Through the Eyes of Children: David, West Virginia

David AGE 10, PRENTER, W. VA. For generations West Virginia mining families survived by digging coal out of the plentiful hills. But these days life down in the hollows holds little promise for boys l

EVERY SUNDAY MORNING DAVID Nelson's family attends church on nearby Williams Mountain, where his father Larry, a coal miner, was born 39 years ago. Inside the small Advent Christian church that his father and mother Joy, 36, helped build, David joins his brother Stephen, 7, and his sister Nancy, 13, in a Bible class. Later in the day, the family drives an hour and 15 minutes to another Advent Christian church at the top of a distant and twisting hollow. David's parents, who are licensed to preach, lead the service, which lasts nearly two hours.

Tears well up in Joy's eyes...

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