Beltzhoover native Angelique Bradford appointed new associate pastor at Sharpsburg’s Roots of Faith
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The new associate pastor at Roots of Faith in Sharpsburg lives by the motto, “Say yes to God and great things will happen.”
“I am not fully aware of the possibilities that God has in store for me,” said the Rev. Angelique Bradford, a Beltzhoover native who celebrated her installation July 11 at the Main Street ministry.
“Your eyes can’t see all the things in store but when you say yes to God, it’s like ‘Wow,’ things happen.”
Bradford takes the place of Associate Pastor Barry Henck, who served from July 2020 to June 2021 before being reassigned to a new parish near Greensburg.
She comes to Sharpsburg after serving two congregations in Ellwood City.
A graduate of Carrick High School in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, Bradford earned a Bachelor of Science in human services from Geneva College and then a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
Roots of Faith is a ministry of Faith United Methodist Church in Fox Chapel.
Lead pastor, the Rev. Scott Shaffer, said Bradford has “just the right gifts and experience” to carry that work even further and make a positive impact on the community.
Her warmth, energy and positivity will be a gift in building relationships with people of all ages and backgrounds, Shaffer said.
Since its founding several years ago, Roots has reached into the community to support residents with a free dinner several times a month, a legal clinic, afterschool children’s programs, Bible study, food distributions, covid-19 vaccinations and help with other issues.
“I am looking forward to seeing how her leadership will take our church to the next level as we work to bring diverse people into relationship with God and one another,” Shaffer said.
Bradford was welcomed by the Faith United and Roots congregation during an outdoor celebration July 11. Contemporary outdoor services were followed by a lunch and activities where people were invited to meet Bradford.
“We had an awesome time,” Bradford said. “A lot of people in the community came out, and it was great.
Her immediate goals for Roots are to welcome everyone safely back into worship after a year of online services during the pandemic.
“We want to relaunch the vision that is already in place and build relationships,” she said.
People gravitate to what’s familiar, Bradford said, and she wants to get back to what the church was doing pre-covid.
“Roots is very active in the community with so many in-person gatherings. We want to bring it back strong,” she said.
There are people who are fearful about gathering in large crowds, so Roots is altering its offerings slightly to accommodate everyone. The Neighborhood Table, an all-are-welcome free dinner served from their social hall, is now being served in grab-and-go bags.
“People are longing for fellowship, so we have to be creative to share our ministry,” Bradford said.
At the same time, Bradford said, she will work to move people out of their comfort zone to tackle change.
“Everything will change except God,” she said. “We will remain faithful to his promise and we have to use that build ministry and bridge divides.”
Bradford recalled a time at seminary when she visited a coffee shop called Busboys and Poets. People used the spoken word to affect change and it left an impact on the aspiring pastor.
“We have to think about creative ways to worship, whether its poetry or an art show,” she said. “This is an artsy community and we have to let people use their gifts to connect to each other.”
In her first few meetings with people in Sharpsburg, Bradford quickly realized that “people in the margins are still feeling left out even after we all came through the pandemic.”
She will focus on how to mend the economic divides, bullying and other issues, all within the life of worship, Bradford said.
She plans to be in her Sharpsburg office every day.
“I was appointed to be the pastoral presence in that community, and I will be there for people,” she said.
Of earning a Master in Divinity degree, Bradford laughed and said she never could’ve imagined it.
Despite growing up in the church, singing in the choir and attending a Christian elementary school, full-time ministry is not what she envisioned for her life.
“When the Lord called me, it was like ‘Really? Me?” she said. “There was some questioning but God led me in that path and doors opened in spaces that I never thought could.”