By DEREK REDD

WHEELING — For Latisha Cummings, her role as a pastor’s wife is not a traditional one.

Often, she said, the first lady of a church is found sitting in the front pew, dressed impeccably, a hat atop her head. Cummings — the wife of Suff. Bishop Darrell Cummings of Bethlehem Apostolic Temple in Wheeling and Shiloh Apostolic Faith Assembly in Weirton — said she’s never been one to wear a hat.

That’s funny, considering the number of hats she wears in helping her husband with the two churches.

Cummings has her hand in numerous aspects of church operations, from accounting to running the sound board to making sure the churches’ live streams are operational. It’s a busy life, but one she appreciates, as it allows her to take an active role in the churches’ mission of spreading the Gospel through the Ohio Valley.

Cummings, a Weirton native, originally joined the church staff to help Suff. Bishop Cummings with the churches’ accounting. One thing led to another, she said, and the two were married in 2017. The longer she was part of the staff, the more responsibilities that came her way.

The church, she said, operates much like a small business. One may have a title, like hers as church administrator, but there are so many roles that go beyond the title.

“I don’t think people really look at it that way,” she said. “I don’t even think your parishioners look at it that way. Really, the church is a business.

“If we don’t watch what we’re doing, the lights don’t stay on, just like home,” she added. “It’s just like you taking care of your house. It’s just a bigger house with everybody coming in at different times and then going home.”

Cummings felt God had prepared her for this multitasking mission. Her first job out of college was with U.S. Airways in human resources and pilot recruiting. Her supervisor there kept a close eye on every aspect of the office, but let those who worked for her get the experience of working in every corner of the office.

That experience came in handy, Cummings said, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus kept parishioners at home, but the church continued to offer its message. The Cummingses had been livestreaming their services before the pandemic, so broadcasting during the pandemic was not so drastic of a pivot.

It was Latisha Cummings’ job to coordinate that livestream, and she realized while working on it how important that component of her job was.

“The only way they’re going to hear (the message) is if we get this broadcast out,” she said. “So even though I’m tired of being back there, it started hitting me. I started thinking and God reminded me that, first of all, I’m always doing it for him, not doing it for anybody else and not doing it to put myself on a pedestal either. You’re meant to be a witness for Him and show God’s love.”

Bethlehem Apostolic Church and Shiloh Apostolic Faith Assembly show God’s love in visible ways. Every year, the Cummingses oversee food giveaways at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas and put together a big back-to-school celebration and giveaway. Latisha Cummings has become a point person in those events, and she loves being able to help her neighbors in need in that way.

“It’s fulfilling to know that we can help fill a gap for individuals that are doing everything that they can do, but it’s just still not enough,” she said. “And then watching the kids, the excitement on their faces and the joy they have of getting a new pair of shoes and a new coat or toys for Christmas … you just feel so blessed to know that you’re a vessel being used by God and that you’re just showing His love.”