May 21, 2020 - A couple of stories to encourage you.
The Difference one Church can make.
Hope Church in Lancaster in the UK is a supporting church. They were planning to come but the COVID 19 Pandemic caused that trip to be postponed. They heard about what we were doing with our churches and the hungry people they were helping and decided to “Walk to Bulgaria.” Not physically to Bulgaria but the same number of miles collectively. People are pledging to walk so many mile and will get sponsors per mile or a donation toward their project of helping us feed the hungry. They will not all be doing this together some will do it on treadmills or in their back yard, some will get out on a trail or bike path. They will do it by themselves but will be working collectively for the cause.
You can see how they are doing, follow along or commit to helping at https://www.hopelancaster.co.uk/walktobulgaria/?fbclid=IwAR2RcK_QjJ6Jb6XvrcJkI_y2euKe6tn8JYykLkXpKpuK5nMrVkU6F2Bpkms
The distance is 1686 miles if they are able to get (as they suggest) 5 pound a mile that would mean 8,430 pounds or $10,200.00+
The Difference a Person Can Make.
About 6 years ago Stanamir was one of the first Micro Loans we handed out. He wanted to buy a tiller for a farming project. He had a vision to plant produce to sell and to share with the hungry. He started in the mountains, then a partner church bought some property in the valley, and last fall we harvested our first crop of potatoes. This spring, greenhouses were added and we have tomatoes, peppers, Onion, potatoes, and a few more crops growing. We are about to get a second piece of property and expand even more.
The idea was to bring folks to the land, train them, and have them help. Then they would be paid in produce, some of the products sold and others given to the needed.
The dream of one person is now impacting many for the kingdom.
Here is a video made a few years back about this project:
STANIMIR from Free Methodist World Missions on Vimeo.
What Difference can you Make?
What has God placed on your heart?
What dream or idea do you have to solve a problem?
What are you willing to do to make that reality?
This week pray for ...
...the process of our churches resuming service in person as the restrictions are being lifted.
...plans as far as what to do with the store and livelihood groups.
...everything that is happening with our work in Michigan and when and how we can reopen there as well.
May 15, 2019 - During the lockdown we have had some time to try and design some new products some will go into production others won't. But here are some photos.
Hair Barretts
Paracord Headbands
Butterfly Hair Ties
Paracord Heart Bracelets
Vintage Wire Bun Ties
Bow Hair Ties
Wood Puzzle Blocks
Hand Puppets
Beaded Headband
Ear Bud Key Chain Holder
BEaded Braclets
Vintage Wire Headbands
Para Cord Bracelets & Key RingsDaisy Headband
This isn't all there is but it show something that has kept us busy.
This week the churches in BG can begin to meet together again with precautions. Pray that all goes well
Pray too for the opening up of our businesses soon in Bulgaria.
May 8, 2020 - The current lockdowns – shelter at home or state closures (whatever you want to call it) has been hard for many but it has also brought out the best in many. Families are doing more together and finding they can function without everything that the world said they needed – rushing to get to the next scheduled event has been replaced by spending time together.
We have seen folks help those who have lost so much due to layoffs or job loss, travel restrictions, and loneliness.
We have seen the church get creative with online options and greater community concern.
All that said we have learned to live and function (at least for a short time) in a different way and for many they are learning to not only embrace it but also like it.
The news says we will return to a new normal –yet that is still being determined. When things open, how far apart we stand, how we greet each other when we meet will change. I hope the drive to be on the treadmill of doing more because we need more will also change – I hope we will slow down and see what is really happening in the world as a whole.
I hope that we can continue to show that we care about people not just during a crisis but that we realize that they are loved by God and we need to do our part to show them God’s love all the time.
We have realized that we are all have needs – Physical, Emotional, Social, Economic and Spiritual. (there are probably more but you get my drift). People all over the world have these needs.
The church (that is Christian people) during this crisis, came together in creative ways to address these needs: Online service and studies to address the spiritual needs, food deliveries to address the physical and economic needs, programs online for the kids for the social, Phone calls and texts to people who were alone to see how they were doing (Emotional), Drive by birthday greetings, and so much more.
But those needs will not subside when the crisis is over and we return to our new way of living. Some of the needs might regress as people return to work and have an income and can feed their families. Once activities startup again we will be back involved with them.
For some though they won’t go back as the new normal will have changed as their job will not return. Or they will return to a job that doesn’t really provide for their needs but it is all they have.
For many of the folks we work with in the Balkans it is that way. They are seasonal workers or day laborers. The kind of work they do will not be returning quickly, crops were not planted, construction not started, factory orders not placed (so workers are not needed to make the product).
The church has a great opportunity to continue to rethink and rebrand how they function. In a crisis people give to help us help the poor – but the reality is they are always poor and unless we can change the reason behind their situation, it will go back to the way it was (out of sight out of mind) and most will be worse off than they were.
During this time and over the last 18 months before we have been sensing God stirring in our hearts that the time was coming for us to move and work toward creating programs, ministries, training, livelihood groups and whatever we could to change the environment not only for the folks we work with but also for the folks who have sent us.
We want to pull together folks who know how to get things done with folks who want to learn. We want to challenge folks to purchase and shop in a way that can leverage what money they have for the good. We want to be a catalyst in the world we live so that what should happen is sped up.
The tagline of our company, Marketplace Manna is “helping the poor, disenfranchised, persecuted, disabled and unemployed around the world care for their families.” To do that we have to have folks in need and we have to have folks who can meet those needs.
We can easily find the needy (this crisis has shown us that). What we lack are folks who are wanting and willing to live their own lives in different way that make a difference beyond a donation every so often (we take donations all the time). We realized we are called to live our lives ON PURPOSE. We are taking better control and because of that we are making an impact for people who do not have a way to make their own lives better.
The church during this time has demonstrated that it can rise up and work together to make a difference – let us continue to do that so that the hurting and needy around the world will not only hear of the love of God but experience His love first hand by His body – the church – Christians!
This week pray for us as we continue to process what this all means and how we will rise up when the current lockdown ends.
April 24, 2020 - Mother's Day is celebrated on international Woman's Day in March here in Bulgaria but soon it will be happening in the USA.
With the Government shutdown of local businesses, our store in Jackson has been temporarily closed but our online shop is still shipping orders. That is one way you can help us right now. We can not continue to produce or purchase products from the folks we work with if we do not have sales going out which means income coming in.
We also know most folks are struggling because they too have are not working. So in honor of MOM, we are having a special sale this weekend (until April 27th) and giving all our online orders 20% off their purchase when they use the code: MOM at checkout.
Here is a video that also shows some of the items we think mothers might like.
This week pray for the ongoing feeding opportunities we have in the Balkans
Pray for people to be able to get back to work as soon as it is safe
Pray for us as we work on figuring out what our new schedule for our stateside travels will be.
April 17, 2020 – It has been over a month since the governments of Bulgaria, Serbia and North Macedonia have put their countries on a stay at home lockdown. For our work that meant we could not do our normal training with the church planters and leaders, groups schedule to come were canceled livelihood production suspended with stores closed.
We continued to cover the stipends that we provide our church planters to attend the training as they are needing it now more than ever.
A couple of weeks ago, we received some donations that we were not expecting for church planting and general ministry. Through phone calls and Internet conversations, Team Balkans has kept in communication with our team of leaders in the region and found out that many of our leaders were using their support to help feed and get medicine for folks in their neighborhoods who needed it. But what little they had was gone and folks were still hungry. So, our governing board met and because God provided ahead of time with the extra gifts we have been able to assist 20+ churches in the 3 countries we serve, meet real needs, in real-time.
Our agriculture program has progressed and the team working on it has been able to travel just outside the city (with special work papers) to get seeds planted and the crops in the greenhouse managed. This will also help with feeding needs in the future. Additionally, during this time we are in negotiations to be given additional property to add to the agricultural program that would help us increase our work and production.
We (Team Balkans) are in awe of what God is doing through the team of national leaders He has raised up. As they are discipled they make disciples who respond to the needs that they see. We don’t have to tell them to – they come to us and ask for help but they are going to do what they can with what they have because they love Jesus.
This week thanks God for the leaders He has put in place and pray that the work they are doing among the poor and needy will go far and wide.
Pray too for the Missionary Team here – many groups and plan that were on the schedule were canceled and being on lockdown in our homes in another culture can be hard
Pray also for our supporters who have lost their jobs and have no funds to support and keep the mission going. Pray that God will provide in new and creative ways.
If you would like to give to our feeding programs you can donate directly here.
April 10, 2020 - Good Friday in the west. - (This weekend starts our Holy week in Bulgaria) - Diane and I want to wish all our those who get our weekly update a very Happy Easter. Even though around the world the Covid 19 has caused closings, shutdowns and stay at home orders our God is not locked up - He is everywhere and just as strong as ever. And even though this will be an Easter Celebration like none of us have ever had (I am pretty sure), we serve a God who rose from the dead and defeated sin for all of us.
This one year of not gathering will not be remembered when we are in his presence forever!
So Happy Easter from us to you!
This week pray for the churches around the world that can not meet physically - may God use their creative ideas to reach more people.
Pray for our plans as to when we can come stateside or get back to work here.
Pray for the folks we work with that are out of work due to everything being shut down.
Reflections of a 60-year-old!
The Calendar tells me I will soon be 60 years old – the news is saying the elderly (those 60 and older) are at risk. That is when it hit me “I am no spring chicken” – even though my brain still thinks it’s in our 20’s.
When I take a moment to look back at my life there is much to appreciate and celebrate – not what I have done but what God has allowed me to be a part of.
When I reflect of the jobs I have had and the skills each one taught me, God was always preparing me for something bigger down the road.
As a teen, I did a great deal of babysitting and then working in foodservice. My first job when I turned 16 was working at Great America (an amusement park) in foodservice. I started as a dishwasher and moved up to assistant manager of the back of the house. This taught me a lot about managing and motivating people.
Just out of High School (In fact, I got out early) to travel the US doing puppet seminars. During this time, I saw what God was doing in churches all over the country in all kinds of denominations. I honed my speaking and teaching skills (who wouldn’t when you were speaking 5-6 nights a week for 11 months). After getting off the road before college I worked for a Christian Bookstore Chain.
During college, I did different jobs during the summer – one summer helping with a church replant in Missouri – one summer I worked at Sky Lodge Christian Camp (Where I met my wife to be) and – one summer for A Christian Bookstore Chain (again). These were all ministry-related and all helped me to learn things I would use over and over again in ministry.
After college, I got married and we thought we were going to be church planters (this was in the early ’80s when it was not done much) but instead ended up becoming the Directors of Sky Lodge Christian Camp in Wisconsin. That was quite a job for a twentysomething. But I learned about the organization of teams, schedule, and planning so that that we had everything we need to give the campers a great experience and encounter God.
From Sky Lodge, we went to work for David C Cook to do telemarking of their Sunday School Curriculum. Here I learned more about the differences in the denominations and how to be articulate with words (as there was no video conferencing at the time). While here we also served as youth pastors at the Free Methodist church in town.
From David C Cook we began our time doing full-time ministry in churches. First in Ferndale, Michigan, then in McPherson, KS and finally in Temperance, MI. In all these churches, I was Associate Pastor for Youth. Growing the programs both the students in attendance and the team of volunteers. Creating Ministry teams by raising up student leaders. Many went on to go into some form of full-time ministry (at last count over 50).
Fundraising to help the students participate in a very active youth program became a big part of my job. We developed a mindset that fundraising need to not only raise funds but teach a skill or meet a need in the community. We were not going to just sell candy bars. This lead to some very creative ideas including running a Putt-Putt Golf course for several summers, concession at every home game for the Toledo Mud Hens, Citywide discount cards, many dinners, sales of subs, gift cards and so much more.
We also from time to time we're asked to cover the oversight of other areas of church life – Children, Christian Education for all ages, discipleship and many special events.
During this same time frame, I also served as a National Leader for Youth Ministry helping to oversee the youth work across the Denomination.
As Youth Pastor, I started taking the teen overseas to experience missions work. I lead teams to Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, Taiwan, Great Britain, Spain, Hungary, Greece, and Romania. Some summers spending 4-6 weeks on different trips with the teens. These experiences led us to believe that we would someday be doing missions full time.
After serving 25 years in ministry (23 in the local Church) we received the call (literally – February 14, 2006) to go to Bulgaria. Where we moved to having never been there and not knowing a soul.
Thirteen years later there is now a team here operating a holistic ministry of Church planting, discipleship, economic opportunities, humanitarian aid, anti-human trafficking ministries and so much more. That is a great deal to happen in a short time but when God is preparing you with experiences and skills it just sort of happens!
This is a brief reflection and there are many stories and life lessons that I could share (and maybe someday will).
As I reminisce in my mind I am grateful for where and how God has led us – we have had a rich life-impacting and being impacted by so many people. I know that that is not done my mind is still full of all kinds of new ideas (for an elderly person) of how to make a difference for people and the kingdom.
As I turn 60 later this month (even though we are on lockdown here until May 13th) we will rejoice!
This week – pray for the world and all that it is going through!
AND BY THE WAY WE ARE NOT COMING STATESIDE LATER THIS MONTH - IT IS ALL ON HOLD FOR NOW.
March 26. 2020 – we are now on day 13 of the Government shut down of most businesses here in Bulgaria. Over the past week, restrictions have increased to where you cannot even drive to another town without a permission slip from your employer (and it has to be work-related). Also, if you are out with 3+ people in a group you could be fined and only one member of the family can go into the store to shop and you have to sanitizes your hands when you enter many stores. We know that many around the world have similar restrictions so that is not new – we just wanted you to know.
So, since we have to be home to work (which is what I do most of the time) we have been trying to stay connected and up on what is happening around the world. We have been working on new ideas for production for our livelihood groups (they are suspended right now and not working) when they start up again. Also lots of writing and paperwork.
(Here are some of the 21 new knitted finger puppets we are thinking of making - let me know what you think)
Since Michigan has a stay at home order on them – our store there had to close and we had to lay off the team during this time – Please pray for them and the store when we reopen.
Our partnership time is up in the air – We do not think we will be able to fly back to the US on April 8th as planned and since a big part of our travel this time was to Annual Conference meeting and they have all been canceled we will have to refigure our partnership time once we figure out when we are going to be back. Pray about this too!
Even with all the changes and curveballs Diane and I are very much at peace about all that is going on. Thanks for your prayers and words of encouragement. Praise Him for His peace!