From District Roundup
B-ball Ministry

Big Stone Gap:
A $10,000 Witness Team grant helped the Nickelsville Circuit start an Upward basketball program, and the results have more than impressed the Rev. Joe Barber. In the first season, 90 basketball players and 30 cheerleaders are participating. At any one time on a Saturday, 200 people are gathered at the local elementary school, where the Christian-based games are held. Barber estimates that 65 to 70 percent are unchurched. "One long-time resident remarked that he didn't know of any other way we could have gathered so many that are not from our churches," Barber said. The neighboring Baptist church contributes support along with the Nickelsville Circuit, which includes Nickelsville, Culbertson's Chapel, and New Hope United Methodist churches. For more info on Upward basketball, visit www.upward.org.