In late 2019 Severin Pelekara and Jack Kennedy were independently ministering to unhoused people in Saint Louis. Each was taking food to individuals living under bridges, in encampments and wherever they came across them.
Severin and Jack met and decided to pool their efforts. Their efforts lead to what has become inExcelsis. Severin founded the organization in January of 2020 and Jack became the first Chair of our Board of Directors.
inExcelsis grew fast and is continuing to grow. In the beginning, a group of eight volunteers served those experiencing homeless in the outdoors. In June of 2021 we moved indoors to serve the unhoused with meals, companionship, clothing and personal care items, bus passes, a resource room, hotel stays on the coldest of nights, a mobile shower unit and spiritual guidance through Bible explorations and studies.
In 2025 we delivered 542 showers via Dignity on Wheels, served 1,266 neighbors at Community Fellowship and provided 482 hotel guest nights at Winter Safe Haven. We’re topping those numbers in 2026. As the word of our love spreads, more and more people come to our doors. And we are very grateful for that. inExcelsis exists to spread Jesus’ love and loving care for the most marginalized among us.
Some of our guests enjoying ComFe.
We are a bunch of volunteers from a bunch of local churches and elsewhere who become family to those experiencing homelessness.
Staff
Betty Vazas Kreider
Resource Room Leader
Betty has been part of inExcelsis for more than five years, starting when the ministry met in parks where unhoused neighbors gathered. A part-time nurse and member of One Family Church, she finds peace in hiking, the gym and time with family and friends. “I have a deep need to share the Love of God with people who feel hopeless,” Betty says. “I love them and let them know that our Lord gave it all for them and that he seeks them.”
Dawna Kenkel
Community Outreach Manager
Dawna brings more than a decade in community programs and healthcare operations, including referral relationships across St. Louis and systems for safe, effective outreach. A Certified Professional Compliance Officer with Community Health Worker training underway, she pairs operational discipline with compassionate care. “I care about practical dignity, not drive-by help,” Dawna says. “I’m committed to steady presence, safe systems and relationships built on consistency, respect and trust.”
Mark Ebersbach
Transit Leader
Mark serves as our dedicated driver. He transports guests from local shelters to the inExcelsis Outreach Center and faithfully supports the ministry’s outreach throughout St. Louis. A longtime St. Louis resident, he first connected with inExcelsis through Bible study lead by Jack Kennedy. In addition to serving, Mark enjoys lap swimming at the Y, cruising on his Harley and spending time with his grandchildren. Mark shares that he “counts it a privilege to share Christ’s love through practical service, genuine fellowship and encouragement. Matthew 25:40 reminds me that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Him,.”
Nancy Mack
Public Relations & Communications Manager
Nancy grew up in Ferguson, attended Washington University and earned her Master’s Degree at Xavier University in Cincinnati. Her many careers have included teaching high school social studies, being a probation officer for the juvenile court, a YMCA membership director and a marketing communications writer. She brings all those skills to telling the inExcelsis story and courting volunteers and donors. “I love to write and edit and feel called by Jesus to work for and with the unhoused,” she says. “My favorite Bible verses are Romans 8:31 through 39.”
Barry Garber
Board of Directors Chair and Discipleship Coordinator
Barry grew up Mennonite in central Missouri and has spent more than 25 years working downtown. He longed for a way to help unhoused neighbors who lacked the family and church support he was blessed with while growing up. He found his way to inExcelsis through Wellspring Family Church and shares life with his wife of 30+ years, three adult children and two golden doodles. Barry says: “My passion is entering people’s stories to help. And it grows my faith when I witness how God is at work in those I serve.”
John Cunniff
Kitchen Manager and Team Leader
John grew up in St. Louis. A formerly unhoused person, he is a staunch supporter of Mizzou basketball and football, And he’s a big fan of the Cardinals, of course. John joined inExcelsis about five years ago as a guest of the first Winter Safe Haven. He’s now the first to arrive on Saturday morning where he gets things set up and coordinates coffee service, meals and the volunteers who assist him. He’s also the last one to leave on Saturday afternoons. There’s clean up, breakdown and put away before he heads home. “The leadership welcomed me as family, made space for me to give and helped me find purpose in serving our guests,” he reports.
Barry Garber
Chair
Senior Pilot Plant Manager, Netsle Purina
Michelle Sanders
Secretary
Administrative Assistant, The Laiderman Law Firm
Claren O’Bannon, CPA/ABV/CFF, ASA
Treasurer
Manager of the Consulting Department, Wipfli Advisory LLC
Matt Ruta
Member
Associate Vice President/Director, Labcorp
Bill Konyk
Member
Orbit Scientist, NGA
Kwaku D. Tawiah, Ph.D, DABCC
Member
Senior Scientific Manager, Roche
Sean Heskett
Member
Teacher, Heritage Christian Academy
4265 Shaw Boulevard St. Louis MO 63110
Every Saturday 8:30 a.m. until Noon except the last Saturday of the month when we visit the unhoused out in the community
For correspondence and donations by mail:
inExcelsis
5275 South Lindbergh Boulevard St. Louis MO 63126
Make checks payable to inExcelsis Inc.
Please do not send tangible donations to this address.