Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

Endings and Beginnings

May 17, 2023 – It has been a while since we updated our blog – we have not been slacking just the opposite we have been busy connecting with new partners and see how we can connect with others nearby with the same heart for the poor as we have.

We are continuing to work on getting the REED Workshop space up and being used – we have had several groups come by already and are beginning to get groups in to make new products.

We have also had weekend trips to do displays in Churches.  We will be traveling all over the South, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic over the next 2 months going to conferences and churches.

We do have some sad news to report – we are closing down our Ann Arbor location at the end of May.  Sales have dropped as the economy has become tighter.  We were not covering our expenses there anymore and could not justify staying open. We are staying in Jackson and will be looking for new ways to get the product out to people over the summer and into fall.

Pray for our travels

Pray for our closing

Pray for the new partners we are talking to.

A Brief History of our REED Workshops

April 13, 2023 – As missionaries we found ourselves working with the poor, disenfranchised, persecuted, disabled, and unemployed and they needed more than spiritual help. They had a real need for economic assistance too.  That’s how the livelihood groups were started.

Having the products they made, led us to open a store in Jackson, Mi back in 2018. Local folks came in and told us about local groups also serving the needy and we began to partner with them.  As we connected, we found many additional organizations working with the poor that could use some economic help.

REED Workshops were developed: R=repurposing items, E=environmentally beneficial, E=economically helpful, D=developing skills.  Whatever we do must meet one or more of these objectives.

We currently work with the Jackson Interfaith Shelter, the Jackson Friendly Home, and a few individuals who have been referred to us by local groups.  To keep these folks busy means, we are constantly looking for more and new items that they can create.  In our search for products, we have found many that would be great but the time and space it takes to make them, couldn’t happen with the current model – we needed a space where people could come, and we would pay them to make products that we can sell in our retail operations.

 

 

 

 

On April 14, 2023, we are opening the first (of which I hope are many) REED Workshop Center!  A place for us to bring those in need to assist them in learning some new skills, making something we can sell, and hopefully building relationships with the staff and volunteers so that they may know God’s love.

If you are ever in the Jackson, MI Area, we invite you to come by and see the place for yourself. If you would like to help by volunteering or by investing in our development fund so we can continue to expand and work with more groups let us know.

Pray for the Opening of the Center

Pray for the retail operations – sales are needed to keep things going

Pray for our travels as we enter a busy time of travel for the year.

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To learn more about our New REED Workshop program click here

To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

Happy Easter and More!

April 5, 2023 – It has been about a month since we posted an update.  It is not that we were not busy, it is that we were doing much of the same ministry.

First, we want to wish everyone a blessed and Happy Easter.  May you be drawn closer to our savior and lord - Jesus Christ this Easter Season.

We did travel to an annual conference in Illinois and to 2 churches during this time.  Diane and I have also been covering during the week, shifts in both stores as we are still needing to find some part-time employees.

Fairfield, Iowa

Urbandale, Iowa

We have also been working on getting the REED Workshop Center ready to open soon.  Watch for information on that in the coming weeks.

We are having a Grand Reopening on Friday, April 14, 2023.  It is also going to be a Founder’s Weekend sale with select items that the founder likes (that’s me) on sale.  If you are in the Southern Michigan Area, come on by and see all the great things we have to offer.  We will also be offering, while supplies last, some refreshments from My Bakery a new ministry of My Place part of the Set Free Movement.

So would you pray for the following:

• Grand Re-opening and Founder Weekend and Sales at the stores
• The REED Workshop Center as we work to get it set up.
• Funds for the REED Workshop so that once it is done, we can begin to use it to hire folks who need some income and skill training.

We are scheduling church visits in the late Spring Summer and Fall so if you are interested, let us know and we can see what we can do.

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To learn more about our New REED Workshop program click here

To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

Trip to Light & Life Park in Lakeland, FL

March 8, 2023 – Last weekend was the Missions Conference at Light and Life FMC at the Park in Lakeland.  Diane and I were invited to be guest missionaries with several others.  We flew down and were able to share what God is doing in and through our work.

What was a true blessing was the number of people that either live there year-round or are down during the cold months up north.  It seemed like every time we turned around, we were running to someone with a connection to either Diane or me in our past.  They are all great people who have served God well in their own lives.  We felt it might just be a little of what heaven will be like.

Side note – during our time in Florida our Ann Arbor location had a shop lifting incident.  Casey was able to catch them and report it to police.  They took over $750 of merchandise which we did get back.  This does bring up a concern about the cost and realities of doing business these days. It is getting harder and harder.  With inflation still high people aren't buying as much and our sales year over year are way down.  The needs we address and serve by selling fairtrade items as still very much there.  So please be in prayer about the retail realities we face.  Pray for our staff, pray for protection, pray for sales and donations.

We know God is in control but sometimes need some reminders.

Thanks for your prayers and support.

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To learn more about our New REED Workshop program click here

To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click her

Expansion In Process

February 23, 2023 – The REED Workshop space is slowly coming together (what we can with what we currently have). 

Here are two links to an interview I did for a local Cable TV station and an article that was also written.

https://jtv.tv/market-manna-expands-plans-workshop-for-downtown-business/

Also on Monday, February 27^th, we are doing a dedication of the REED Workshop space.

Over the years we have appreciated and depended on your support for the work God has called us to do!  That began in the Balkans and has now returned to Michigan with many partners and countries around the world.  To celebrate this and to hear the new vision of what God is calling us to do, Diane and I would like to invite you to a special Open House/Dedication of the expanded retail space and the New REED Workshop Center.

This will be Monday, February 27 from 5-6:30 with a formal presentation made at 5:30. 

We will share how the new space will advance the kingdom ask for prayer and your wisdom on how to accomplish the vision we have.

There will be some light refreshments and all in attendance will receive a free gift and a discount on any purchase made that evening.

Please RSVP [email protected] your participation or regrets.

Guests you want to bring are welcome!

This week pray for:

The continued transition of the store and workshop space – including funds to finish the project and launch the workshop.

Sale – the weather has kept people from shopping which means no sales – we need some sales to pay the bills.

To learn more about our New REED Workshop program click here

To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here