Mennonite Disaster Service

Mennonite Disaster Service brings disaster survivors back home. The MDS Podcast takes you behind the scenes of this volunteer-powered organization through conversations with the people who make it happen. Learn about disaster response, long-term recovery, the volunteers who serve, and the communities rebuilding after hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and wildfires. Discover stories of resilience, hope, and relationships that turn into friendships when faith meets action.

Mennonite Disaster Service is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 13 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Mennonite Disaster Service, a business show with 13 episodes published.

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  Episode #13

  MDS Podcast Episode #13 - Henry Warkentin

  Aug 11, 202613 minS1

  Host Gloria Nussbaum sits down with Henry Warkentin, former Chairman of MDS Canada, whose service began at 23 when he helped a neighbor recovering from a back injury. That small act grew into decades of disaster response, including work after Hurricane Katrina, guided by what Henry calls the three phases of life: learning, earning, and returning. Henry shares why MDS projects have felt more like vacations than sacrifice, the homeowners and moments that have stayed with him, his path to chairman, and what still brings him joy: watching hope take shape at a home dedication.

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  Episode #12

  MDS Podcast Episode #12 - Gord Friesen

  Jul 27, 202637 minS1

  Host Gloria Nussbaum sits down with Gord Friesen from Winnipeg, Manitoba, for a conversation that spans more than seven decades of MDS history.Gord's connection to disaster response goes back to childhood, tagging along with his father after a storm hit Manitoba. Decades later, a flood on the Red River brought him back to MDS.What has he gained? The look on a homeowner's face when they realize the people rebuilding their home aren't there for a paycheck.

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  Mennonite Disaster Service

  MDS Podcast Episode #11 - Clete Yoder

  Jul 15, 202629 min

  After retiring from a career designing power plants, Clete Yoder took one trip to Mississippi with a friend to help rebuild a home -- and never really stopped. Host Gloria Nussbaum sits down with Clete to trace a journey that has taken him from Ohio to Alaska, Puerto Rico, Saipan, American Samoa, and eastern Kentucky, where he once built two bridges in a single week. A civil engineer turned MDS project director, Clete shares what it means to build teams, work alongside community partners, and find a meaningful job for every volunteer who shows up, regardless of experience level. What has he received in return? Happy faces, and the quiet satisfaction of watching volunteers go further than they thought they could.

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  Episode #9

  MDS Podcast Episode #9 - Abe Ens

  Jun 12, 202656 minS1

  In this episode, Gloria Nussbaum sits down with Abe Ens of Winkler, Manitoba, whose connection to Mennonite Disaster Service stretches back to its earliest years. Abe shares how he first became involved in disaster response during the Red River floods and reflects on decades of service in leadership roles across Manitoba, Canada, and the binational MDS board. Along the way, he recounts stories from the field, discusses the evolution of MDS and its relationship with MCC, and offers a firsthand look at how the organization has grown since its founding. Through his experiences, Abe reminds us of the grassroots spirit of MDS and the importance of going the extra mile for disaster survivors.

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  Episode #8

  MDS Podcast Episode #08 - Don Mintmier

  Jun 8, 202619 minS1

  It started with a free trip to Alaska through a Mennonite church. What followed was 13 years, 44 project sites, and a life of service that took Don Mintmier from the coast of American Samoa to the mountains of Washington State, from High River, Canada to Marianna, Florida, and dozens of communities in between.In this conversation with host Gloria Nussbaum, Don reflects on his years as a Project Director with Mennonite Disaster Service. He talks about the rhythm of life on a project site: morning devotions, the whiteboard with the day's assignments, the work, the meeting place, the dinner table, and what it means to lead volunteers of all skill levels with patience and good humor. He shares the places that stayed with him, the people he never would have met otherwise, and why, once you do it, it tends to pull you back."If it weren't for Mennonite Disaster Service," Don said, "I would never have gotten to see the places that I have seen." Don passed away after this recording was made. We are publishing this episode to honor his memory and his life of service. On behalf of all of us at MDS, Thank you Don.

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