Photo by Shelley Hanson The Rev. Oleksandr “Alex” Ilash, from left, pastor of the Well of Living Water Church, Izmail, Ukraine, and with his wife, Nastiya Ilash, talk with Bishop Darrell Cummings, pastor of Bethlehem Apostolic Temple and his wife Latisha on Thursday. Ilash briefed media members about an upcoming special service that will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at the temple, 330 N. Main St.

WHEELING — The Rev. Oleksandr “Alex” Ilash’s church in the Ukraine each day feeds between 250 and 350 people who are refugees of the war with Russia.

The church also helps people get the medicine they need in addition to helping them find housing and jobs. But this assistance does not come cheap. Ilash, pastor of the Well of Living Water Church, Izmail, Ukraine, has been touring the Midwest telling people the church’s story.

On Thursday, Ilash and his wife, Nastiya Ilash, stopped at Bethlehem Apostolic Temple, 330 Main St., North Wheeling, to brief media members about an upcoming special service that will be held there at 6 p.m. Sunday. Ilash will talk about the impact of the war on his country, church and family.

“The main point is, what does the church do there these days? These are the days that the church became a city on the hill and a light to the world there,” he said. “Helping people, not only preaching the gospel which is very important, but helping with their daily needs.

“Those who have lost everything, those who have suffered in this war. Often people who have come into my city, I ask them ‘Where are you from?'” he continued. “And they say ‘Well, my city does not exist anymore … it turned to ashes.'”

Hundreds of thousands of people, he said, have lost everything.

“A good number of churches here have been supporting our ministry yearly now,” he said.

Ilash moved his family to Canada to escape the war. He has several family members there, including his wife and two children. Some family members are living across the United States, too. He has spent long stretches of time in Ukraine away from them to help people in his city.

“I’m the only one who stays in Ukraine now. I hope they are proud of me, but it was really hard on my wife and kids. In the last year, we only spent about three months together,” he said. “It is safer where I am compared to other parts of Ukraine, but it’s always a risk. You never know what’s going to happen the next night or the next day.

“I think I adjusted myself to it,” Ilash added. “Within a year of the war, most people adjusted to the war sirens and bombings. The most important is that we have a ministry there I have to manage and take care of.

“I’m really trusting God. I know he called me to be back there to protect and to provide, and so far he was faithful. He was faithful and I’m trying to be faithful to him.”

Ilash said his church provided supplies to about 50,000 people in one year. He said he is grateful for the opportunity to help. And if it wasn’t him helping, Ilash believes God would send someone else to do the job because God cares, he said.

Ilash said he has not had any immediate family members die in the war. However, one of the church members who joined the Army is in a coma from his injuries. Another church member’s cousin recently died in battle.

Ilash said he does not yet know how much money has been raised or donated to date since his tour started, but he believes “in the miracle.”

Ilash said his children, ages 9 and 10, are enjoying life in Canada, are improving their English language skills and have made new friends.

“I wish I could spend more time with them,” he said.

Ilash said he wanted to invite everyone to the special Sunday service who wants to learn more about Ukraine, his family and his ministry.

Suff. Bishop Darrell Cummings, pastor of Bethlehem Apostolic Temple, said as a new suffragan bishop, he was asked to travel to different places including Brazil and Africa. He said there is a possibility he may go to Ukraine. He noted his church, along with other Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, raised money to donate to Ilash’s effort.

Since Ilash was going to be in the region, Cummings told him he would be welcomed to visit the temple and the Ohio Valley.

“For him to come here and be with us in the Ohio Valley, we’re humbled and honored,” he said.

The service can also be viewed live on Facebook at Bethlehem Apostolic Temple’s page, on the www.GreaterLoveMinistriesWV.org website or on YouTube at @DWCummingsMinistries.