February 19, 2025

Hi Lisa,

This past weekend, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of MDS at the annual celebration in Wichita, Kansas. The weekend’s theme: Building Hope.

Approximately 500 people attended from British Columbia to New Brunswick to Oregon, North Carolina and Puerto Rico. Three choirs joined together from local colleges — Tabor, Bethel and Hesston — to lead worship during the celebration service. And I heard many stories from long-term, weekly and faithful volunteers that spoke to Building Hope.

I saw hope in the coming together of volunteers from varying denominations, backgrounds, ages and political leanings, hope in the lives changed through the service of volunteers and new homes built for changing climates, and hope in the ways disaster survivors have changed those who serve.

Praise be to God for a rich time of fellowship, reunion and planning an inspired future!

Ross Penner

Executive Director

MDS Canada

Ps. Below you’ll find more highlights and resources from the 75th anniversary celebration weekend, as well as a story and update on the fires in Los Angeles.

Kentucky flooding

In the wake of historic flooding in Kentucky, MDS is communicating with local and national disaster response partners to develop plans for early and long-term response in hard-hit communities.

The death toll stood at 14 as recovery efforts continued on Feb. 18. More than 1,000 people had to be rescued from the water, and hundreds have been displaced.

As assessments continue, local contacts reported to MDS that Hazard and Harlan were hit very hard.

Click here to read more

A celebration to remember

More than 500 people gathered in-person and online on Feb. 14-15, 2025, at the Ridgepoint Church in Wichita, Kansas, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS).

The celebration honored the past seven-and-a-half decades, and also looked ahead to a year during which MDS will have an unprecedented number of responses across the U.S. and Canada.

Click here to read more

Connections and caring: Response to California fires

Southern California fires destroyed thousands of homes and other structures.

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) leaders in California and nationwide have been praying for fire survivors as well as the throngs of firefighters and support people battling the blazes.

While MDS response is focusing on planning for a long-term recovery, MDS regional and state leaders have been contacting the area Anabaptist churches and conferences to determine the extent of loss, if any, and to offer encouragement and prayers.

Click here to read more