South Bend Cubs help neighboring church

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SOUTH BEND, Indiana -- While construction is underway on the new luxury apartments near the ballpark, the South Bend Cubs aren’t forgetting about a neighboring church that’s been a staple in the community for decades.

Outside of the baseball diamond at Four Winds Field, right behind the scoreboard there’s a diamond in the rough.

Pastor Chris Derrickson has led the congregation at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church for nine years, following in his father’s footsteps.

South Bend’s first AME church once occupied the space.

“We try to keep positive hope alive and try to serve our community and our neighborhood. Outside of preaching the word we try to help those who are in need,” says Pastor Derrickson.

Pastor Derrickson and the congregation once offered monthly breakfast to the community for free until a break-in set them back.

Recently they found themselves in need, facing thousands of dollars in repairs to things like the broken sidewalk and leaky roof.

“God just works in ways where he brings people together and he brings help from places you didn’t expect the help to come from and that’s where the Cubs stepped in,” says Pastor Derrickson.

While construction is underway for The Ivy at Berlin Place, the new high end apartments overlooking the ballpark that’ll open next summer, the Cubs have offered the church around thirty thousand dollars for their repairs.

“It’s a blessing. The Cubs coming in saying we’d like to help you in that endeavor, we all become a fabric of this neighborhood that sends a strong message to me that our work has not been in vain,” says Pastor Derrickson.

Joe Hart from the Cubs says it’s important to them to see the church thrive.

In May, they teamed up together to host that free breakfast for the community.

They have another free breakfast planned on August 12th at 9 a.m. at Four Winds Field.

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