Privileged to return to service
By Justin Marchand
In the summer of 2019, while studying youth ministry at Steinbach Bible College, I had my first opportunity to serve with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), helping rebuild homes in Grand Forks, B.C., following a flood.
This experience had a deep impact on my life. I learned many new skills. I increased in confidence to face situations outside of my comfort zone. I built new friendships. All the while, my faith in Jesus was growing as I committed myself to serving others.
One of my weeks in Grand Forks, a youth pastor brought his youth group to volunteer. I tucked the idea away in the back of my mind: one day, when I graduate and become a youth pastor myself, maybe I could bring my own youth group to serve with MDS.
Seven years later, that idea became a reality.
Installing vinyl siding was one of many tasks the group performed. (Photo supplied)
July 26–August 1, 2026, now working as the youth pastor at the Steinbach EMC, three youth leaders and I brought ten of our senior youth to serve with MDS in Denare Beach, Sask., helping rebuild homes following a wildfire.
MDS is currently rebuilding four homes in Denare Beach. When our team arrived, the homes were at various stages of construction, giving our youth a variety of work—from hanging drywall, taping, mudding, and painting to laying flooring, hanging vinyl siding, assembling deck railings, and moving cabinetry. Though much of this work was new to our team, MDS had experienced, long-term volunteers on site to provide training and guidance.
It was so rewarding for me to witness the very things that made my first MDS experience so impactful happening again to the youth on our team in Denare Beach. On this trip, I saw our youth learning new skills, increasing in confidence, building new friendships with each other and with older volunteers, all while growing in their love of serving others in the name of Jesus.
Though we rarely know exactly how, the work God does in our lives in the present is often done in order to impact the lives of others in the future. I believe our youth were deeply impacted through serving with MDS in Denare Beach; God only knows how this impact will be used to affect others in the years to come.
Audio is generated with AI voice technology.
The group who worked at Denare Beach, Sask., the week of July 26 to August 1, 2026. (Photo supplied)
Justin Marchand is pastor of youth ministries at Steinbach EMC.
