Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

Memory Lane

June 20, 2019 - In preparation for putting out stuff in storage until we return in November, I found some old photos of one of the last trips I took the youth on while still a youth pastor.  It was to Florida for Student Leadership University. A Week-long event to challenge and raise up the leadership potential in the youth.

This photo was of the Student Leadership University groups.

This was a breakout group for those involved in the Creative Arts.

Many of these teens I still communicate with and many I am not sure where they are now and what they are doing.  What I do know is it was great training and a good investment in the student’s lives.

I have used many of the basic leadership lessons learned here and at other training events, I have participated in over the years to launch our Pastors training when we arrived. Most of the training and teaching is passed on to others so we can focus on other new, creative, out of the box things.  I would not have it any other way.

For the students, I am still connected with they are doing amazing things! (as I am sure those who I am not connected with are doing)  That is what discipleship is all about helping folks reach their potential and beyond.

As I think back on this time and my time as a youth pastor I am thankful for all the students I was privileged to serve and invest in and love hearing what they are now doing for God and His kingdom!

This week Pray for...

...All the final details for our stateside adventure.

...the church planting interviews and the selection of the church planters

Praise God with us as the Sweet have finalized their adoption and are now adjusting to having twin 11-month-old toddlers in the house. (I guess that is a prayer request too!)

Bonus Video Explaining a new program to Marketplace Manna that we would like to invite all to watch and if right for you to participate in.

 

 

T-Minus 19 Days and Counting:

June 13, 2019 – As of today, there are only 18 days until we return to the US for our Partnership Building time.

We return stateside almost every year and that is pretty standard but this year we are not just leaving our home over here (for 12+ years) but are moving out of it, putting the stuff we are keeping in storage and downsizing.

When we arrived and began our work we wanted a large enough place to for the church to meet and room for the ministries to grow.  That has happened and so most things take place elsewhere beyond our home.  We no longer need this much space and are moving when we return to a smaller location that is being renovated. (see early post for more on this) Do you know how much stuff you collect over 12 years when you have space to store it?  Last Sunday we set up tables in the extra room at the church (like a garage sale in the states) but instead of charging we just the folks from church take what they could use.  For many, it was like Christmas! (We have more stuff for this week as well)

We are also working on all the details for our time stateside – scheduling of meetings, appointments with leaders, arranging vehicles to get around in and many more details. (If you would like to see if we could connect with you please let us know) We will again be traveling to 12 states sharing at 18 churches as well as conferences and denominational events.  This too is normal for our annual visits.  This year is also an all-church meeting (happens every 4 years) that we will be attending but not just as missionaries with visiting nationals with us but also as entrepreneurs.  Now that we also manage a couple of companies we are needing to get the word out about what we do, have product around for purchase and cast the vision of what we believe God is wanting us to lead

These are all exciting things but they are very tiring as well.  We are sharing this so you will know better how to pray and better understand what we do.

Add to all of this finding the money to pay for this and fundraise for the ongoing ministries like church planting and the safe home it is a busy life.  One that we feel called to live.

Please pray for us as we work each day getting ready for the next 5 months.

Pray for the details to all come together of meetings, transportation, people and product.

Bonus Materials & Links

If you would like to see our travel Schedule click here https://almellinger.typepad.com/partnership/

If you would like to know more about how you can help with extra funding for our ministries click here  https://almellinger.typepad.com/marketplacemanna/2019/06/why-you-should-consider-a-donation-to-marketplace-manna-inc.html

 

 

Light & Life Church Balkans Update:

June 6, 2019 - Last week the church governing board met to evaluate and plan for the coming months.  We are transitioning more and more of the oversight of the church work to the governing board.  It used to be I would pose a question and then give them a suggested answer and get their reaction.  Now, I pose a question with no suggested answer and wait to see what the response is.

(Pastor Любен Илиев our regional leader)

God is working and the national leadership is stepping up and figuring out how to make this work for their own people here in the Balkans.  They get to where they need to be, it just takes a bit longer – but we want them to own what is happening. If they make the decision, then they own it and it was not just imposed on them by the missionaries.

Diane and I know that we will not be here forever, we have said from the beginning that we wanted to be a catalyst of what God was doing! (A catalyst speeds up the process without changing the outcome) To see the nationals stepping up, setting the agenda and owning what is happening, is what we have been praying for!

We are moving toward becoming a “Provisional Annual Conference” within the Free Methodist Church which is the next step for us.  Please pray as this is going to be an oversight group that encompasses several countries. That means within each country there are governing laws and guidelines that we need to be aware of. And there are Church governing rules that come into play as well.  Pray for us as we navigate all the different expectations and rules in the different countries we are working in.

Additionally, pray for…

One of our churches is struggling in the town to find a neutral place to rent to meet – Pray that God would provide a place for the group to meet.

Another church is talking to the mayor of the town who has said he would help them find a place to meet, but as yet has not – pray that he would follow through on his promise.

Another church where we now own the space needs around $4000 to set up the foundation account and get the services turned back on (Water and Electric).  This is required as we are a new group by the government.

Finally, pray for the planning happening this summer as location and leaders are selected and chosen for the next round of church plants! Pray also that we would get partners to help us connect churches with church plants to help us fund these projects!

Thanks for all your prayer and support all year long!

An Additional Way to Help Us make a Difference!

May 30, 2019 - This is our 700th post since beginning our weekly update!

We are always looking at additional ways to help us accomplish the mission.  We pray hard and work hard and through it, we see God work.  But no matter what we do there is always more that needs to be done and could be done.  Staffing, time and resources are all considerations for what to do and when to do it.

We tell the story with our supporter and pray that God will provide what we need.  Scripture says "God works in Mysterious Ways" and "uses the foolish things of the world to make a difference"

We want to share with our supporters one program that can have a big difference in what we do and it will not cost you any more money (just a bit of your time).

To become a part of this Lifestyle way of supporting the work of the poor around the world go to marketplacemanna.biz and click on the SCRIP link to learn more, sign-up get started!

Prayer Requests:

This week pray for our Stateside preparations as we finalize our schedule and travel plans.  Pray that God would place us where we need to be to connect with the folks that need to hear what is happening!

Pray too for the preparation for the launch of many new church plants this fall in 3 Countries. Pray for the selection of the right Church plant pastors, the right target cities and the right folks to connect within each town to get started!

Pray for all of Team Balkans - there is much travel and partnership building with all the missionaries and some nationals this summer. pray for safe travels and receptive hearts to the message.

ALSO - anyone in the Michigan area have an SUV, Cargo Truck that we could use for about 10 days to take to Florida for General Conference?  Please let me know. Thanks

Bonus Video that explains the SCRIP program.

Adding Scrip to the Marketplace Manna Family of services to help the poor!

 

Tired but Hopeful!

May 23, 2019 – We are making a change as we prepare for Partnership Building this summer and fall.  We are moving out of the apartment that we have lived in since moving to Bulgaria 12 years ago.

When we came we wanted a place to hold meetings and house guests.  We are not doing that much these days, so we are wanting to reduce some of our cost   So we are downsizing to a one bedroom apartment.

Maria a friend (almost from day 1) has an apartment in her home that has become open and will fit the bill but is not renovated. So she is going to get it fixed up while we are away.  That means we are putting most of our things in storage at the church (In an open room) and will move in when we return in the fall.  Thinking about all that we have to sort and move makes me tired but knowing it will position us for better ministry makes us hopeful!

(Picture of the new place before it is fixed up)

We have lived in our current apartment longer than any place either one of us have ever lived and have collected stuff that we are now sorting and figuring out what to do with.

We are still doing ministry and preparing for our time stateside starting with General Conference in Orlando.

This week pray for…

… our moving, sorting and packing

… our preparations for Partnership Building

… the continued ministry of the Church in Bulgaria’