Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

How are we impacted by the COVID 19 Virus?

March 19, 2020 - We like you are trying to figure out the impact of the COVID 19 Virus is having on our everyday lives. As missionaries living and operating a business (including our livelihood groups), this pandemic is putting a strain on what we do.  We have encouraged our church not to gather in large groups (although most are not large) but to meet and pray in homes in smaller groups.  In fact, the police are stopping groups of 3 or more and can fine them for being out.

Our 2 businesses have been ordered closed for at least 2 weeks meaning basically laying off the employees as with no money coming in we cannot afford to pay them and we will still owe for rent, utilities and taxes.  We do not operate with a surplus right now which means there is no cushion for this crisis.

The health risks are great but as is being reported most people will get over the sickness What will not come back quickly and for many like us is the economic loss. We have listed our problem above and we are not the only ones facing this. Multiply this problem by many family-owned and other small businesses and I fear many will not be able to come through or reopen.

Our shop in Michigan has also seen the decline in total sales this year as foot traffic has slowed (most likely do to COVID 19 virus fears).  I was hoping that some online sales might offset the decline but that has not happened (I think people are concerned that we talk about our stuff coming from “around the world” scares them.). We find our sales seasonal and right now they are off enough that it jeopardizes the business staying open.

Why am I writing this?  3 reasons:

• Continue to pray for all those impacted by this world-wide pandemic – and pray specifically for those who are now impacted not by the virus but the fallout from the actions being taken because of the virus.
• You need to know and see the impact the lockdown measures have. People may recover health-wise after a short time but non-health issues may take a great deal longer to recover from these actions. So, if you are able, support small local businesses as you can during this time.
• For our ministries, specifically: making an online purchase or donation to help us weather the financial shortfall. https://squareup.com/store/marketplace-mannas-around-the-world-shop/item/fundmarketplace-manna-development Our personal salaries are not impacted but it does impact those who we are trying to help.

We know as we see the social media post that everyone is affected by what is going on.  It is happening all over the world we are praying for and trying to encourage everyone that we can. We also know that prayer is our greatest tool to make a difference.

States Side Partnership Building - Your Kingdom Come!

March 12, 2020 – We are scheduled to be stateside from April 8-July 10, 2020.  Our plan was to attend many annual conferences to promote the Economic work in the Balkans and beyond. With the travel ban from Europe, we are not sure how that will affect us and our plans so we will keep you posted.

Here is where we are scheduled to be at this point.  We hope to see some of you at these locations.  If there are open dates or we are nearby (or might be traveling through) and you would like to have us for a meal or overnight - please let us know.

April 8, 2020 – Fly Home

April 12, 2020 - Easter with the family

April 14, 2020 – Al’s 60^th Birthday

April 17-18 2020 - Gateway Annual Conference – Greenville, IL

April 19, 2020 – Moundford FMC - Decatur, IL -

April 23-25, 2020 - North MI Annual Conference – Evart, MI

April 26, 2020 – Watervliet FMC – Watervliet, MI

May 1-2, 2020 Ohio Annual Conference – Galion, OH

May 3, 2020 - Pulaski FMC – Pulaski, MI  

May 8-9, 2020 - East MI Annual Conference –Clio, MI

May 10, 2020 – OPEN (Mother’s Day)

May 14-15, 2020 - Genesis Annual Conference - North Chili, NY

May 17, 2020 - OPEN

May 21-22, 2020 - Great Plains Annual Conference - McPherson, KS 23 –Drive to

May 23-May30 – Southwest Trip connecting with supporters

May 31-June 1 - Mid America Annual Conference– Midwest City OK

June 4-6, 2020 -  North Central Annual Conference – Montello, WI

June 7-8, 2020 Keystone Annual Conference – Phillipsburg, PA

June 11-13, 2020 - The Harvest Annual Conference – Fairmont, WV

June 14, 2020 – Brooke Hill FMC - WV

June 21, 2020 - OPEN (Father’s Day)

June 25-26, 2020 – Southern Michigan Annual Conference - Dearborn, MI

June 28, 2020 – Janesville, WI

July 5, 2020 – OPEN

July 9, 2020 – Fly back to Bulgaria

This week pray for…

...the people around the world with the COVID 19 Virus

…our Partnership building plans and the details about getting back to the US

…the sales of our shop – people are not coming out – Pray for online sales.

Why Economic Development is Needed!

March 5, 2020 – Recently we shared about the forming of the Balkan Provisional Annual Conference.  We stated there that with the nationals leading the churches we would now be changing our role in the work here.  Up until now, we have done “Leadership Development” but we will now be changing titles to “Economic Development”

What does that mean?  That is a great question, that to answer needs a bit of background.  Team Balkans has worked to meet and train quality people to lead the churches.  The reality is that many of these churches are in very poor areas.  In one village in the winter, unemployment can be over 80% of the village. They have little money to live on and no money to give to the church (in their minds). We want the churches to grow to be self-sufficient and sustainable. 

For the people to survive many members of the family find that if they want work they have to travel to another country for employment and leave their families.  We do not feel that is the best way. 

We have been trying on a smaller scale starting livelihood groups and offering a limited amount of loans for the start-up of new businesses. 

We have had some success but are now going to see if we can crank this up a bit.  We can make products but we need to figure out a distribution system both in-country and overseas.  That means figuring out the systems needed to educate and draw along-side the folks who want to stay here and not go abroad.

Just like when we arrived and were not sure how to proceed we trusted God and began to serve the people that best way we could – we believe that with a servant’s heart we can learn the best way to help and empower the folks to not only support their families but also the work God is raising up here in the Balkans.

We are going to jump in all the way and although we will be still sharing about the expansion work through-out the Balkans our focus will be on helping the people and churches support themselves and the ministries God is raising up.

We have been given until the end of the year to show that this can happen so we are going to be doing all we can and trust God (if this is His plan) to make it happen.

Pray for us in transition – We plan to be at 10+ Annual Conferences and many churches in the states this spring sharing what God is doing and how we can work together economically to make a difference.

Pray for the connections to get the merchandise that we have to folks who can purchase it and use it.

Pray for investment funds for the new groups that we want to see happen so that every one of our churches has some form of an economic opportunity.

To expand the work will also require some additional working funds – if you want to invest in what we are doing you can click here to give to our development fund.  (https://squareup.com/store/marketplace-mannas-around-the-world-shop/item/fundmarketplace-manna-development)

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.

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.