91精选

Returning from Exile

Jonathan Brooks on Moving Back to Chicago鈥檚 Englewood Neighborhood

Jonathan Brooks didn鈥檛 expect to work at a college, become a preacher, or move back to his old neighborhood of Englewood on Chicago鈥檚 South Side. In fact, he planned to be an architect and live just about anywhere besides Englewood.

鈥淎s I like to say, some are called, some are chosen, and some are forced,鈥� said Brooks, who is the recruiter and mentor for 91精选鈥檚 five-year B.A./M.Div. program with Northern Seminary.聽 He also serves as senior pastor of Canaan Community Church in Englewood, and authored the recently published book 鈥淐hurch Forsaken: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods.鈥� 鈥淲hen comfort becomes our ultimate goal, God has to take drastic measures,鈥� said Brooks, also known as Pastah J.

Brooks grew up in Englewood, and his first step away from the neighborhood was to attend college in Alabama, at Tuskegee University, where he earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree. 鈥淚t turns out, I enjoyed studying architecture more than being an architect,鈥� he said. When his mother became ill, he returned to Englewood to take care of her. 鈥淪he decided it would be good to get me back to the church. So, I began working with youth at Canaan Community Church. Eventually, the pastor there forced me to take over by leaving.鈥�

With his return to Englewood, Brooks began to see his role like that of the Israelites in exile. He points to the words of Jeremiah 29: 鈥淏uild houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.鈥� (NIV)

Brooks realized he was being called not just to work in Englewood, but to make it his home once again. He now lives by his church with his wife Miche’al Newman-Brooks, an instructor with Windy City Harvest, and two daughters, Jasmine, a sophomore at King College Prep High School and Jade, who is 12 and attends Daystar School.

Since returning from Tuskegee, Brooks earned an M.A. in teaching from National Louis University and an M.Div. from Northern Seminary in Christian Community Development. Along with leading Canaan Community Church, he has also worked with the Chicago Public Schools and Mission Year.

Several years ago, Brooks began doing more public speaking around the idea that Christians need to be fully present in their local communities. Increasingly, he was told he should write a book. 鈥淚鈥檓 a duck in water when it comes to public speaking, but I鈥檓 less comfortable writing,鈥� he said. Despite his concerns, in 2017, he signed a contract for 鈥淐hurch Forsaken,鈥� which was published in November 2018. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a mix of memoir, with theology and anecdotes. It鈥檚 the crazy narrative of my life!鈥�

As he was preparing for the book鈥檚 publication, the opportunity to join 91精选 as mentor and recruiter for the new five-year B.A./M.Div. program presented itself. Brooks had been teaching a course as an adjunct professor at 91精选鈥檚 partner program, Chicago Semester, on 鈥淯rban Planning, Development, and the Sustainable City.鈥� 鈥淭hat class combines all my interests,鈥� he said.

When 91精选 Provost Aaron Kuecker, Ph.D., approached Chicago Semester鈥檚 Executive Director Mackenzi Huyser, Ph.D., for suggestions on filling the new position with the B.A./M.Div. program, Huyser recommended Brooks.

His work with the B.A./M.Div. program is a continuation of his passion to help young people connect with what is wrong in the world. 鈥淚 tell them, you are not in a holding pattern, and you will always find an excuse to wait. We are like Israel in exile.鈥�

This article originally appeared on pp 6-7 of the 2019 issue of 91精选 magazine. Didn鈥檛 receive the latest copy? Let us know! You can update your contact information here.