Al & Diane Mellinger's Missionary Adventure

Your Kingdom Come

July 16, 2020 - This is the theme for our Partnership time. Here is a video we will be using as we share at many different churches. It gives you a snapshot of all that is going on to bring God's Kingdom to people in need!

If we are not going to be at your church and you would like to see us - arrange for us to have a meal with the Mellingers and we will see what we can do.

This week pray for...

Travel plans - I called this week and our flight was canceled but they rebooked it but didn't tell us (I will be checking weekly until we go).

The agricultural program - produce is coming it - pray we get it to those who need it most.

Our stores and livelihood groups during this time.

Posted on July 17, 2020 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Partnership RE-Schedule 2020

July 9, 2020 - Here is our redone schedule for our time stateside beginning in about 3 weeks. We know with COVID 19 it could still all change but we are moving forward and will adjust if need be - after all being Flexible is one of the jobs of a missionary. :)

August 5, 2020 – fly to Detroit

August 9, 2020 – Pulaski, MI

August 16, 2020 – Bangor, Mi

August 23, 2020 – Leslie, MI

August 30, 2020 - Wellsburg, WV

September 6, 2020 – West Unity, Ohio 5

September 10, 2020 – Pastors Luncheon - (RSVP) Jackson, MI

September 13, 2020 – Beloit, WI

September 20, 2020 - St Charles, IL

September 27, 2020 – McConnell, IL

September 29, 2020 - Ottumwa & Fairfield, IA

October 4, 2020 – Oswego, IL

October 11, 2020 - Janesville, WI

October 17^th - Pre-Christmas Brunch, Fashion Show & Bazaar in Michigan - Jackson, MI

October 18, 2020 – Milan MI

October 25, 2020 – Albion, NY

November 1, 2020 – Chillicothe, MO

November 4, 2020 – Urbandale, IA

November 8, 2020 – McPherson, KS

November 15, 2020 - Platteville, WI

November 22, 2020 – Kokomo, IN

November 29, 2020 – Chelsea MI

December 6, 2020 - PM at 1208 Greenwood

December 13, 2020 - OPEN

December 20, 2020 - Open

December 27, 2020 - Open

January 3, 2020 – Watervliet, Mi

January 6, 2020 – Fly to SOF

If we are in your area we would love to do a Meal with the Mellingers or a midweek activity with your group. Just let us know and we will see what we can work out.

Our them this year is "Your Kingdom Come" we will be looking at what Jesus meant by that and how the church is bringing His Kingdom to needy people where ever they are.

Pray for...

... final plans for travels

... Our schedule - to fill in open dates to connect with as many folks as we can

... The churches here as they are still trying to figure out what the new normal will be post COVID 19

Posted on July 09, 2020 | Permalink | Comments (0)

A 37 Year Adventure!

July 2, 2020 - Thirty-seven years ago Diane and I were married out in the woods at Sky Lodge Christian Camp. We were summer staff that turned into being the director of the camp for 2 years. We were excited about ministry and serving God in whatever way He chose. It has been an amazing adventure with many twists and turns, but each one was used by God to prepare us for something He wanted us to do next (or later down the road).

And today I am just as excited about the future as I was 37 years ago when we were starting out. Maybe more so because now we have 37 years of history to look back on. To remember all the times, He was leading us to do new things in new places with new people and not knowing how and if what we were jumping into would work, but it always did. So, with that history and the winds of change blowing for our ministry and the work here. We look forward with confidence, having a history of faithfulness to stand on.

The Churches are continuing to grow, our holistic ministries are moving forward lives are being saved and disciples made. It is time to look to the future and see what God wants to do next in and through us to advance the kingdom.

We celebrate 37 years of marriage and ministry this year and anticipate many more fruitful years ministry and impacting the people we serve.

This week pray…

… travel plans to the states – the pandemic restrictions are very fluid and change sometimes daily over here. Pray, we are able to get where we need to go to do what God wants us to do!

… the churches – some have reopened and then closed again some have not opened and some are open. Pray that they will be creative in ministering however they can to their neighborhoods.

… our stores both here and in Michigan – Sales are down and we need the income to keep the folks we hire and partner with employed. They have families that count on them and the workers count on us.

Posted on July 02, 2020 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Six Months from today...

June 25, 2020 - … is Christmas Day! Now some of you are groaning because it is so early and some of you can’t wait for it to arrive. The reason I mention it is we are trying to get folks prepared and ready to help with our VIRTUAL CHRISTMAS GIFT BOX (VCGB) Program.

We have been doing this for more than a decade now and it is growing but this year we are expecting the need to be even greater due to the COVID 19 Pandemic and so many folks we serve have not had their normal summer employment opportunities this year. And we are going to need more participation for more of our partners to make it happen this year.

So below are 2 videos that contain a great deal of the details about VCGB Program:

This is how to organize your group to help us with the VCGB Program.

This is how the program works to show to people in your group.

We are not necessarily asking for donations now (but if you want to go to https://marketplacemanna.networkforgood.com/projects/103527-virtual-christmas-gift-box-fund) but rather asking our supporters to work with their church, small group, or class to help us later this summer and fall. We want to give you lots of time to prepare and get ready for this program.

Thanks for your support – praying you to have a blessed summer.

This week pray for…

… people and groups to choose to help with the VCGB Program

… our churches as the Government here has increase restrictions(again) which will prevent some groups from meeting

… our partnership building plans in the US starting in August

Posted on June 25, 2020 | Permalink | Comments (0)

What’s your view?

June 18, 2020 -(written by Diane) These are confusing times and it’s easy to get discouraged. Our community in Bulgaria is also confused about world events. Students are finishing school, and people are working temporary jobs from project to project. For many, these are uncertain times. We all can be overwhelmed by what is happening in these days.

We have different views outside our home windows, we are beginning to see activity in our neighborhood. People are starting to fix their roofs.

One view is of an old wall. When I think about the devastation worldwide with the pandemic, I get overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next.

Another view is a lookout over our town to other towns in the Petrich region. When I switch my view from the old wall to look and pray over the town, I begin to see the world from a different perspective. Throughout history, times have been good and bad, yet God is working through those who are part of His Kingdom.

When I look up and out I quit feeling overwhelmed and can once again put my hand in His and follow His lead knowing He’s in control and has me, my community and the world’s future in mind.

This week pray for –

Local leaders making decisions as to how to live after the stay at home orders
our own perspectives that we continue to look at the world through God’s eyes
Continued plans for our time in the states this fall

Posted on June 18, 2020 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Looking For

June 12, 2020 – Things are starting to come together for our Partnership Building stateside this fall – Our flights are booked and we are planning to arrive back on August 5, 2020, and be connecting with our churches and other supporters until the start of 2021.

Our Sunday schedule is coming along nicely but we do have time between Sundays that we would like to fill up with conversations, stories and dreams about what God has is and will do with you and people you know.

So, we are looking to invite ourselves to your place – You provide the meal, and invited friends and we will provide the conversation, excitement and few other surprizes. Services are great for getting the big idea across but when we can sit and share over a couple of hours so much more can be learned and understood.

If you would like to take advantage of us while in your area in between churches, contact us and we will figure out a date when we can come to your place.

This week

Pray as we are working on more details for the girls home.
Pray for the economic realities as we come out of the shelter at home and try and get things going again. Pray about changes we feel we need to make as we move forward.
Pray for our partnership building plans

Posted on June 12, 2020 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pray about Everything!

June 3, 2020 – Paul tells us to pray about everything in Thessalonians. When we ask folks to pray we often bring the big things – sicknesses, abuse, marriage concerns, job loss, and things like that.

And yet I find myself praying all the time about all kinds of things – Lord, where did I put____, help me find my keys, bless and be with that family I see in the park. These are not the kinds of things I would bring to the larger praying community but I pray about them every day.

Even though there are many things to pray about – with the riots, COVID 19 issues, and such I want to ask you to pray for Marketplace Manna – Our store sales during the past 3 months have been difficult – the store was closed (which always impact sales). Our online sales were also not good. Churches were not open and so displays and sales did not happen. We have gotten some Government aid but without sales, our future does not look good. The store in Michigan has been open about a week and traffic and interest has not been high (People are afraid to come out for a number of reasons)

(Recycled Chew Toy - made by the homeless in Jackson, MI)

Some will say just close and move on to something else which would be fine for us – but Marketplace Manna, Inc. is more than Diane and I – what we do impacts 100’s of people in 40 countries. These folks depend on ministries like ours to sell the merchandise they make. They are making the products to earn a living to support their families, their churches, and their communities and without the sales, they have no income to do this.

So this week I am asking you to pray that sales would increase (in-store and online) and people would remember that we are here and what we do makes a big difference in people’s lives. It is not just about selling something it is about impacting a family. Our tagline is “Helping People Around the World Care for their Families.” If we are not open many families would not be helped.

So, please pray for sales, pray that we would know what we need to do to maximize our presence and prayer for the Livelihood groups that make what we sell.

To shop online go to Marketplacemanna.com

To give to our development fund click Here

Posted on June 03, 2020 | Permalink | Comments (0)

End of May Update

May 28, 2020 - Another month has come and gone and we are still dealing with new realities. Here is a video that explains a great deal of it. Enjoy?

By the way an update on the church that was going to walk to Bulgaria - when I spoke with the organizer yesterday they were within 69 miles of their goal. Well done Hope Church Well done!

This week pray for any number of needs shared in the video above.

Posted on May 28, 2020 | Permalink | Comments (0)

What Difference Does It Make?

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.

Posted on May 21, 2020 | Permalink | Comments (0)

New ideas being Designed!

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.