Bethlehem Temple Charity Basketball Event Set for Sunday at Highlands Sports Complex

photo by: Derek Redd

Bishop Darrell Cummings of the Bethlehem Apostolic Temple, center, poses with several of the leaders and celebrities who will participate in Sunday’s charity basketball event. Pictured are, from left, Youth Services System CEO Tammy Kruse, Ohio County Sheriff Chief Deputy Nelson Croft, Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, Cummings, Dr. William Mercer, Ohio County Schools Student Services Director Raquel McLeod and Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder.

Bishop Darrell Cummings is reviving the classic format of the Bethlehem Apostolic Temple’s charity basketball event, and the mission of the event remains the same – raising money for the church’s annual Thanksgiving food basket giveaway.

The event, which will feature a game between the Ohio Valley Lions and the Ohio Valley All-Stars, both teams including local leaders and celebrities, will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Highlands Sports Complex. Cummings said the fundraiser used this format but, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it needed changed due to social distancing.

The format became a shootout, with celebrities gathering sponsors to raise money. The shootout will remain part of the event, but the actual game is back.

“It was just time to bring it back,” Cummings said. “And a number of the participants wanted to have a regular game. So we’re going to have our cake and eat it, too.”

Among the local leaders and celebrities participating in Sunday’s game is Dr. William Mercer, founder of Project HOPE, a group that ensures equal access to medical care for unsheltered men, women, and children. Mercer loves the sport. He plays in a league at the YMCA and still gets a rush camping down in the low post.

More importantly, he said, he loves what Cummings does for the Ohio Valley with his holiday giveaways, which help people in the region who are struggling.

“I’ve known him for many years,” Mercer said. “We have some of the same goals and philosophies. We deal with people who need some extra, so any event that he’s involved in, I like to help.”

The Thanksgiving food basket giveaway, the charity event’s recipient, returns for another year on Nov. 23 at 11 a.m. at the North Wheeling Dream Community Dream Center. On that day, those in need can come by the center to pick up not just a Thanksgiving turkey, but several side dishes and trimmings to put together a memorable holiday meal.

“They say that Thanksgiving is one of those holidays where the family eats together,” Cummings said. “And the family that eats together stays together. ”

Tickets to Sunday’s event are on sale now. For more information, call 304-233-8899. Cummings also mentioned another event for the church, its “Honor Our Heroes” Sunday, which will be held Nov. 10 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethlehem Apostolic Temple.