Spirit of MDS Fund supports local ministry

Every year the Gospel Mission Church, an Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference (EMMC) congregation in Winkler, Manitoba, runs an event called Love the Valley.  

There are many components to the event such as hot dog lunches and yard work for low-income homeowners. But one of the most impactful has been handing out hampers of household essentials like cleaning supplies, toilet paper and paper towels.  

In May 2023, volunteers from the church gave out 190 hampers — 40 more than the year prior and more than they have ever distributed. 

Hailey Fehr participates in Gospel Mission Church’s hygiene hamper distribution during the church’s Love the Valley event in May 2023. A grant from Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Canada’s Spirit of MDS Fund supported the church’s efforts to distribute 190 hampers to low income community members. Photo courtesy of Gospel Mission Church

 The hampers were made possible with support from a grant of $5,000 CAD from the Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Canada Spirit of MDS Fund. 

“These hampers are an awesome way to support those people in our community and a great steppingstone in helping to build relationship with the people of our region,” said Associate Pastor Brenton Friesen. 

“It was so encouraging to hear the impact and responses these hampers had on the recipients as well as those who volunteered to deliver them,” he added. 

This year, the hampers included an invitation for people to attend the church’s monthly community meal; some recipients of the hampers are now regularly attending the church as well, Friesen said. 

Support from the Fund “enabled us to serve our community well,” he said. 

The grant to Gospel Mission Church was one of 26 grants worth just over $137,000 CAD given to churches and organizations across Canada by MDS Canada in 2022-23. For 2023-24, the organization is once again inviting Canadian congregations and organizations to consider applying for funding to help serve their communities. 

The Spirit of MDS Fund was created during the pandemic when MDS Canada was unable to do on-the-ground projects but wanted to assist congregations responding to needs arising in their communities. When the pandemic abated, the Fund was retained as a way to partner with churches and organizations to meet needs in their communities. 

Grants from the Fund can be used to support people in need with home construction or renovation projects; food or other needed resources for those in crisis; ministry and service projects where volunteers serve the neighbourhood; or other creative ideas that are a fit with MDS Canada’s two Core Values: Faith in Action and Caring Relationships. Grants of up to $5,000 CAD are available. Visit https://mds.org/spirit-of-mds-fund/ for more information and to apply for a grant by July 15, 2024. 

John Longhurst, MDS Canada Communications