Here’s what happened in 2018 in our ministry…
It’s been awhile since our last ministry update due to managing our personal businesses which, in reality, are wonderful marketplace ministry opportunities each and every day! So, pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee and let us catch you up!
Mark’s photography business, Simple I-Do’s, is an elopement and pop-up wedding business that has him hoppin. Asheville is one of the top wedding destinations in the US and he has been blessed with an amazing amount of weddings since May. The winter months are generally a slower season for weddings so he is launching a “holiday special” campaign for Christmas, New Year’s and Valentine’s Day weddings. You can visit his website at www.simple-I-dos.com.
My business, Melanie Robertson Pottery, is gaining some ground as I focus more time on my body of work and experience an increase in the amount of gallery sales. I am also teaching classes and overseeing one of The Village Potters educational programs called “Create Your Own Workshop,” and working a lot to build my inventory while studying to stay ahead of the incredible students that I teach, many of whom are already amazing potters! You can visit me at www.thevillagepotters.com. (I will soon have my own website up!) Also, we both have Facebook and Instagram pages that are named after our businesses if you would like to keep up with us that way.
Mark and I consider ourselves blessed, blessed, blessed as we continue to pursue businesses that are directly related to our artistic passions and fit nicely in our skill-set as leaders and entrepreneurs.
M3 Ministry is GROWING, GROWING, GROWING!
Element Church
Many thanks to each of you for your prayers and support as we continue to minister to Element Church in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Our trip in March was highly successful. We held a weekend mini-conference with nearly 40 in attendance; several who are not believers….yet! Mark and I taught our parenting curriculum with a focus on communication and how to partner better in the overall amazing and awesome task of raising children.
Orange is the New Czech!
Radek and Jana visited us in May for a week that allowed me and Jana to attend the Orange Conference in Atlanta, GA. As many of you may recall, I had been working hard on a translation project with Orange on behalf of Element Church and other Czech churches. While we were in Atlanta, we were able to meet with the Orange International Director, Mike Jeffries. We literally experienced a miracle! I spent nearly six months dickering back and forth with Orange over publishing costs, licensing fees, etc. As we discussed the needs of the churches in Czech, we came away with a deal that Mike gave guaranteeing unlimited file access to the book Orange Essentials which is the original family ministry “playbook” from Orange!
The file contains all images, graphics and content at no charge and they are only asking for a small percentage of royalties when the book is published! We do, however, need to raise the funds to pay the translators and the publishing company.
Mark and I are continuing our consulting and coaching time with both Radek and Jana on a regular basis with video calls and emails. We will be returning in March for their annual Family Fest and teaching a new series based on “phases of childhood.”
They are doing very well in their respective areas of leadership on the Element Church team and we look forward to our time with them in 2019!
THANK YOU FOR PARTNERING WITH US IN PRAYER!
Prayer is certainly a most important way for you to partner with us!
Please pray for Element Church in HK and their leadership team. Pray for the publishing of the Orange Essentials. Pray for new opportunities in Sweden, our local Asheville ministry and the finances to travel this Spring.
You can also visit our Facebook page, Mark and Melanie’s Ministry for ministry updates.
Thank you!
We are pleased to announce that M3 has been invited to Malmo, Sweden! A family that we met on our first visit to HK has asked us to take our parenting conference to their young church and help them develop a family worship service.
P2K and the Artist’s Way
Two other areas of ministry that Mark and I are leading during the week here in Asheville are our small groups. Mark is leading our P2K (Prophets, Priests, and Kings) group on Sunday evenings. It is a Bible study that focuses on “hearing the voice” of God through the Holy Spirit’s direction as we study selected passages of scripture. It is in the context of “circling” around an open table of fellowship and food that is proving to be a beautiful expression of the body of Christ; diverse in practice yet united in Spirit!
I am leading an artist’s group, The Artist’s Way, that is strictly made up of women. It has become a wonderful and safe place for these women to express themselves artistically and spiritually. This is a very inclusive group that represents several spiritual paths; not all Christian. It is my prayer that as we meet, the “light and love” of Jesus will prevail and woo those who haven’t recognized Him yet! “It’s not by might nor by power but by my Spirit says the Lord!”
How You Can Partner With Us…Save the Date
Mark and I have planned a gathering for you, our ministry partners, scheduled for Thursday, January 24. (Please look for more info to arrive in the coming weeks. PLEASE EMAIL US YOUR CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS.)
We will be providing a delicious meal in your honor followed by a more detailed ministry report. An art auction, along with other fund-raising options, will be available to help with the financial needs that we have for the upcoming year. While our businesses are certainly taking care of daily living expenses, we still need help with monies that make our international travels possible.
We will also look forward to spending time that evening in fellowship and prayer and hearing your stories and testimonies of all that God is doing in your lives!
Snapshot of M3 Ministry Financial Goals
Travel to Czech and Sweden – $10,000 (includes some already incurred expenses
* from previous trips)
Publishing Orange Essentials – $5,000
*Our goal, for the future, is to completely fund ourselves as our businesses grow. Until then, we are asking you to parter with us to meet our present financial goals.
Would you prayerfully consider giving $100 or more annually (once per year) to continue and fulfill our mission to magnify Jesus, mentor leaders, and mobilize families?
Visit mapglobal.org and go to our ministry page, M3 to partner with us.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!
We are deeply grateful for you, your prayers and your giving! Without your partnership, M3 would not be as successful. Your prayers, your wisdom, your encouragement, and your blessings help us to give away, more fully, what God has given to us.
Much of Europe, especially the “eastern block,” is in need of the Gospel. Christian ministries there need our help and support as they are reaching out to the unchurched and looking for fresh and relevant ways to love, honor and enlighten their neighbors. Please pray specifically for church leadership and believers who face many challenges. Most of them work in the market place full-time while they also serve in the church full-time. They are young couples with young children and middle-aged adults who remember a communist regime that put strict restraints on Christians and their churches. Because years under a godless, communist regime and trust issues with the Church, it is quite a challenge to share the Gospel. But, we know that we serve a mighty God and as we partner with Him, we will see the Kingdom of God established!!!
Love and Blessings for a wonderful 2019!!
Mark and Mel
