Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

Our TEAM is Complete!

October 13, 2021 - As of this past Monday, we have hired our last staff member to help us operate our stores.  (Thanks for all your prayers about this) God has given us an amazing team. We have a gal who this is her first job, we have a retired person who wanted to get out and do something. Our latest hire (working with us part-time) has got degrees in African cultural studies and Arabic languages. He is at our Ann Arbor location where we have multiethnic shoppers coming in daily. (Can’t wait to see how God is going to use this hire!)

Each time we have needed a hire we spent much time in prayer asking God to bring us what we needed at that moment.  And He has!  Maybe not as fast as we had hoped but in His timing nonetheless.

This past week in our Jackson store a lady came in who was telling our team about her sister whom she had not heard from and was worried about. The lady was from the senior low-income housing apartments in our building.  As she was sharing her concern tears began to appear on her face and our team asked if she wanted prayer and then - right there in the middle of the store - stopped and prayed for the shopper.

We are more than a store, we are a ministry business that is committed to helping folks be they the poor, persecuted, disenfranchised, disable or unemployed when and where we can.  For many it is financial but for others, it is a listening ear, a hug, and especially prayers.

When you support us you are helping us create this movement that is touching lives here and around the world.

This week pray for…

… the training of our new staff members

… the arrival of products coming internationally - Bulgaria, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, and places around the US

… the plans and funding for the Virtual Christmas Gift Box program we are sponsoring.

… Funding for the new livelihood Groups we have talked about and our own support too!

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To give to the Virtual Christmas Gift Box Program Click Here - https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/3138219

To give to our Development fund Click here - https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/3138219

To give to our Support Account Click Here https://www.aplos.com/aws/give/MissionIgniter/Mellinger

Where are you from?

September 25, 2021 – We are spending more time at the Ann Arbor store as we are looking for some part-time workers for the store. We are meeting many folks who are drawn into the store because of the bright colors and diverse things we sell.

As we explain the store and our concept of helping the poor, disenfranchised, persecuted, and disabled around the world, they resonate with it.  Many ask do you have anything from my country?  To which we ask where are you from?  We are amazed at the number of countries and ethnic groups we have encountered. They are from Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Some speak with their son or daughter translating for them, others speak with broken English, and others with just a slight accent.

As I respond to whether or not we have anything from their part of the world, I am struck by the diversity of people that are all around us.  Many that talk to us seem downhearted and sad about their country or region as they are quick to share their opinion.  Most are glad to be here but know folks who do not have the opportunities they have in the US.

As I write this to you I am sensing that God is about to use the store to begin some ministry to the ethnic folks around the store.  I have no idea what it will be but I know in my spirit when God starts to move. 

Join us in praying about the opportunities God has and is giving us with the economic work we are doing and how we can impact the folks around the store.

Join us in our ongoing prayers for workers – no one is looking and everyone in the area is hiring.  Pray that God sends us the right folks with a similar mission and purpose to join our team.

Continue to pray for our personal support as well.

We are excited to be on this mission for the kingdom of God and thank you for your interest, prayers, and support over the years.

It is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Again!

September 15, 2021 -  We are again doing the Virtual Christmas Gift Box Program!  Here is a video that explains what we do and how it works.

You can also go to virtualChristmasgiftbox.com - to get more information!  We need any donations by the end of November to be able to get it to the Pastors to get the presents purchased.

To give online click here - or send a check to Marketplace Manna 151 E Michigan, Jackson, MI 49201

Help us help our churches serve their neighborhoods! 

Got Questions - call me at 517-3953054 :)

Prayer Requests:

Need a great deal of prayer to find and hire the right staff for our newest store in Ann Arbor, Mi - everyone is hiring and we have had no one wanting the jobs (2 Part-time slots open) Please pray that God would send us the right folks to work at this store!

Pray for many to participate in the Virtual Christmas Giff Box Program - many needs this year in our villages.

Pray for  Diane and me as we are traveling most weekend sharing the vision and the stories of all that God is doing

 

 

August Update

August 25, 2021 - Here is what we have been up to (click on the link):

View this photo

Pray for the following:

Our travels - we are going to be traveling a great deal this fall

Our funding - both for personal support and our development fund

Our new store opening and our existing store sales.

 

Watching God create new things and…

August 7, 2021 – I know our posts have been a bit hit and miss as we adjust to a new reality for our ministry.  This week I want to share some snippets of thoughts and conversations with folks.

Recently we share the need for some part-time workers as we most staff and expand the number of retail locations.

GOD PROVIDEd THE CORRECT PERSON FOR EACH LOCATION AND FOR THAT WE PRAISE HIM!

Back in January when we were prepping to open the new downtown Jackson location – we met a number of people from the Senior Apartments that are above our store.  As we have been around more this summer we have gotten to know more of them.  We are praying about and working on starting at least a Bible Study with these folks later once COVID settles down.

PRAY THAT GOD WOULD OPEN THE DOORS FOR THIS AND RAISE UP SOME HELPERS TO KEEP IT GOING WHEN WE ARE ON THE ROAD.

We started the makeover of the store space in Ann Arbor.  We have been given a great many fixtures from a church we recently went to and we were able to get some Slat walls from a store in Okemos that were throwing them out.  So, the cost to the redo of the store will be under $400.  That is amazing!

PRAISE GOD FOR THIS!  ALSO, PRAY AS WE ARE NOW LOOKING PART-TIME HELP IN ANN ARBOR.

Over the last two weeks, we have had meetings (some planned and some spontaneous) with folks who not only have ideas but also connections and contacts that can help us as we dream some new dreams for the kingdom.

PRAY THAT WE WOULD CONNECT WITH THE RIGHT FOLKS TO MOVE WHAT WE ARE DOING ALONG AND DEVELOP NEW PARTNERSHIPS.

We are consistently amazed at what God is doing and as trust Him for all the details He continues to give us new dreams, bring along others to help with the dreams, and provide the encouragement that we need.