'll be attending on ourFacebook Event page.)