Bethlehem Apostolic Temple Celebrating 94th Anniversary

WHEELING — Bethlehem Apostolic Temple kicked off its weeklong celebration of the church’s 94th anniversary during its Sunday service.

The church’s pastor, Bishop Darrell Cummings, is also celebrating 46 years of pastoral work.

Sunday’s service featured two special speakers: Bishop Robert Buckner, pastor of Living Word Apostolic Church in St. Louis, Missouri, in the morning, and Suff. Bishop Levi Downs, pastor of Bethlehem Temple, Duquesne, Pennsylvania, in the evening.

Buckner said his sermon message was about “finding greatness in small assignments.”

“There are so many instances in the Bible and out of people who found greatness in small assignments,” Buckner said. “So, there is a wonderful opportunity when we get an assignment from God, to do anything God calls us to do, and if we do it well and we’ll find that greatness -- if you’re seeking that. Primarily, people of our ilk, when we have ministries this size, we just want to do God’s will.”

Buckner said he wanted to help celebrate the church’s anniversary because of Cummings. 

“He is an outstanding individual, not only locally but around this country,” Buckner said. “He has a great reputation and he’s just a wonderful person. We have so much in common. And I’ve never been (to Bethlehem Temple) so I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to preach for our Bishop Cummings and see your wonderful city.”

Cummings, who is 66 years old, said the church is also recognizing him being a pastor for 46 years. He’s been the temple’s pastor for 36 years. He was a pastor for 10 years in Ashtabula, Ohio, and simultaneously he’s been the pastor of the Shiloh Apostolic Faith Assembly in Weirton for 21 years.  

“God has been good to be me, and I’ve been honored to be in Wheeling,” he said.

Cummings said Bethlehem Temple was founded in 1932. He is the church’s 12th pastor and its longest-serving pastor.

The church’s celebration will continue with a service 7:30 p.m. Wednesday with special speaker District Elder Myron Jones II, pastor of Apostolic Christian Temple, Washington, Pennsylvania. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Elder Tyron C. Spencer, pastor of Shiloh Temple, Bridgeport, will speak. And at 7:30 p.m. Friday, District Elder Phyllis Agnew, pastor of Temple of Christ, Fairmont, West Virginia, will be the special speaker.

On Saturday at 10 a.m., the church will dedicate its new daycare and welcome center at the North Wheeling Dream Center, 407 Main St., Wheeling, across the street from the church.

Cummings said though there is still more work to do in other parts of the building, he did not want to delay thanking God for what has been accomplished to date.

“I wanted to wait until the whole building was through to have the dedication, but God laid it on my heart to thank him for what is already done and how far we’ve already come,” he said. “It’s a million-dollar project … and we’ve already invested half-million dollars in it. So, let’s thank him for that.”

Work has included a new roof, electric, ceiling and alarm system.

On Sunday, Sept. 27, the final day of the celebration, there will be two more special speakers at the church: 10:30 a.m., Suff. Bishop Jeremiah Thomas, pastor of Rapha Ministries, Pittsburgh, and at 6 p.m., Apostle Karen Garland, pastor of Zion Apostolic Assembly, Pitcairn, Pennsylvania.