When Barry Henck landed in Pittsburgh four years ago this winter, he attended a small Bible study at Roots of Faith in Sharpsburg and unknowingly found his calling.

“It was freezing cold and I’m standing in a packed room listening to Bible study and loving it,” said Henck, a native of upstate New York who earned his master’s degree in English literature and spent 12 years working in marketing.

Henck took over this summer as pastor at the Main Street church, saying now that pastoral ministry is his perfect fit.

“It’s a calling that I dragged my feet on,” Henck said. “But I have a spring in my step now that I said yes.”

Roots of Faith is an offshoot of Faith United Methodist Church in Fox Chapel.

The Rev. Scott Shaffer, Faith pastor, said Henck jumped into the Roots community with both feet.

“That first spring, he assisted with Ashes to Go and started leading Bible studies,” Shaffer said. “Barry learned to play the guitar specifically because they needed a worship leader. I can’t think of anyone better to serve as the pastor at Roots of Faith.”

A self-described people-person, Henck lives in South Hills and enjoys running and playing music.

Though he spent a dozen years in the corporate world, he simultaneously volunteered at Hosanna Church, a Korean-American congregation in Highland, N.Y.

“I love being able to work with human beings,” he said. “I love the multi-cultural aspect of the body of Jesus Christ.”

In 2019, Henck completed Clergy Licensing School through the East Ohio Conference.

Leading the church at 800 Main Street still is new for Henck, who said his priority is to stay happy.

He said he hopes to “continue the positive things” that Roots has established in Sharpsburg, such as the Neighborhood Table dinner program and the grab-and-go meals for students.

Roots will continue to offer online worship on Sundays as it has during the coronavirus pandemic. Shaffer said he hopes Henck will be able to resume in-person services on Aug. 23, pending state health guidelines.

“Something we all understand that is so important is our work in the community,” Henck said. “We want to listen to what God’s saying and offer reconciliation for those who are hurting. Maybe a person’s been away from the church. We want to bring their heart back to God.”

And while the foundation is in Sharpsburg, the Roots of Faith congregation comprises people from across the region, including Etna, Aspinwall, Millvale and Shaler.

“We want to provide spiritual food in love and compassion. We want to help people with the basic needs and serve people who have been broken by the world,” he said.

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