Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

August Update!

August 4, 2022 - This week Diane is with Faith (our granddaughter) in Ohio taking her to swimming lessons and loving like crazy on her.

I have been writing and working on all kinds of projects in and around Michigan.  I have said this before there are so many ways to serve the poor around you if you will open your eyes and ask God to lead you to them.  Found another organization that works with folks struggling to function in the world.  We have begun talks about a sewing project with them.  Which is interesting because we were given 5 sewing machines last week.  Don’t know where this will lead but I am always encouraged when God is working and we are listening so we don’t miss the instructions.

(New Gift Bag we are starting to sell this week - made in Jackson)

I have mentioned that I am part of a Rotary club here in Jackson.  I was encouraged to join a few years back by leaders I trust and it has been a great opportunity for me. We are now partnering with several groups because their leaders came and spoke about what they do.  In following up with the speaker it has led to several partnerships that we are grateful for.

It has also let us know how we can help local churches find groups to connect with as well.  If we are going to teach on how to minister and connect with the poor we need to know what it is like. Learning how to contact, connect and follow through has been a learning experience and very rewarding.

Although it is a challenge too, as each group we partner with requires us coming up with not only equipment but also funding to pay for materials, salaries and other miscellaneous expenses.  (if anyone would like to help with this give to the Development fund below).

We were supposed to be in Bulgaria this month but that door seemed to be closed and we are not looking for the next best time to plan our trip. Please pray about this with us. There are things that need to be tied us that require us to be there.

Store sales are still in the summer slowdown. We are watching the economy closely to make sure we are as frugal as we can be with expenses while still expanding and serving the folks that need assistance. What we sell is not essential to most here but very essential to the folks making the product and needing us to sell it to keep them working.  Pray that we would find God’s will in all that we do.

Continue to pray for our support and the ministry funds needed to do what we do.

Thanks again for your prayers and financial support.

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To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

Summer Update!

July 28, 2922 - Since the middle of June, we have traveled to West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Kansas, and Oklahoma.  That included being at 8 Annual Conferences, 2 Family Camps, and speaking in 4 churches and 2 family gatherings. We met a great many new friends and reconnected with many old friends as well. God is good and we are tired but feeling blessed.

During this same time period, our finances have improved with some additional folks making one-time gifts and a few signing up for monthly support.

This summer we have met with some local leaders about what we are doing and they are very interested in potentially partnering with us on local projects.

The sales at the camps and Annual Conferences have helped a great deal this summer as the store sales have had the summer dropped off and with the economy what it is at this point.

That being said we are postponing our Bulgaria trip for now. Still hoping to get there this year.

Another praise – we approach the mall about a new pricing structure for our store and they accepted it which will save us over $9000 over the next year. If they didn’t we would seriously be considering closing that location as it is now we are staying open. Praying that sales pick up as fall approaches.

During the travels, we were approached about writing some programs to be used for college students to help them learn and understand about serving the poor. We have started working on the lesson and are enjoying putting what we talk about into a class format.

Still looking for a part-time employee for Ann Arbor – please pray about that.

We are not sensing that we need to make a change in ministry at this point but are walking by faith and pressing on, waiting on God for our next set of instructions. Keep praying for us and the work we are developing.

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To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

Serious Request

June 28, 2022 – We have had and are scheduled to have a very busy rest of the summer. We have been sharing with many folks in many states about the needs of the poor, disenfranchise, persecuted, disabled and unemployed around the world.  It is an awesome message we get to share but a tough one as well.

This email is also tough for us to write, as much as we try, we have found that our personal support is not at the level that it needs to be.  We will be having another pay period without a salary.  We know God will provide but we also have to think that it may be time for us to rethink things.  We don’t feel released from the work we are doing but at the same time, we need to look at the reality of what we need to live vs what we are taking in.

When we switched agencies, we lost about 35% of our monthly giving.  We were hoping to add new givers and churches.  That has not happened yet.  We are told that people love what we stand for and what we are doing but because of the sales generated some feel that that should cover our salary, but that goes back the vendors we have purchased from to pay for what we have and the operating needs to have the stores.

With inflation and costs going up funds are tight for everyone, we get that.  Over the past 6 weeks store sales have dropped off but rent, payroll (for staff), insurance and other expenses have not declined.  I am committed to covering these costs and so far this year, we have covered them and our monthly expenses have been paid for the stores.

We cover all the travel-related costs when we visit churches and Annual Conferences from our salaries.  We do get some speaking fees but they really are only covering fuel, tolls, and travel-related expenses.  We have also reduced our living expenses to the lowest possible cost we can.  I share that to let you know we are doing all we can at this point.

So, we are writing this to ask you to join us in prayer about what we are to do? Do we shut down things and find other employment?  Do we ask for a miracle?  We have been praying God would send the funds we need and some have come in but we need to know without a doubt that we need to either keep going or wrap it up.

God has led us every step and we are trusting Him to continue to lead.  We are now asking y’all to join us in this concern. We also realize we are part of the body of Christ we do not do this alone.  The body needs to know what we need and that is sometimes hard for us to do for ourselves.

If you feel led to give to our support click here. 

Thanks for being a supporter over the years as we have seen God do some amazing things and know He will continue to do so.

Blessings,

Pressing On!

June 8, 2022 – It has been a few weeks since I wrote. We have been busy and are doing much of the same things speaking, meeting, selling, and developing new products.  Since May we have spoken in the following churches:

May 1, 2022 – Pulaski, Mi, FMC

May 8, 2022 – Toddville, Iowa, FMC

May 15, 2022 – Reclamation Church -  Albion, MI

May 22, 2022 – Central Community Church – Urbandale, Iowa.

May 29, 2022 – Chillicothe, Mi, FMC

Met with and are working with more partner groups helping the poor. We are still meeting monthly with the seniors above our store.  We did also get to spend a few days with my oldest son’s family in Branson and then did a pop-in visit to see my folks and brother in  McPherson.

From now through the end of July we are on the road – Here is our schedule of conferences and churches we are currently scheduled to be at.

June 10-11 – Annual Conference (AC) in Harvest Conference (West Virginia)

June 12, 2022 – Clearfield, PA Church

June 12-13 – AC in Keystone Conference – Pleasantville, PA

June 17-18, 2022 – NCC Annual Conference – (Janesville, WI)

June 24-25, 2022 – Tri Con – AC (East, North and Southern MI Conferences) Spring Arbor, MI

June 26, 2022 - OPEN

July 8-15 SBC Family Camp evenings - Mi

July 15-20, 2022 – Missionary Speakers - Cattaraugus Christian Family Camp (New York)

July 22-23, 2022 – Great Plains AC – McPherson, KS

July 24-25, 2022 – Mid America AC – Oklahoma City

July 31, 2022 – Chelsea, MI FMC

Our plan is to be back in Bulgaria for the Month of August.

Please pray for us as we travel and share – pray for safety in travels and pray for the cost, as gas is … well you know too high but we have made our schedule before we knew all this would happen.

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To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here

Why Up-Cycle Stuff to make New Products?

May 18, 2022 – We collect all kinds of stuff that seem random at times.  They are items that someone doesn’t use, want, or need.  To many, it looks more like junk or trash and we are often asked, why do you do that?

There are several reasons:

• It helps the planet, keeping things out of landfills (at least for now).
• We work with people who take the stuff we collect and through it learn a skill and a bit of income as they make something useful to another.
• The items become the EXCUSE to get connected with the poor and needy around us. By helping them meet their felt needs we earn the right to share Jesus with them.

By caring about the planet and people’s economic needs we find more doors open for us to get involved and then share the Gospel with people.

We are currently working with several organizations that have no spiritual aspect to their service to the poor, they are only trying to address the immediate needs of their clients. By helping to address the needs, with the groups, we then earn the opportunity to give them what they really need (Jesus).

Things are growing as we are weekly having conversations with groups about possible partnerships. That is exciting as means word is getting out and folks are looking for partners to engage.  It also means that we need more upcycled items to keep folks engaged.

Right now, we need more unwanted T-shirts – especially white (as we tie-dye them) but are still building our collection of everything else too.

Additionally, we want to create a workshop/training space -  to bring some of the local folk we work with for production purposes.  When we tie-dye shirts they need a place to make them and then dry.  Other times things are painted or sealed and need a space to dry.  We have been dreaming about a place for a couple of years and have followed up on 2-3 places that have not worked out.  Would you join us in praying about such a space?

And when we get a space we are going to need folks to help by teaching and working with our folks.  We would love to start a list of folks we can call upon when the workspace is acquired if you have any skills.

This week pray about:

a workshop space

partner conversations that we would create good sinergy

travels as we are entering a busy few months

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To help with our personal support click here

Marketplacemanna.com – online store

To help with our development fund click here