A visionary beyond his time, Dr. John L. Peters dreamt of an organization administered by people who were aware of the reality that what people need and want are not always what others think they need and want. His idea was unique: to help others by working from the bottom up, with no self-interest and an understanding of the dignity that every person has. Today, that organization is thriving, and since its inception in 1951, World Neighbors has changed the lives of more than 25 million people in 45 countries.
 
One Person
World Neighbors late founder, Dr. John L. Peters, was born in Van Buren, Arkansas, on October 6, 1907. As a young man, Peters served in World War II where he saw firsthand the pain and suffering caused by poverty. Following his military service, he finished his doctorate at Yale and established a home in Oklahoma City. Throughout his life, Peters received countless honors for his work with World Neighbors. He was elected to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize. He received Guidepost magazine’s “Good Samaritan Award,” a citation from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and honorary doctorates from three universities.

One Vision
John L. Peters returned from World War II with a strong conviction to do something to help the poverty-stricken people of Southeast Asia. On April 22, 1951 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, Peters gave a sermon titled “Let’s Deal with Basic Issues” that started a grassroots movement called World Neighbors.
In his message, Dr. Peters explained, “I talked about the things I’d seen, but I spoke mostly about the things I felt: that the gulf between the rich and the wretched was intolerable; that we were brothers to, not keepers of, the world’s needy; that we must learn to do things with, not to—or even for—others; that they must share in electing priorities and procedures.”

One World
Following the inspiring message at St. Luke’s, World Neighbors was born. The phones stayed busy as people pledged their money to “back John Peters 100 percent in what he wants to do.” Dr. Peters went to Washington D.C. and then on to India where the very first World Neighbors programs were launched. Under his guidance, World Neighbors would grow into one of the foremost development agencies in the world, reaching millions of people with its programs, which invest in people and not things, strengthening the capacity of community organizations while realizing full human potential.

In 2008, World Neighbors works in 18 countries helping people develop, manage and sustain their own programs. World Neighbors does not give away food or material aid. Instead, it provides training so that people gain the skills and leadership to work together for change. The result is self-reliance, rather than dependence on external aid.

Today, people honor Dr. Peters'' vision by becoming members of the John L. Peters Society.

Our Mission
World Neighbors inspires people and strengthens communities to find lasting solutions to hunger, poverty and disease and to promote a healthy environment.

World Neighbors invest in people themselves through education and training, not by giving away material aid.

We provide knowledge and strengthen local capacities for change rather than merely handing out technology or money.

This makes our programs very efficient and creates lasting change rather than a short-term fix.