Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

What does a movement look like?

January 30, 2020 - Movement implies “moving” that is going somewhere or doing something.  As our nationals are getting ready to officially assume oversite of the work here the reality is they are already doing it. 

It is an organic movement.  Team Balkans was a catalyst to bring about what God wanted.  Our training, modeling and encouraging was the start and will be here for advice as things move on but they know what needs to be done and are doing it. 

Several of our pastors and key lay leaders are doing all they can by going out on their own and holding services, doing training and bringing people to Christ.

Two examples: 

Recently the National leader was invited to go to Germany for a weekend of training with Bulgarians what now living there for work and they are wanting some spiritual training and connection.  The folks in Germany are connected to some of our church people and that contact has led to this international outreach. The German folks covered all the expenses to make it happen and they what them to come back again so we are working on details through our Bible School and Pastoral training to see what can be done.

Another example:  I was looking through Facebook and saw photos of our Evangelistic young leaders sharing about the service they had in a village about 20 minutes from where we live. They were excited about how it went. These guys are going out on their own time at their own expense to reach people not only in their back yard but their countrymen in other parts of Europe as well.

When you think about why we do missions this is it.  Jesus did it this way.  He came, taught and modeled what life should be like and then left it with the folks to do!  We are so excited to see what God is doing in and through the team He has put together.  Continue to pray for the transitions over the next few months.  Pray that God would lead all of us to make smart choices and to be open to do whatever He has in store!

Thank you from the "Sunny School for Handicapped"

January 23, 2020 - (written by Diane) -

We don’t get to see the children receive the gifts we assemble for the Virtual Christmas Gift Box.  We know that God uses these gifts in ways He sees fit and are grateful to be a part of what He is doing in Bulgaria.  The churches often use these as outreach to children in their community, including the clear message of Christ and a time of fellowship.  Thank you for your support of this part of the ministry.

For many years in Petrich, our church gives to the school (Sunny) for handicapped children.  We have dropped the gifts off before the school Christmas party.  We have also included the teachers with a gift of some kind.  The work they do is difficult many days.  We only are allowed into the lobby, but this year we received a thank you (pictured).  The students probably attached the dot.  I am grateful that we are able to give a smile or something needed or uplifting to a group in our community that are usually overlooked or treated poorly.

Here is our Virtual Christmas Gift Box Thank You Video!

This year we also were able to give from our land that produced potatoes.  Chance and DeeDee Galloway reported how thrilled the pastor overlooking the land was to see the work of his (and God’s) hands blessing people who are extremely poor.  God knows what He is doing and His timing surprises us, though it shouldn’t.

This week pray for the transitions happing over the next month or so with the nationals assuming more and more of the oversite of the work in the Balkans.

Pray too for the missionary team as we adjust to new roles.

Pray for the ongoing church planting projects that have and will be starting this year.

Economic Ministries Update

January 11, 2020 - This week's post is a bit later than usual.  We have been prepping and then traveling as we have been getting ready to launch some new products.  We are adding some Yoga Socks, new styles of Wrist Warmer, Messy Buns and Scarves.  In our sewing group, we are launching Clothes Protectors for senior adults.  More on these in a few weeks after we pick up the new product.

We also completed our year-end report for Marketplace Manna, Inc - our company in the states that help with the distribution of what our folks make as well as our partners around the world - our digital version can be seen here

https://almellinger.typepad.com/MM%20Year%20in%20Review%20%26%202020%20Vision%20A.pdf

It has been another year of growth and change.  A great deal of learning is happening and we still very excited and very passionate about helping the church learn more about how it can make a difference in the stewardship habits.

This week pray for:

The upcoming meetings in Mid February when our group of churches becomes an annual conference in the FM movement.

The future and direction of our companies here in BG and in the US.

The New Church Plants that will be launched in North Macedonia in 2 weeks.

2020 IN 2020

January 2, 2020 - 2020 is the year and it is also a reference to seeing clearly. We began our missionary adventure on the ground in Bulgaria on April 20, 2007. If you want to read all that God has done in the 13 years you can go to (https://almellinger.typepad.com/almellinger/2019/12/december-21-2019-it-is-longer-than-usual-but-it-is-a-brief-history-of-what-god-has-done-during-the-year-end-process-i.html).

In February of 2020 the churches will become their own Annual Conference (that is a self-governing group) of almost 40 churches in 3 countries. For that we praise God

But that means changes in our role and that is why we are asking folks for prayer. Prayer that we might see clearly (that is 2020) in 2020!  We are looking for what is the next step and role we are to have in God’s bigger plan.

Would you join us on early in the new year is asking God for clarity for us as to what HE wants us to do next be that here in the Balkans or beyond!

That is the prayer request for our first Report of 2020!