Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

The Friendly Home!

January 11, 2022 – Just before Christmas I heard a gal speak about the work she did as the executive director at a home for elderly women in Jackson.  This home has been around since the civil war.  Most of the clients do not have enough money to cover their costs and so the center takes what they get each month to cover their lodging and meals. They are given $60 a month for spending.

As I heard about these ladies we decided to talk further with the home and found out that some of these gals are very crafty and looking for things to do.  So, this week we started a new REED Workshop in this home.

As we share some ideas of what we would like them to make they began to get very excited and started sharing other things they make on their own.

I am so in awe of the needs that we are able to begin to address.  I never realized what needs were around (but that is because I was really not looking).  Now that I am more tuned in and focused on what can be done God is opening up doors all around. (This home by the way is less than a mile from our home - we drive by it ALL the time.)

This is part of what I believe every church could help with – finding a need in their community and then partnering with us to see if we could together help.

Stay tuned as we share how this program develops and how we figure out new ways to serve these ladies.

This week pray for the Friendly Home and the ladies who live there.

Pray too for our plans as we look to navigate the Covid restrictions and plan a trip back to Bulgaria - (pray for our funding for this too)

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Bubba and a Pair of Glasses!

January 4, 2022 – Bubba is a nonverbal autistic adult whose father has to be with him almost all the time.  When we opened the Ann Arbor store we got to meet Bubba and his family. Bubba likes to walk the mall almost every day.  One day we found out Bubba likes to paint and they showed us some of his work.

Since Bubba meet the qualification for having products in the shop we offered consignment space for him to show his work. We would get a cut when they sell and he would make some money too.

They had not sold yet but I was feeling the need to purchase the painting out right so that we could help the family and when they sell we would keep the total amount.  So, I began to watch for Bubba but did not see him through the holiday season until this past Sunday.

I told them I wanted to pay them for the paintings and paid them $150 for the work.  They were happy and I was glad I could finally do what I was sensing God telling me to do.

A little while later I was checking out what was happening in the mall and the family stopped me. They were at a kiosk that does eye exams and sells glasses.  It seems that the day before their dog “ate” the last pair of glasses for one in the family.  They then told me that they could get them replaced for $149.95!  The 150 that we paid them met a need that they did not know how they were going to cover!

I almost started to cry. God is having us, minister, to this family in ways only He can orchestrate.

We are excited about how we can use the retail operations to do more than sell products to help the poor but also to reach out and minister in all kinds of ways to all kinds of people.  People who we would never see at a church building but are in need of God’s touch through us.

Pray this year God continues to show us how to touch those around us at our retail locations.

Pray that the stores would connect and have great sales so we can continue to help folks around the world in need of His touch through our partners.

Pray too for our support as we are not funded through the stores but rather by supporters as we are working in all kinds of ways beyond the retail sales.

Think Fair Trade First

December 30, 2021 - Today I want to break down one of our slogans: Think Fair Trade First!  Made up of 4 words that independently are common and not very exciting.

THINK – for most of what we do daily we do not have to “think” about, it just happens. When we do “Think” we focus, review and make sure we understand what is happening and what we are to do!

FAIR – This word identifies that all parties are getting what they deserve.  Their participation is compensated in equal terms to the effort they put into the task.

TRADE – This is when you give something you have to get something you want. The word can also mean a skill one has developed that is valuable to others.

FIRST – This word we all know well – we want to be first. I once heard someone say – “You are first after me!”  That is how we are taught to function. We do first each day what is important to us.  We prioritize what we do based on a standard we feel best fits our needs.

When we put these four words together we are reminded that what we each do can, does and will impact others whether we realize it or not.

It might be quicker, easier, faster, and cheaper to just grab something that we see but is it best for all concerned? Do we stop and think about who made what we are getting, what did it cost them for their time and materials?  Would we do it for what we are paying for the product?

When we ask the Fair-Trade questions and stop and think about what we are doing to people will it change our minds as to how, when, and where we shop? 

My purpose for writing this is to challenge you to personally think about what you buy, where you shop, and how you can every day intentionally help folks live, grow and thrive.

We are not islands unto ourselves – what we do impacts others just like what they do impacts you!  For 2022 we want to challenge you to become more aware of the fact that what you do impacts others and as best as you are able do all you can to help others!

Thanks for your Prayers and Happy New Year to all!

To give to our personal support click here

To help with our development projects click here

What About Your Neighborhood?

December 29, 2021 – This is the third communication in 3 days – but we wanted to give you the news, ideas and dreams in smaller bite size pieces.

One of the services/programs we do is work with local churches and charities to help the poor.  We do it by working with the groups to identify and then reach out economically to this group (or person) to help them earn some supplemental income by producing the product we determined they are able to make. We pay them just above minimum wage for what they create.

We work with the homeless shelter in Jackson making chew toys to for dogs, tie headbands (for upcycled men’s ties) and fire starter from pinecones, old candles and twine.

Another partner is making glass/phone cases (out of men’s ties).

We are in conversation with a group hoping to get some space in Downtown Jackson for start a training/production center for some wood working crafts and other sewing projects. The location is a few blocks from the homeless shelter and would allow us to have equipment in place where we can train and the workers could use.  The idea behind this is not to give them full employment but teach then some skills they can use to then become more employable.

The real blessing behind this is not the product made but the time spent with the people, learning their stories and finding out what they really need AND earing their trust to share Jesus with them.

We want to duplicate this in towns and neighborhoods all around the Midwest and beyond. We are praying and looking for church and key individuals that will take on this kind of program in your neighborhood.

Would you join us in prayer for partners: Individuals and church/groups who are wanting to serve and willing to put in the time to see lives changed! If so let us know so we can begin a conversation about next steps.

If you would like to give to the development fund to help us get these projects going – click here.

A Time for Everything!

December 28, 2021 – Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything.  And as we close out this year we are also making changes to our retail operations.  We will be closing our Meridian Mall location for the time being.

The Mall has changed since we went in 16 months ago.  Some stores have left and the ones that have come in are not attracting the clientele that would shop in our store.  In addition, the mall hours mean more wage costs and they wanted to increase the rent by $150 a month.  When we looked at the income level vs the expense level we could not manage to keep it open.

That being said we plan to go back for what is called a pop-up shop – where we will be open for 3-4 months (Sept-Dec) for the holiday season.  That is when we do about 70% of our sales.

In fact, we are looking at how we can do pop-up locations for special events and programs throughout the year.  We would like to have a summer team traveling to music festivals and conferences throughout the summer.

We would like to have pop-up shops in churches for a few weeks at a time with some local mission’s profit sharing.

We plan and hope to be traveling to churches and conferences to share the possibilities of Economic Ministries in local neighborhoods.

So as we end 2021 we will close a chapter for some of what we have been up to and will turn the page to begin a new chapter called 2022 – who knows where it will lead us?

Pray for the plans for 2022 as we begin to explore and implement new ideas. Pray that we will hear what God is saying and pray that we will have the funds and product to make it a reality.

Thanks again for your support!

If you would like to help us with our personal support click here

If you would like to help us with development funds to help with our Pop-up Shop ideas Click here

2021 A YEAR OF MOVES!

December 27, 2021 -  We started 2021 wondering what we were to do?  The door was closing in the Balkans and what we were wanting to do, wasn’t being done (at least by a few in our circle).  Here is a summary of different areas of our life from 2021.

Retail Operations:

We relocated our store in Jackson from all a Mall to downtown in January.  In April, we moved our store in Petrich back to the church complex.  In May, the mall in Okemos moved us to a different spot. In September, we opened our Ann Arbor location and on December 30^th we are closing our Okemos store.

Ministry Operations:

In January, we were approached about partnering with Mission Igniter to add an economic element to what they do.  As we had been praying about what was next this seemed like an open door.  In May, we returned to the US to begin the transition. In July, we switched from FMWM to Mission Igniter.  We are still working on getting our support to the level it needs to be and will be looking at how this will move us forward in 2022.

As we have made this switch we have begun working with folks from several Churches to begin to see how we can help minister to folks economically.  We are serving at the local interfaith Shelter 2 times a month teaching them to upcycle items, we have begun a meeting in the building our Jackson Store is located in with Senior Citizens with the help of folks from 1208 Greenwood Church and have begun working with a gal who is a neighbor of one of the Missional Communities with the Evergreen Church.

Our Ann Arbor Store has daily folks from different countries and ethnic backgrounds coming in.  this past week a lady who saw we had things from Bulgaria came in and I even got to use the Bulgarian that I know with her.  Another of our staff speaks Chinese and has used it with customers as well.  We are praying about what kind of ministry will be developed at this location but we know it will be international.

International Operations:

We are still operating our livelihood groups in Bulgaria and they worked almost every month adding new products to support their families.  We are planning to make 2 trips annually there and other places as more livelihood groups are established.  Not sure when we can return in 2022 because of the ever-changing rules with Covid 19.

In addition, we still helped participate in the Virtual Christmas Gift Box program helping over 600 kids and their families this year.

2022 Plans:

As mentioned we plan to make at least one trip back to Bulgaria this year to work with the team we still have in place there.

We are working on setting up a traveling and speaking schedule to supporting churches and other groups who would like to know what we are doing and how they can be a part of it. If you are interested please let us know.

We hope to shore up Development Funds to expand the work we do in partnering with local churches as they work to connect and serve the poor in their neighborhoods.

We are looking at locations for “Pop-Up” stores for the Holiday season 2022 – but that means having it ready by July for September openings. Finding managers and staff and getting them in place to do this.

The more that we work in this area the more I see the needs all around and the more I see how the church can be a part of the solution but it will mean looking at ministry a little differently.

Summary

People often comment that we are out of the Box thinkers – to which I respond – what is a box?  I lost my box so many years ago I am not sure what a box is.  Scripture says that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever but also says He is new every morning.  For us, the truth of God’s love for people is the same but how we connect folks to that love is ever-changing.  We want to be ready to move and sever as God provides opportunities and presents needs.

Thanks for your interests, prayers, and support for the work we do.  Please continue to pray and give as you are able.

To give to our support Click Here

To help with Development funds Click Here

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2021

December 23, 2021 – Diane and I want to wish all our supporters and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed Holiday Season.  We are so thankful for the meaning of the season and the hope it brings our world.

We pray that you will have a Blessed New Year filled with Hope and Shalom!

This week thank God for His amazing blessings in each of our lives – if you look for them you will find them.

It’s a very busy time of the Year

December 15, 2021 – Merry Christmas was how we greeted the folks living in the Senior Center above the store in Jackson. We held our first (of what we hope will be monthly) gatherings, with the help of the folks at 1208 Greenwood Church, for the residents on December 7, 2021

My dream is that our stores will become launching pads for spiritual ministry to folks.  Those in attendance have stopped and thanked us many times since then and all have said they would like to do it again.  So, we are looking at an event in January with the plan of starting weekly Bible Studies so thereafter.

We are so excited about this and what God may want to do here. Pray for us as we look at what the best programs we can offer this wonderful people.

Pray to about our support and for the sales at the store – we will be giving a broader update on this in the coming weeks.

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday!

November 27, 2021 – This time of year we are bombarded with all kinds of programs wanting our attention and money.  As Diane and I think about how we could share and motivate you to assist us in your year-end giving we could not think of any catchy slogan or phrase this year.  The plain truth is that if we are to continue and expand we need extra support this year.

We hope that over the years you have seen and know of the work we do for Christ and His kingdom.  We want to keep doing this and so much more.

We need personal support: These are funds that pay our salary, insurance, and taxes.  We do not want to take funds from the items sold (we want that to cover the costs of the stores and send as much as we can back to the partners we work with).  We depend on support from Churches and individuals to cover our needs.  You see we do much more than run the stores we do outreaches, training, livelihood group creation, and a lot of dreaming.

We also need project support: this is the fund for the supplies and startup for new groups, this allows us to investigate and try new things to help and assist people. It is also what we use to add new partners to our group of folks we support.

Would to pray and ask if God would have you help us with either project as part of your year-end giving.

To give to our support Click here https://www.aplos.com/aws/give/MissionIgniter/Mellinger

Send checks to Mission Igniter PO Box 257 Spring Arbor Mi 49283

To give to our project support Click here https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/3138219

Send Checks to Marketplace Manna – 151 E Michigan Ave, Jackson, Mi 49201

Each of these is tracked differently so you cannot give both together

Christmas Outreach to the Seniors

November 21, 2021 – Our Jackson store location is under a low-income senior apartment complex.  We get to see many of them every day as they come out to the street for a smoke and/or to socialize.  As we have gotten to know them we have also started to care for them.

Recently 3 different gals have lost family members unexpectedly in the past week.  (I am almost afraid to ask them how they are doing now) One a sister, one a brother, and one a son-in-law.  Often, we find out when we ask how are they doing and they say “not too good” to which we reply what’s wrong?  When they tell us, I offer our condolences and then ask if we could pray for them.  They always say yes – so I stop right there on the street or in the shop and pray for them.

Since one of our objectives is to have a ministry to folks around our stores and in the communities, we are in. We have been praying and dreaming about what we might do with the Seniors who are all around us.  We have talked with one of our partner churches in Jackson to help us put on a Christmas event for any and all the folks in the center.  We plan to do it on December 8th in the evening and will have light refreshments, a Christmas craft, a sing-a-long time, and the reading of the Christmas story with a short devotional to follow.

We plan to also invite any who would like to do this again to come to an event in January and from there our prayer is we can start a weekly Bible Study with any interested.  Pray that this outreach has an impact and helps us build bridges to folks who need to know the love of God in a real way.

Continue to pray about our support and pray that we might have some extra year-end gifts to get our account with our new agency up to the balance we need to have it at.

And pray for the stores – we are still having some staffing issues and pray that sales a good this season so we can continue to help the folks we are partnering with.