AROUND MABELVALE
Dennis Gulledge

     The year 2000 is ebbing quickly away.  In a few days (Lord willing) we will enter a new calendar year.  As time marches on so does the Lord’s work in the church at Mabelvale, Arkansas.  Mabelvale is certainly one of the finest congregations anywhere.  You are a sound, faithful and loving group of people.  Here are a few things going on around Mabelvale that reflect our growth in some areas.

Numerical Growth
     As you know we have grown some in numbers this year.  Some have been baptized into Christ and others have placed their membership with us, having moved into the Little Rock area.  At our recent New Members Dinner we had twenty-two people represented among our new members this year.  That number did not reflect all of our new members.  Some could not be there for various reasons.  We are so happy for the new people who have joined us.  We see in them considerable talent for continued growth at Mabelvale.
Evangelism with the Printed Word
     The Gospel Gleaner continues to grow in circulation.  Mabelvale is solidly behind this paper, not only with money budgeted, but also in terms of talented people who put many man-hours into making it happen.  Thanks to all!  Also, we continue to saturate Mabelvale with House to House/Heart to Heart every two months.  These efforts will hopefully prove effective in getting the gospel out to people who need to learn and obey the soul saving truth.  In our sixth mailing this year we mailed 5,600 issues of HTH/HTH.
Keenagers
     Our annual Keenage Banquet this year was a marvelous success.  This one was perhaps the best one yet, and I don’t remember a bad one.  Our older members are a fun-loving group.  A special “thank you” to Ray & Donna Bryan and Jim & Charlene Mauldin for their planning of this program every year.  Also, “thank you” Dawn, Gene and Lou Sullivan and Judy Morris for the wonderful decorations and table settings.
Benevolence Program Expansion
     As you know the upstairs area has been remodeled, with stairs added, in order to facilitate a more effective food pantry for our benevolence program.  The program has recently been revised to involve volunteer workers on Fridays, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.  We appreciate all of those who volunteered their time to help in this effort.
Eleven Years
     This past November marked eleven years that I have been working with the Mabelvale church as the full-time evangelist.  You have helped my family and me grow through the years in both hard times and good.  You have helped me grow in my preaching.  You are special.  It has been a wonderful eleven years!