Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

Agriculture Update

February 27, 2020 – This week we saw 4 greenhouses delivered and assembled. This will allow us to expand the produce that is grown for giving to the poor, for paying those who help work and to share with the girl’s home.

This is one of the livelihood groups that we support that functions inside Bulgaria.  The dream and plan is to set up 2 additional locations in new areas near our newest church planting projects in very poor regions of the country.

Some may see this as an extra project and not as important as planting church and discipleship.  We think it is discipleship and can be a foundation of church planting.  As we commit and demonstrate that we are concerned about the physical needs they are more open to listening to what we have to say about spiritual things.  As we get them to work with our team, they share Jesus with the workers. They teach discipleship and if needed they speak!

Jesus was teaching and delivering the sermon on the mount and it got late – He told His disciples to feed them.  They did not have much but reluctantly they obeyed and God did a might work.  We believe that as we expand agriculture to new areas it will be used as a tool to draw folks in to hear the Good News about Jesus.

Pray for the Agriculture Project(s) – pray that we would get the grants to expand the program and that they would be effective at reaching folks with the Gospel message.

Pray for Diane and I as we are working at finalizing the transition of the leadership roles we have had to the nationals.

Pray for our late spring/early summer partnership building schedule – we are scheduled to be at 15 churches and 11 Annual conference and travel from California to New York  with many stops in between.

Balkan Provisional Annual Conference Formed

February 25, 2020 – On Saturday, February 22, 2020, our work in the Balkans became self-governing.  We elected a national leader of the movement, ordained 6 additional pastors bringing our total to 14 Elders and while having 11 ministerial candidates also in the process.  Officially they are part of the work in 2 countries with a third country not included in these numbers yet (But we have started 9 churches there this year and will bring them along as time goes on).

(New Elders being brought in)

April 20, 2007 - thirteen years ago, we arrived in Bulgaria, having never been here and not knowing a soul. We are now in awe of what God has done.  We are confident the church movement that was realized this past weekend will grow and expand as they are looking at an additional 2-3 countries for expansion of the teaching and training.

(All Those at the Organizational meeting of the Balkan Provisional Annual Conference)

But the work for the missionaries here is not done.  We are still working on the safe home, expanding humanitarian aid, economic opportunities and education. So, as we hand off some responsibilities we are now challenged to focus more on other areas that support the work of the new churches.  God is good and we are so thankful for how He has worked and moved amongst the people.

(Bishop Cowart congratulating our New Supt. Lyubcho!)

We are so excited and can’t wait to see what God will do next in and through the work He has started.

This week praise God for all that He has done!

 

To see more photos of the event go to:https://www.facebook.com/larry.winckles/media_set?set=a.10163120191135165&type=3

Happy Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2020 – Valentine’s Day another holiday where we are told we need to show people we care! That is a good thing but as followers of Christ, that should happen regularly if not every day.

I am not saying we need to give cards, flowers or candy to people every day but I do think we need to be people who live in such a way that we demonstrate God’s Love to the folks we interact with each day.

We are God’s disciples, His reps, His hands, and feet!  What do the people we encounter see what they interact with us?  For God so LOVED the world that He GAVE his only son…!  God is in the business of giving great gifts and so should we!

Happy Valentine’s day – Go and LOVE the world!

Next week Is the Annual Conference meeting – please pray for all the details we are still working on.  Pray also for the new Elders and CMC’s we will be bringing in. and Pray too for the new church plants that have started this year. (So far 15 this year)

Change

February 6, 2020 - This week I have felt like I am riding a rollercoaster.  As a younger person, I loved roller coasters, as I have gotten older not so much.

In our weekly post we try and keep it uplifting: sometimes stories of things going on, sometimes the vision of what we hope to see happen and sometimes asking for more support from those that get the email.  We try and keep everyone informed and as detailed as we can. 

I wish we could tell you more specifics about all that is going on but right now we are just asking you to pray for the work, the team and change that is coming.  As we can, we will explain all that is happening, what it means and where we will go from here.

Thanks again.