By Adam Cook

It ’ s true you don ’ t know what you have until it ’ s gone .

The founder of The Gospel Shop , David Stutzman , turned 100 years old on Sept . 24 last year .

“ He had macular degeneration , so he could not see well at all ,” said Rhoda Mullet , who owns The Gospel Shop with her husband , Freeman Mullet . “ My sister and I would go to his house every evening and read to him . He was a retired minister and had lots of books . He liked to tell people he had new eyes on order , but he didn ’ t know when they were coming .”

That Christmas , Stutzman passed away ,

having suffered a stroke two days before .

“ He got his new eyes for Christmas in heaven ,” Mullet said .

Freeman and Rhoda Mullet

After an absence on the calendar last year due to

the coronavirus pandemic , The Gospel Shop ’ s 24th garage sale is returning Thursday through Saturday , Oct . 21-23 .

“ About 25 years ago , we were doing inventory , counting everything in the store and storage , and I think it was my dad who suggested a way to free up some space ,” Mullet said . “ That first year we got busy , and we divided the garage in half , made it presentable , set up a little store , and marked everything 50-90 % off and held a three-day garage sale . People loved it .”

With an ever-expanding inventory , they decided to do it again the following year , starting a tradition that soon took over the

other half of the garage .

Since its opening in 1967 , The Gospel Shop has been more than a bookstore .

“ We have something for everyone , and if we don ’ t have it , we ’ ll put it on order ,” Mullet said . “ We have a lot of nice children ’ s books , plush Ty animals , CDs , DVDs and Kerusso T-shirts . We sell a lot of boxed cards — the card shop , as we like to call it , is a room in itself — and this time of year we have the Christmas room .”

During the garage sale and year round , The Gospel Shop holds inspired gifts ready to be seen through new eyes .

“ My dad felt there

needed to be a place with a nice Christian atmosphere downtown ,” Mullet said . “ When my dad opened The Gospel Shop , someone told him he lit up the whole town .”

Find inspiration Monday through Thursday

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Randy McKee The Gospel Shop ’ s 24th garage sale is returning Thursday through Saturday , Oct . 21-23 .

and Saturday from 8:30 a . m . to 5 p . m . and Friday from 8:30 a . m . to 7 p . m . at The Gospel Shop , 112 E . Main St ., Sugarcreek . The phone number is 330-852- 4223 , and you can visit GospelShopSugarcreek . com .