Posts Tagged ‘Summer 2019’
Feeling like Job: rebuilding after a disaster loss
After they saw that tornado warnings had been rescinded in their area of Amherst County, in southwestern Virginia, Frank and Mary went to bed. When the twister hit their home in the small town of Elon, they found themselves several dozen yards away from their home in a debris field down a hill. Miraculously,…
Read MoreAnnual volunteer award given at VMRC
Carolyn Nowlin and her late husband, Pres Nowlin, were named by Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) as recipients of this year’s Claude Hess Distinguished Service Award. The annual award is given to the volunteer(s) who “Builds Community Spirit at VMRC through Faithful Christian Service.” Carolyn shares her thoughts on volunteerism in this Q&A. Some of…
Read MoreThe church in service at the Relief Sale
Volunteers make pancakes for the Relief Sale breakfast in 2018. Photo: Jim Bishop Arriving early on a brisk fall morning to beat the breakfast rush at the annual Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale, I marvel at how many people were here before dawn to ensure that the donuts are fresh, pancake batter is mixed, and…
Read MoreSupport the VMC Partnership Home Project for the Walker family
Credit: Video shot and edited by Terry Burkhalter and shown at Virginia Mennonite Conference Assembly, July 19, 2019. Virginia Mennonite Conference is working with Mennonite Disaster Service to build a house for the Walker family of West Virginia, whose home was destroyed in a 2016 flood. With your help, the Walker family (Daniel, Darla,…
Read MoreView photos from Conference Assembly
Photos from Thursday evening worship: VMMissions Centennial Celebration Photos from Friday evening worship: “Cultivating Good Soil” through Mennonite Disaster Service Photos from Friday and Saturday Delegate Sessions
Read MoreWhen the 1985 flood damaged Riverside Mennonite Church
When the Dry Fork River in West Virginia rose to record levels in November 1985, the Riverside Mennonite Church flooded, and the church suffered much damage. Randolph County, W.Va., got over a foot of rain in two days, and the 40-50 Riverside members needed help to clean up and fix their building. At flood stage,…
Read MoreEMU graduates urged to be “moved to action by gratitude”
Eastern Mennonite University’s 2019 graduating class received a final assignment at the start of their commencement ceremony: “Raise your hand if this describes you,” said retiring psychology professor Judy Mullet, listing lengths of time in which students may have finished their degrees. At “Thirty-two years?” she raised her own hand. In her address, Mullet…
Read MoreCommunity Mennonite Church is no stranger to MDS
For many years, Community Mennonite Church has participated in recovery missions of Mennonite Disaster Service. These occasions included the memorable storms of Hurricane Andrew, the effects of flooding in New Orleans, and the extreme flash floods of Greenbrier County in West Virginia. Various persons like Terry Burkhalter spent two months in California as crew leader…
Read MoreWatch video of MDS Partnership Home Project at Assembly
Credit: Video shot and edited by Terry Burkhalter and shown at Virginia Mennonite Conference Assembly, July 19, 2019. VMC member congregations are invited to donate toward the Partnership Home Project. This project is $70,000, however, FEMA has already provided $30,000. VMC congregations are being invited to hold a special offering to raise $40,000. Please consider…
Read MoreMennonite Disaster Service: Where faith meets action
Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) is a volunteer network through which various constituencies of the Anabaptist church can respond to those affected by disasters in Canada and the United States. While our main focus is on clean up, repair, and rebuilding homes, this activity becomes a means of touching lives and helping people regain faith and…
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