Church Leadership

Brookdale, as a Baptist church is an elder led, congregationally governed church.  We believe the two biblically mandated offices are that of elder (pastor) and deacon (I Timothy 2, Titus 1).

The elders (pastors) set vision, oversee, shepherd, feed, and protect the body by faithfully ministering the scriptures.  Christ is the chief shepherd, with the elders as shepherds under Christ are to be governed and ruled by Christ and His Word.  Their ministry is carried out in integrity, gentleness, humility and love.

The office of deacon is entrusted with serving the needs of the congregation and the pastors freeing them up for the ministry of the Word and prayer.  The deacons are not an executive board, but are to be godly, virtuous servants of the congregation (Acts 6).

The congregation is responsible to faithfully follow the scriptures, respond biblically to leadership, participate in ministry, and conduct body life in a God glorifying fashion.

Pastor Timothy Terpstra has been on the pastoral staff at Brookdale since 2001. While the details of life and ministry have varied over the past decade, his greatest joys are ministering the Word of God in groups large and small and seeing men and women taking steps of faith in the details of life. Currently he is serving the church as Interim Senior Pastor. Tim earned his Masters of Divinity degree from Central Baptist Theological Seminary and undergraduate degree from Maranatha Baptist Bible College.

Due to the faithful ministry of godly parents, Timothy regularly heard the gospel at home and at church. It was at an early age, the Lord graciously opened his eyes to see his sinful condition and draw Timothy to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ through texts of scripture like, Romans 10:9-10 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Tim and his wife Beth have been married for nearly fifteen years and enjoy many sports, outdoor activities, and ministry together. God has blessed the Terpstras with four delightful and energetic children, Reagan, Jayme, Samuel, and Judson.