Originally from Savannah, Pastor Brooks graduated from the University of Georgia in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. It was during that summer while on a Campus Crusade for Christ Summer Project in Myrtle Beach, SC that the Lord began working on his heart concerning going into the ministry. In 1990, he accepted a position at Magnolia Baptist Church in Savannah, where he served for six years before entering seminary. In December of 2000, Pastor Brooks graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC with a Masters of Divinity. He actually had placed his membership at FBCI more than a year before he was led to serve as pastor. "I like to mention to folks that I chose FBCI before FBCI chose me!," he says. He has been serving as pastor of First Baptist Church of the Islands since May, 2002.

Concerning his vision for the ministry at First Baptist Church of the Islands, Pastor Brooks has a long-term perspective. "I believe that when the purpose of the church is boiled down to the very basics, the objective of ministry actually becomes quite simple... costly because it requires our surrender to the Lord, yet very simple. When our focus is to know God and to make Him known, focusing upon the principles of worship, service, discipleship, and evangelism, we are able to see true biblical ministry take place. Victories come along the way, but the true battle is won when believers dig in for the long haul and seek to surrender themselves daily to Christ and His will for their lives."

Pastor Brooks and his lovely wife Suzy were recently married in May of 2003. Suzy, also from Savannah, is a registered nurse and works in the Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial Health University Medical Center. Pastor Brooks and Suzy were blessed in January of 2005 with a beautiful baby daughter Hannah. In his spare time, Pastor Brooks enjoys practically anything in the outdoors. That and cheering for the Dawgs, of course! "When I stop to realize how God has planted me in such a tremendous church and right in my own hometown, it could be quite overwhelming. I didn't expect to be placed by the Lord in this mission field at FBCI, but now that He has orchestrated it all, I would be the last to complain!"

Pastor Brooks can be reached at Cailb@fbcislands.com.