PITTSBURGH -- What looks like another bar and restaurant on Pittsburgh's South Side is actually a church.
Two denominations -- the Presbyterian Church USA and the United Methodist Church -- formed a new congregation years ago but never really had a permanent home. Now, they do.
The Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community opened Sunday to members who dedicated their new nontraditional church building -- which used to be a bar -- with a traditionally Christian mission, reaching out to everyone.
"We're trying to become a place where anybody and everybody is welcome. People feel like they belong here. We're trying to create a place of family, friendship, community. That's why we have meals here -- lunch is included in our worship service, and it's not afterwards, it's part of the worship," said Jim Walker, the church's pastor.
Members include everyone from young families, to recovering addicts and homeless people. Parent churches of both denominations contributed money to get the building rehabilitated and transformed into a permanent church.
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