Powerhouse Church brings ‘a new beginning' to former St. Stanislaus in Posen

Chicago Tribune

25-07-2025

Before it officially opened, leaders and members of The Powerhouse ministry weren't sure what the reception for its new church in Posen might be. But they needn't have worried — people turned out in droves.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony drew elected officials, including Cook County commissioners and a state representative and senator, as well as hundreds of people from the church and community near the church at 14410 S. McKinley Ave.
Posen Mayor Frank Podbielniak was among the many people who helped cut the ribbon for the new church. 'It was very overwhelming,' he said. 'I've never been around a crowd of such magnitude like that for a special event. I was happy for them.'
Archbishop William Hudson III, who will lead the church with his wife, Pastor Andria Hudson, called the ribbon cutting ceremony 'amazing' but said one aspect was a little different.
'We had 10 scissors, and normally you just have one pair. The holy spirit led me to get 10 scissors, and we had pillars in the community, the mayor, my wife and I,' he said. 'I wanted to show it wasn't just me going in – it was a new beginning for the community, for youth, for the south suburbs.'
The first service the next day also drew a large crowd at the 1,000 seat church.
'I was truly amazed at how the people came out,' said Calumet City resident Felicia Hampton, a Powerhouse member for about 18 years who is assistant to Pastor Andria Hudson. 'We had our congregation there, but there were also other congregations that came out, even people from the neighborhood. I guess they were waiting for us to open.
'God made it work,' she said. 'I went outdoors, I stepped out for a moment, and people were sitting out in lawn chairs. That was something that was really special in my heart. That let us know we're really working for Christ and working for the people, which is what we're doing,' Hampton added. 'It's a really quiet community. I don't think that people were expecting anything like this, but I think it touched them. It moved them.'
The church is in the former St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Parish, a fixture in Posen for more than 100 years before it merged with St. Christopher Parish in Midlothian in 2022 to become St. Augustine Parish in Midlothian, part of the Archdiocese of Chicago's Renew My Church process.
The community's interest in what's happened at the site has been keen. 'The most wonderful thing is a group of (elementary age) children came by the day after the ribbon-cutting and said that used to be their church. They were so excited and wanted to see everything,' said Hudson, who then gave the kids a tour.
'I think the community is excited. People have come by asking for prayer, wondering when we were going to open,' he shared. 'We had a guy who said he was baptized at the church. He was so excited.'
Mayor Podbielniak is pleased the ministry bought the building and will join the other three churches in the village. 'It's nice to have a building that's no longer vacant,' he said.
The building's former owners also appreciated that the church building was back in use.
'The former St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Parish building is now under new ownership, and we hope the space will continue to serve the community in a new way,' the archdiocese shared in a written statement.
New owner The Powerhouse Chicago already has a campus on 103rd Street in the Morgan Park neighborhood, but leaders wanted to expand.
Although they initially were looking for a temporary site, they couldn't resist the Posen church. 'The property was such a great investment and so beautiful, so we just purchased it,' Hudson said.
'I never imagined pastoring a church in the south suburbs. I always thought I was an urban, inner city pastor, but God had other plans for me,' said Hudson, who began preaching at age 3 in his parents' basement and was ordained at 12.
Husdon also is presiding bishop for Pilgrim Assemblies International, which has 200-plus churches in the United States. 'This is a great opportunity for our church and ministry to be multicultural to minister to different groups of people,' he shared.
The Powerhouse spent $1.5 million in 2023 to buy the Posen property, which has three other buildings in addition to the sanctuary, and has spent nearly $500,000 on renovations thus far, with more to go. Among the alterations so far, the confessional booths and the baptistry were eliminated.
'We changed everything in the sanctuary from top to bottom,' Hudson said. 'That was a Catholic church and we are nondenominational.
'We made it modern, so we have LED walls, painting the ceiling black. It's basically a recording studio, with top of the line sound and recording equipment.'
One must was expanding the restrooms, which were very limited. 'I asked the priest, why no restrooms? And he said the services were 45 minutes,' Hudson said with a laugh. He explained that Powerhouse services are much longer.
The former rectory will be an administrative building and the school will be used for gatherings such as youth classes. The former convent is rented by Pro Labro, which runs a food pantry. 'Every Saturday cars are lined up and they're giving out food. We want to partner with them and do more and start serving. It's a staple in the Posen community,' Hudson said. 'We need that. We need outreach.'
Hampton hopes the church can 'reach the souls who haven't been reached so far,' she said, and she would like to continue her work with young people. Her husband, Michael, is a basketball coach, and they'd like to use the gym and school for programs to mentor young men and women in sports and other activities. 'That is something I'm looking forward to for real, for real. I love children.'
In addition to physical changes, services at The Powerhouse bring a new vibe to the space. 'It's electrifying, energetic, healing,' Hudson said of his style of worship.
'It's very engaging. It's great music. We have an awesome six-piece band — trumpet, guitars, keyboard. It's a concert basically. We have a praise team, a choir. It's very inspiring. People are clapping. When the mayor visited, he said he never clapped so much in his life – his arms were hurting!'
He said the new band and singers 'are so excited. They are on fire! It's a chance for them to exercise their gifts and learn character and community.'
Hudson is just as excited to share his church's message, 'Empowering you to become 10 times better. That's right out of the Bible: Daniel 1:20,' he said.
'We do a lot of panel discussions, which are very empowering, where I let the people discuss and talk about issues in service. During those moments I get to see what is at the hearts of people – what they are dealing with – and we bring in therapists and other pastors and voices and minister to the people,' he explained. 'We also empower people for entrepreneurship. We have a lot of people in our church who started on welfare but now they have a job. … So we're not just spiritual.'
It boils down to encouraging people to find their purpose in life. 'I think that is one of the most important things,' he said, 'and commit to it. Being in this church is a dream come true for me.'