April 21, 2019 - This is a special post - it is a fundraising opportunity - We do not do many of these but this is special! Watch the video or click the link below.
You can go to marketplacemanna.biz to read more about it and to make a donation.
Thanks for taking the time to listen or read about our Spring Planting Promotion!
April 18, 2019 - To all our family, friends and supporters in the west, we want to wish you a Blessed Easter! (Our Easter will be next week here in Bulgaria) - He is Risen, He is Risen, INDEED!
Today we also want to report a big answer to prayer! – after a long while of figuring out all that we need to do for Marketplace Manna to become a nonprofit company we have received our 501c3 status from the IRS! Which means we do not have to pay income tax on the company and are able to take donations for projects and give the donors receipts for the gift. This will allow us to do so much more. You will be hearing more about this and how you can help out in other emails.
This week pray for our Church's Easter week activities - that they would impact the towns they serve
Pray for an upcoming meeting of the Church Board as we finalize details for becoming a Provisional Annual Conference.
Pray for Team Balkans as most will be doing partnership sometime this summer and fall - pray that they connect with the right contacts to move the work forward.
April 11, 2019 - A few weeks ago, we announce our partnership schedule including being at our General Conference in July. This a gathering which happens every 4 years and has representatives from all over the world in attendance. Reports are given and the church is challenged to make a difference in the world.
Pastor Lyubcho and Petya
Pastor Stanimir and Boraslava
Last week the 4 Bulgarians that we invited to come as representatives to this event received their VISAs to come to the USA. We are so excited about them coming to share what God is doing in the Balkans. (Last General Conference some were not granted VISA's so this is an answer to our prayers)
We do need some help with this. I am wanting to raise the funds to help cover the cost of their trip We are looking at needing to raise $6,000 for their travel and the conference costs. If you could help us please give to Balkan Development Fund (https://give.fmcusa.org/donation/df-epbgbalkndev)
So many amazing things are happening in the Balkans, we are very close to the opening of the Safe House for girls, launching up to 20 new church plants this fall and so much more. Any amount you can give would be greatly appreciated and helpful.
This week Pray -
for the Preperations, we have to do to get ready for General Conference in July
for Team Balkans as some changes are being considered and we need God to guide (more on this soon)
for the plans for the upcoming Easter services in our churches (we celebrate on the Orthodox schedule which is a week after Easter in the west.)
April 4, 2019, 2019 – We received a counterfeit bill at our store recently– we didn’t know it was counterfeit until we tried depositing it in the bank. It looked really good But it wasn't real.
As I thought about it, I realized that you don’t counterfeit pennies – they have little to no values you counterfeit large bill that have greater value.
We have gone back and know the sale that the money was given – they bought a $7 bag of coffee and paid with the $100. Small purchase with change back being real money.
So, we lost out on this one – I guess it is the cost of doing business in today’s world.
We are in business to help people. To help them care for their families by making sure they get a fair wage for the time and the products they make. It is not just the items we produce in our own livelihood groups but we partner with 14 other organizations with similar values.
And even though it makes me a bit angry and frustrated, the store and what we do are part of our missional goals. We will do our best and let God deal with the folks who cheat His work by cheating us. After all, He knows who did and what they need to find Him.
This week pray for the people we support by buying and then reselling their products.
Pray for the counterfeiters that God would somehow get a hold of them and reach them.
Pray God’s protection around our store and the sales we make – we want to trust and help people but we do not want to be ripped off either.
March 28, 2019 - The stats are out denoting the problem of poverty and according to almost all reports the problem is getting worse – those with money are getting more and those without money are getting less and less even as the economy gets better.
Collectively we say we want to help people but the reality is that it is not happening. I would say it is not happening because we leave it up to the Governments or the United Nations to do it and they can’t do it! They are full of people who are looking out for themselves and want a cut of the funds they see. Additionally, people are seen in mass and not as individuals. Therefore, their specific needs, desire, and realities are not addressed. They do not have a good moral compass that is their guide for helping.
When you work with people on a case by case basis you can weed out those who are trying to rig the system.
That said why should anyone think Marketplace Manna is any different? For me, it comes back to the moral compass that we use. The Bible is it! In addition, the history of the movement we are a part of has a strong focus on helping the poor, disenfranchised, persecuted, disabled and unemployed. This is the Methodist Movement.
Last week I was in Bristol, England and visited several sights of John Wesley – in one of the museums there were several posts of things he wrote about the poor and needy among us.
John Wesley’s principles in the 18th Century
As I read this post I was reminded again of why we do what we are doing and how this is central to the Gospel message we also proclaim.
Almost all of these principles are part of what we value as a company (and individuals) and what we try and promote.
We want people to have resources that they need to support their families
We want people to be free to live and make choices about their own lives and families
We want people to feel good about themselves and what they are doing
We want people to be treated fairly and not based on external observations
We want to draw people to God and become a disciple of His.
So, what do I want? – Please shop our stores (Online www.marketplacemanna.com or in person) because that is the only way we are going to be able to stay in business and in turn help people. It is nice to say that “it is a good thing you are doing,” “I love this idea of helping” and “this is awesome,” but we need people to become regular and intentional in supporting the store. We have stayed open based on the comments of local people and the holiday sales figures. We are giving it a try. Your support when you need to purchase a gift would be greatly appreciated. And if you are not sure what to give we have gift cards and gift certificate (online) that can be given, that way the receiver can decide for themselves what they want.
Scripture says in Philippians - to pray about everything - so today I am asking all our prayer partners to pray for the store - pray that we would get and develop loyal customers who understand why we do what we do and help us to help people around the world. Pray that the sales would cover our expenses and help us expand to additional partner organizations who are helping people. Pray that we would be creative and God-honoring in all we do!
