Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

Reflections of a (n almost) 60-year-old!

Reflections of a 60-year-old!

The Calendar tells me I will soon be 60 years old – the news is saying the elderly (those 60 and older) are at risk.  That is when it hit me “I am no spring chicken” – even though my brain still thinks it’s in our 20’s.

When I take a moment to look back at my life there is much to appreciate and celebrate – not what I have done but what God has allowed me to be a part of.

When I reflect of the jobs I have had and the skills each one taught me, God was always preparing me for something bigger down the road.

As a teen, I did a great deal of babysitting and then working in foodservice.  My first job when I turned 16 was working at Great America (an amusement park) in foodservice.  I started as a dishwasher and moved up to assistant manager of the back of the house.  This taught me a lot about managing and motivating people.

Just out of High School (In fact, I got out early) to travel the US doing puppet seminars. During this time, I saw what God was doing in churches all over the country in all kinds of denominations.  I honed my speaking and teaching skills (who wouldn’t when you were speaking 5-6 nights a week for 11 months). After getting off the road before college I worked for a Christian Bookstore Chain.

During college, I did different jobs during the summer – one summer helping with a church replant in Missouri – one summer I worked at Sky Lodge Christian Camp (Where I met my wife to be) and – one summer for A Christian Bookstore Chain (again).  These were all ministry-related and all helped me to learn things I would use over and over again in ministry.

After college, I got married and we thought we were going to be church planters (this was in the early ’80s when it was not done much) but instead ended up becoming the Directors of Sky Lodge Christian Camp in Wisconsin.  That was quite a job for a twentysomething.  But I learned about the organization of teams, schedule, and planning so that that we had everything we need to give the campers a great experience and encounter God.

From Sky Lodge, we went to work for David C Cook to do telemarking of their Sunday School Curriculum. Here I learned more about the differences in the denominations and how to be articulate with words (as there was no video conferencing at the time).  While here we also served as youth pastors at the Free Methodist church in town.

From David C Cook we began our time doing full-time ministry in churches.  First in Ferndale, Michigan, then in McPherson, KS and finally in Temperance, MI.  In all these churches, I was Associate Pastor for Youth.  Growing the programs both the students in attendance and the team of volunteers.  Creating Ministry teams by raising up student leaders.  Many went on to go into some form of full-time ministry (at last count over 50).

Fundraising to help the students participate in a very active youth program became a big part of my job.  We developed a mindset that fundraising need to not only raise funds but teach a skill or meet a need in the community.  We were not going to just sell candy bars.  This lead to some very creative ideas including running a Putt-Putt Golf course for several summers, concession at every home game for the Toledo Mud Hens, Citywide discount cards, many dinners, sales of subs, gift cards and so much more. 

We also from time to time we're asked to cover the oversight of other areas of church life – Children, Christian Education for all ages, discipleship and many special events.

During this same time frame, I also served as a National Leader for Youth Ministry helping to oversee the youth work across the Denomination.

As Youth Pastor, I started taking the teen overseas to experience missions work. I lead teams to Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, Taiwan, Great Britain, Spain, Hungary, Greece, and Romania.  Some summers spending 4-6 weeks on different trips with the teens. These experiences led us to believe that we would someday be doing missions full time.

After serving 25 years in ministry (23 in the local Church) we received the call (literally – February 14, 2006) to go to Bulgaria. Where we moved to having never been there and not knowing a soul.

Thirteen years later there is now a team here operating a holistic ministry of Church planting, discipleship, economic opportunities, humanitarian aid, anti-human trafficking ministries and so much more.  That is a great deal to happen in a short time but when God is preparing you with experiences and skills it just sort of happens!

This is a brief reflection and there are many stories and life lessons that I could share (and maybe someday will). 

As I reminisce in my mind I am grateful for where and how God has led us – we have had a rich life-impacting and being impacted by so many people.  I know that that is not done my mind is still full of all kinds of new ideas (for an elderly person) of how to make a difference for people and the kingdom.

As I turn 60 later this month (even though we are on lockdown here until May 13^th) we will rejoice!

This week – pray for the world and all that it is going through!

AND BY THE WAY WE ARE NOT COMING STATESIDE LATER THIS MONTH - IT IS ALL ON HOLD FOR NOW. 

Our Pandemic Update: What we have been up to!

March 26. 2020 – we are now on day 13 of the Government shut down of most businesses here in Bulgaria. Over the past week, restrictions have increased to where you cannot even drive to another town without a permission slip from your employer (and it has to be work-related).  Also, if you are out with 3+ people in a group you could be fined and only one member of the family can go into the store to shop and you have to sanitizes your hands when you enter many stores.  We know that many around the world have similar restrictions so that is not new – we just wanted you to know.

So, since we have to be home to work (which is what I do most of the time) we have been trying to stay connected and up on what is happening around the world.  We have been working on new ideas for production for our livelihood groups (they are suspended right now and not working) when they start up again. Also lots of writing and paperwork. 

(Here are some of the 21 new knitted finger puppets we are thinking of making - let me know what you think)

Since Michigan has a stay at home order on them – our store there had to close and we had to lay off the team during this time – Please pray for them and the store when we reopen.

Our partnership time is up in the air – We do not think we will be able to fly back to the US on April 8^th as planned and since a big part of our travel this time was to Annual Conference meeting and they have all been canceled we will have to refigure our partnership time once we figure out when we are going to be back. Pray about this too!

Even with all the changes and curveballs Diane and I are very much at peace about all that is going on.  Thanks for your prayers and words of encouragement.  Praise Him for His peace!

How are we impacted by the COVID 19 Virus?

March 19, 2020 - We like you are trying to figure out the impact of the COVID 19 Virus is having on our everyday lives. As missionaries living and operating a business (including our livelihood groups), this pandemic is putting a strain on what we do.  We have encouraged our church not to gather in large groups (although most are not large) but to meet and pray in homes in smaller groups.  In fact, the police are stopping groups of 3 or more and can fine them for being out.

Our 2 businesses have been ordered closed for at least 2 weeks meaning basically laying off the employees as with no money coming in we cannot afford to pay them and we will still owe for rent, utilities and taxes.  We do not operate with a surplus right now which means there is no cushion for this crisis.

The health risks are great but as is being reported most people will get over the sickness What will not come back quickly and for many like us is the economic loss. We have listed our problem above and we are not the only ones facing this. Multiply this problem by many family-owned and other small businesses and I fear many will not be able to come through or reopen.

Our shop in Michigan has also seen the decline in total sales this year as foot traffic has slowed (most likely do to COVID 19 virus fears).  I was hoping that some online sales might offset the decline but that has not happened (I think people are concerned that we talk about our stuff coming from “around the world” scares them.). We find our sales seasonal and right now they are off enough that it jeopardizes the business staying open.

Why am I writing this?  3 reasons:

• Continue to pray for all those impacted by this world-wide pandemic – and pray specifically for those who are now impacted not by the virus but the fallout from the actions being taken because of the virus.
• You need to know and see the impact the lockdown measures have. People may recover health-wise after a short time but non-health issues may take a great deal longer to recover from these actions. So, if you are able, support small local businesses as you can during this time.
• For our ministries, specifically: making an online purchase or donation to help us weather the financial shortfall. https://squareup.com/store/marketplace-mannas-around-the-world-shop/item/fundmarketplace-manna-development Our personal salaries are not impacted but it does impact those who we are trying to help.

We know as we see the social media post that everyone is affected by what is going on.  It is happening all over the world we are praying for and trying to encourage everyone that we can. We also know that prayer is our greatest tool to make a difference.

States Side Partnership Building - Your Kingdom Come!

March 12, 2020 – We are scheduled to be stateside from April 8-July 10, 2020.  Our plan was to attend many annual conferences to promote the Economic work in the Balkans and beyond. With the travel ban from Europe, we are not sure how that will affect us and our plans so we will keep you posted.

Here is where we are scheduled to be at this point.  We hope to see some of you at these locations.  If there are open dates or we are nearby (or might be traveling through) and you would like to have us for a meal or overnight - please let us know.

April 8, 2020 – Fly Home

April 12, 2020 - Easter with the family

April 14, 2020 – Al’s 60^th Birthday

April 17-18 2020 - Gateway Annual Conference – Greenville, IL

April 19, 2020 – Moundford FMC - Decatur, IL -

April 23-25, 2020 - North MI Annual Conference – Evart, MI

April 26, 2020 – Watervliet FMC – Watervliet, MI

May 1-2, 2020 Ohio Annual Conference – Galion, OH

May 3, 2020 - Pulaski FMC – Pulaski, MI  

May 8-9, 2020 - East MI Annual Conference –Clio, MI

May 10, 2020 – OPEN (Mother’s Day)

May 14-15, 2020 - Genesis Annual Conference - North Chili, NY

May 17, 2020 - OPEN

May 21-22, 2020 - Great Plains Annual Conference - McPherson, KS 23 –Drive to

May 23-May30 – Southwest Trip connecting with supporters

May 31-June 1 - Mid America Annual Conference– Midwest City OK

June 4-6, 2020 -  North Central Annual Conference – Montello, WI

June 7-8, 2020 Keystone Annual Conference – Phillipsburg, PA

June 11-13, 2020 - The Harvest Annual Conference – Fairmont, WV

June 14, 2020 – Brooke Hill FMC - WV

June 21, 2020 - OPEN (Father’s Day)

June 25-26, 2020 – Southern Michigan Annual Conference - Dearborn, MI

June 28, 2020 – Janesville, WI

July 5, 2020 – OPEN

July 9, 2020 – Fly back to Bulgaria

This week pray for…

...the people around the world with the COVID 19 Virus

…our Partnership building plans and the details about getting back to the US

…the sales of our shop – people are not coming out – Pray for online sales.

Why Economic Development is Needed!

March 5, 2020 – Recently we shared about the forming of the Balkan Provisional Annual Conference.  We stated there that with the nationals leading the churches we would now be changing our role in the work here.  Up until now, we have done “Leadership Development” but we will now be changing titles to “Economic Development”

What does that mean?  That is a great question, that to answer needs a bit of background.  Team Balkans has worked to meet and train quality people to lead the churches.  The reality is that many of these churches are in very poor areas.  In one village in the winter, unemployment can be over 80% of the village. They have little money to live on and no money to give to the church (in their minds). We want the churches to grow to be self-sufficient and sustainable. 

For the people to survive many members of the family find that if they want work they have to travel to another country for employment and leave their families.  We do not feel that is the best way. 

We have been trying on a smaller scale starting livelihood groups and offering a limited amount of loans for the start-up of new businesses. 

We have had some success but are now going to see if we can crank this up a bit.  We can make products but we need to figure out a distribution system both in-country and overseas.  That means figuring out the systems needed to educate and draw along-side the folks who want to stay here and not go abroad.

Just like when we arrived and were not sure how to proceed we trusted God and began to serve the people that best way we could – we believe that with a servant’s heart we can learn the best way to help and empower the folks to not only support their families but also the work God is raising up here in the Balkans.

We are going to jump in all the way and although we will be still sharing about the expansion work through-out the Balkans our focus will be on helping the people and churches support themselves and the ministries God is raising up.

We have been given until the end of the year to show that this can happen so we are going to be doing all we can and trust God (if this is His plan) to make it happen.

Pray for us in transition – We plan to be at 10+ Annual Conferences and many churches in the states this spring sharing what God is doing and how we can work together economically to make a difference.

Pray for the connections to get the merchandise that we have to folks who can purchase it and use it.

Pray for investment funds for the new groups that we want to see happen so that every one of our churches has some form of an economic opportunity.

To expand the work will also require some additional working funds – if you want to invest in what we are doing you can click here to give to our development fund.  (https://squareup.com/store/marketplace-mannas-around-the-world-shop/item/fundmarketplace-manna-development)