July 8thMCMers Respond to Manitoba Wildfires
In mid-May, wildfires began raged across northern and eastern Manitoba, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes and communities. Mennonite Church Manitoba congregations and their members stepped up to respond.
“This is one of the direct impacts of climate change for us in Manitoba,” says Michael Pahl, MCM Executive Minister. “We’ll see earlier and longer wildfire seasons, and it’s important for us as a church to be able to respond.”
The Red Cross asked Mennonite Disaster Service to coordinate the volunteers at the evacuation centre set up at the Leila Avenue soccer in north Winnipeg. MDS Canada Executive Director Ross Penner immediately reached out to Michael and other denominational leaders to extend the invitation to their pastors and congregations—and the MCM community responded.
Ross noted the “great response” as dozens of church volunteers joined in the effort. Melanie Neufeld, MCM’s Director of Mission Engagement, was among those who volunteered. “I was impressed at the Leila site with the committed people who were showing up to help via MDS!” she says.
Cross Lake (Pimicikamak Cree Nation) was one of the communities forced to evacuate. MCM’s most northern congregation, Living Word Church, gathers in Cross Lake. Living Word’s Carol Ross, who returned to Cross Lake early to help support firefighters, noted the open fires on the side of the road—something she had never seen before. The sky was orange-red, she noted, and the community was a ghost town with almost no vehicles on the road.
With years of shared ministry behind them, Sterling Mennonite Fellowship quickly offered to host Cross Lake residents in their church building. Ralph Bartel helped to coordinate this effort, and as the Cross Lake evacuees prepared to return home, he noted the “great relationship-building experience” the two-and-a-half weeks was.
“Even with the hardship of having to leave their homes, they showed us again the bond they have with each other,” Ralph says. “It was special to welcome them into our church family as they have welcomed us into their family for the past 15 years that we have been their running kids and youth programs.”
The Cross Lake evacuees left with a smile on their faces—at least most of them did (see image).
We give thanks to God that most evacuees have been able to return to their homes, but we continue to pray for those impacted by the wildfires. Thank you to all from across MCM who helped out in many ways, even beyond those noted above!