Pastor Brooks grew up in New Cumberland Pa attending his home church, Trinity United Methodist. He graduated from Cedar Cliff High School in Camp Hill, Pa. and then from Messiah College in Grantham, Pa. After college he attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Ma.
Pastor Brooks first assignment was in Haverhill, Ma. From there he moved to Pennsylvania and served at Ulster UMC, Milan UMC, Uriah-Gardners UMC, Mt. Olivet UMC in Mechanicsburg. Before coming to 29th St he was assigned to St. Andrews UMC in Valley View.
Currently, Pastor Brooks is the pastor of Twenty-Ninth Street Church. He has been our pastor since 2000. Besides serving our church, he also is a member of the Central Pennsylvania Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, the Asset Board of the United Methodist Home for Children, and the Chair of the Harrisburg District Committee on Ministry. He has served as a Camp Dean for a week of elementary camp at Camp Penn (near Waynesboro, PA) for 21 years. One of the special highlights that Pastor Brooks has blessed us with is his interaction with children. This interaction is in the sanctuary as well as camp. Pastor Brooks includes the children in the worship service by having puppet talks on Sunday mornings. The puppeteers help the Pastor as he delivers a special message to the children as well as the rest of the congregation. This involvement in the puppet ministry helps develop young Christian leaders by having the teenagers of the church serve as the different puppet personalities during these talks.
Pastor Brooks also has other interests which include bicycling, railroads, gardening, and being a member of the National Railway Historical Society. Most naturally, one of our Pastor’s favorite hymns is Life’s Railway to Heaven. It also is not uncommon for inspirational challenges and sermon illustrations to be related to the congregation based on devotional time with God during his interests.
Pastor Brooks is a blessing to us! We hope that you too will come to our church to learn more about Jesus Christ and be blessed through our Pastor’s ministry. Come and join our fellowship of open hearts, open minds, and open doors.