June 14, 2021 - It has been an interesting year for us – with the Pandemic modifying and forever changing how we do ministry. Things that we planned and wanted to do we could not but at the same time things we never thought of doing became reality. We have learned it is best to wait on God and follow His lead.
That being said, there are some more changes taking place with Diane and me. As our work with Free Methodist World Missions (FMWM), doing church planting and leadership development is coming to a close, having fulfilled 3 terms as missionaries.
Recently at a Balkan Conference Board meeting - Bishop Keith Cowart said “I am very excited about the work in Bulgaria and throughout the Balkans. It is one of the shining lights in the Free Methodist World in Europe. We want to encourage you, we want to let you know how much we are proud of you, how grateful we are for your faithfulness as you continue to serve the Lord so well and to see so much fruit coming out of this great work.”
We have done what we were sent to do and now we are sensing God’s call to draw alongside churches in a new way. Coaching and helping to develop economic programs that will support church plants and the families that are part of them. We are also looking at expanding and helping other missionaries and groups think through how to engage economic ministries in their locations. To do this we are moving on to expand our work as God leads.
We will still be raising our support, but that will mean we operate our support base and giving in a new way. Instead of giving as you have done we will be working with Mission Igniter out of the Southern Michigan Conference of the FMC.
We will be on support from FMWM until June 30, 2021. If you have automatic withdrawals coming out you will need to notify Free Methodist World Missions (800) 342-5531 or 317-244-3660) and ask for Debra Hancock or Jon Fajardo in the Finance office. Tell them you need to change your automatic giving or stop it. Sign-up to begin with the new support system as you are able, to give us time to create a fund to draw from to live on and operate with after the change.
If you are giving to any special fund or the Church Planting and Development Fund (CPD) for the Balkans we encourage you to continue to do so or if you wish to continue to give through FMWM to the Balkan programs you can give to Galloway Support.
Our new support organization:
Mission Igniter PO Box 257 Spring Arbor, MI 49283
Put Mellinger on the Memo line
or online at https://www.aplos.com/aws/give/MissionIgniter/Mellinger
If you have believed in what we are doing we would ask you to continue to support us in our new and expanded role. Soon we will be outlining some of the new ideas and programs that we will be working on. New partners that we will tell you about and new (as well as old) ways to be involved in the kingdom work of God.
Thanks for your prayers, financial support and encouragement over the years! You are important to us and the work God has called us to do.