Ministry finds new home in abandoned church

A lightning strike caused a fire at Mark Pudlowski’s former White Oak location.

Several months after lightning struck a White Oak ministry, the veteran who started it is back to serving and helping others after reopening in a vacant church.

Mark Pudlowski, who served nearly 20 years in the U.S. Navy, has owned and operated The Family of God Biblical Reasoning Prayer Center, also known as F.O.G. Ministries.

The ministry was located at 1133 Lincoln Way in White Oak, but it had to close its doors after a June 26 fire caused by a lightning strike.

“They opened up the roof, and the fire marshal said there is no electricity up there,” Pudlowski said. “No cabinetry, no TVs, nothing, and the wood was seared. Once the insurance was settled, they said it was lightning, and they couldn’t do anything. They still aren’t doing a lot down there.”

Most of Pudlowski’s belongings in the office were destroyed, but he salvaged some of them, including a picture of the location where his son died serving in the military. Pudlowski said that picture reminds him of how important life is.

Serving in the Navy from 1976 to 1994 on various small boats — called “tin cans” or destroyers — with 200 to 300 people, Pudlowski was stationed at several places, including Norfolk, Va., Philadelphia and Texas. He also spent time as a commercial fisherman in Alaska.

After Pudlowski left the Navy, he worked as a counselor at Allegheny County Jail, and then started his own ministry. People come to him for counseling, veterans’ services and more.

Pudlowski said he feeds 15 to 20 families all year and provides special meals for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holidays. There are two men’s groups, a women’s group and other social groups that Pudlowski leads.

“We serve quite a good bit of people. We give families three to four days worth of food,” he said. “Whole hams, cereal, milk, napkins, soap, pies, cake mixes. We load them up. Then, Marines come and deliver the meals.”

A few weeks after the fire, Pudlowski was able to find a location at 959 Tourman St. in Coulter, which is near White Oak and Elizabeth Township.

The location is an abandoned church built in 1927, which has a cemetery that has been abandoned since the 1990s. Pudlowski said he was told that Art Rooney, former owner of the Steelers, was baptized in the church.

Pudlowski renovated the location, using the main church hall as an office, a group meeting area and more. A wedding was held there in September.

“I am trying to fix her up,” Pudlowski said. “A lot of this stuff came from my other place, and this place is much bigger. When I came down here, I didn’t want to get too excited. I needed a place, no doubt. I’ve got used furniture, I’ve got wet books, but I’ve got everything I need. Sometimes it’s a struggle, but we will figure it out.”

Pudlowski said people who have come to the church location have enjoyed the new space. He said his doors are open for anyone who needs help.

“Everything that my heart has been looking for is here,” he said. “The space, the room and the opportunity. I didn’t have a whole lot growing up, ever. But what I had, we didn’t take for granted. And sometimes, taking a helping hand from a veteran, we are a brotherhood. Veterans don’t ever ask for help.”

Veterans who need help can contact Pudlowski at fogpgh@ yahoo.com or 412-979– 1286.