David Eller
President
Dave is the leader of World Concern. After working in corporate business for many years, he joined World Concern in 2001, managing disaster response, microfinance, village bank, animal restocking, community development and orphan care projects. These responsibilities took him to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, Somalia, Haiti and Zambia. Working with a large national staff, his focus has been to make projects sustainable and replicable. He returned to the U.S. office as the HIV/AIDS program manager and served as International Operations Director before his appointment as World Concern President in 2007. He earned a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Washington in 2007, and a Bachelor's in Business Administration from UW in 1983.
Meredith Long
Senior Director of International Programs
Meredith Long supervises programs in Asia, Africa, Haiti and Bolivia, and has oversight of our HIV/AIDS programs. He previously worked at World Relief as vice president for Planning and Integration and director of International Health Programs. Dr. Long has worked with churches to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa since the early 1990s. His overseas program implementation experience includes 14 years in Kenya and Bangladesh. He is the author of Health, Healing and God's Kingdom, which examines the interplay between health and traditional religious beliefs.
Jacinta Tegman
Senior Director of International Operations
Jacinta Tegman is the Senior Director of International Operations at World Concern. With more than two decades of ministry experience, Jacinta served as a missionary and later as an associate pastor at a large church in Edmonds, WA. In her time at World Concern, Jacinta has worked with churches, individuals, and large foundations who have a desire to make a difference in some of the most needy and difficult places on the planet. In her current role, Jacinta oversees the international staff, ensuring that the mission of World Concern, to relieve human suffering in the name of Christ, is expressed in word and deed.
Nick Archer
Senior Director, Disaster Response and Security
The relief and development community is increasingly targeted for theft and attacks. Nick Archer, who oversees disaster response and security for World Concern staff, explains, “The staff needs the tools, but having a laptop, or a satellite phone, or a car good enough to get them across desert regions can make them more vulnerable.” Creating a safe operating environment for the staff is particularly important since we work in places facing religious and cultural strain. “You have to be authentic,” Nick emphasizes.
“Are you coming with a heart to serve or to lord it over them?” The people notice a difference. He explains, “We get staff into training—how to deal with a hostage situations, deter burglars—even how to wear seatbelts.” Nick, who has worked in Kenya and Somalia and served with World Concern for more than two decades, is strategic. And with his support, our staff is free to do their best work.
Mark Estes
Asia Area Director
Mark’s role as Asia Area Director is focused on strengthening national programs through quality initiatives and empowering leadership and partners to serve the unreached poor, as part of building God’s Kingdom “on earth as it is in Heaven.”
Mark served in a range of regional and country leadership roles in program and organizational development in Asia (1997-2007) and Africa (2007-2010) with Habitat for Humanity. In March 2011, he relocated to Bangkok, Thailand, feeling God’s call to return to Asia with World Concern. After a decade of corporate leadership in the private sector, Mark completed a MA in International Non Profit Organizational Leadership through Eastern University’s Pathway’s to Leadership course in 2007.
He oversees our work and partnerships in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Laos, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Diane Bricker
Finance Director
"Begin to share with people who have no hope, that there is some hope, and you create a bond," explains Diane Bricker, World Concern Finance Director. Diane joined World Concern in 2004 after a long career as an executive in a Seattle-area community bank. She spent eight years in Africa, serving most recently as our Africa Area Director, developing a deep love for the people of Africa and the work of World Concern there. Diane is excited to be back at headquarters, using her experience to help ensure World Concern's programs adhere to rigorous financial standards.
Joern Seigies
South Sudan Country Director
Joern oversees the programs in South Sudan which assist returning refugees and internally displaced people to re-establish themselves through microfinance and business development programs, vocational training, agricultural and livelihoods support and literacy education.
Joern recently spent three years developing agricultural programs in Afghanistan and prior to that was involved in the environmental management of energy development projects, both domestically and internationally. He received his MS in International Agricultural Development from UC-Davis and BS degrees in Agricultural Engineering and International Environmental Studies from Rutgers University. Joern is excited to be part of the development of a new country and help people base their future on Biblical foundations.
Athanase Ndayisaba
Chad Country Director
Athanase oversees World Concern’s unique and varied programs in Chad, serving refugees from Sudan’s Darfur region, as well as internally displaced Chadians. His experience, most recently as Central Africa Program Manager for Geneva Global, Inc, includes implementing programs in HIV and AIDS prevention, community health, education, economic empowerment through microcredit, and water and sanitation. “
I am so excited to be currently working in Chad. It is always my joy to realize that my little service to the vulnerable can give them life, hope and opportunity,” he says.
Athanase has also served in youth ministry programs, coordinating HIV and AIDS programs, Bible studies and camps for children in his native land of Rwanda. He has a Bachelors degree in accounting and business administration and management, and a Masters in Sociology from the University of Nairobi.
Pierre Claver Uwimana
Haiti Country Director
Pierre brings a wealth of experience to World Concern Haiti, having served in Africa with the UN, various ministries of the Rwandan government, and most recently, as Director of Programs for World Relief in Rwanda. Pierre earned his Masters of International Business Administration degree from United States International University Nairobi, and has extensive knowledge of microfinance. Pierre oversees World Concern’s diverse programs in Haiti, including microfinance, health, HIV/AIDS, education, agriculture, and disaster response. Fluent in English and French, Pierre dedicates his Christian faith, expertise, and skills to the welfare of the people of Haiti.
Prodip Dowa
Bangladesh Country Director
Prodip Dowa brings optimistic joy to his job, and a clear understanding and compassion for his native Bangladesh. He’s served with us for about two decades, leading one of the most diverse programs at World Concern—which includes infant health clinics, rural schools and women’s microloan programs.
He’s excited about what he sees, including how microcredit helps people escape poverty. Prodip explains, “Once we provide capital to the poor people, they can start and develop their small businesses and make profits. World Concern is following the mission that Jesus has given us, which is to go to the poor, the needy, the oppressed, the blind, to those who are persecuted,” says Prodip. “I have the opportunity to serve them and to also share the Good News with them.”
Selina Prem Kumar
Sri Lanka Country Director
God specializes in preparing His people and placing them just where they’re needed. Selina Prem Kumar is a lifeline to the people she serves. She’s our Sri Lanka Country Director, and she faces a situation that would intimidate many: helping war-affected people build new lives and heal. Part of this job includes bridging peace between the Tamil and Sinhalese peoples—something she is in a perfect position to do as a Tamil married to a Sinhalese man. Selina knows both cultures and languages well.
As National Program Manager, she led the Sri Lanka team in project management, fundraising, human resources and security. She shares God’s love with vulnerable communities. The Emergency Response Program Selina oversaw in 2009 helped evacuate over 30,000 waraffected civilians for medical care and transition to safer areas. Now, Selina’s busy helping people rebuild lives and heal the deep wounds caused by war— with Christ’s love.
Derek Sciba
Director of Donor Relations & Marketing
Derek documents World Concern’s activities across the globe as the organization’s marketing director. He has the privilege of visiting villages and slums across Asia, Africa and Haiti – meeting the people we serve. Prior to World Concern, Derek’s professional background included a decade in TV news, working as a videographer, reporter and news anchor. Most recently Derek worked at KATU-TV in Portland, Oregon, as a reporter. He was nominated for an Emmy for investigative journalism. Derek is a 2000 graduate of Abilene Christian University, and was honored with a Gutenberg Award for distinguished journalism from the university in 2010.
World Concern is the relief and development arm of CRISTA in Seattle, whose board members include:
| Name | Title | Company | Board position |
| Dale Cowles | Chair | ||
| Kirsten Miller | President | NORPRO | Vice Chair |
| Kevin Gabelein | Managing Director | Fluke Venture Partners | Treasurer |
| Stephen Grey | President | Stephen Grey & Associates | Secretary |
| Craig Campbell | Campbell Nelson Volkswagon | Member | |
| Anita Crawford-Willis | Member | ||
| Brad Decker | Member | ||
| Dorothy Echodu | Member | ||
| David Ederer | Chairman | Ederer Investment Company | Member |
| Michael Eggers | Member | ||
| Mark Gibson | KPMG LLP | Member | |
| Kent Halvorson | Member | ||
| Morris N. Harper | Member | ||
| Tim Jenkins | Point B | Member | |
| Bob Lonac | CEO & President | CRISTA Ministries | Member |
| Curt J. Nichols | Member | ||
| George Petrie | Goodman Real Estate | Member | |
| Dr. Steven Quillin | DVM | Memorial Road Pet Hospital | Member |
| Warren van Genderen | Member | ||
All board members can be contacted at the following address:
CRISTA Ministries
19303 Fremont Ave. N. MS-60
Seattle, WA 98133
