Reggie Brooks never imagined himself as a worship leader. In fact, when he was first invited to join the Rockford Temple, Ill., Corps praise team, he couldn’t play an instrument and didn’t think he could sing very well. He wouldn’t have believed that more than a decade later, he would be the director of contemporary music and audio production for the Central Territory and leader of the praise band Of Dust, but that’s exactly what God has called and equipped him to do.
“By the grace of God I keep finding myself in these positions,” he said with a laugh. “This is my first job within a Christian organization. I love being able to serve the Lord freely.”
In his role at Territorial Headquarters (THQ), Reggie is dedicated to bringing people together to lead authentic worship through the Territorial Worship Collective (TWC) and helping others bring their vision for recordings to life by using his skills in audio production.
Raised in a large extended family led by minister grandparents, Reggie grew up in church. When his grandparents’ congregation began meeting in the Rockford Temple Corps, it was not long before the extended family became involved in corps programs and activities. Because his grandparents’ congregation was Spanish-speaking, many from the younger generation spent time with the English-speaking corps congregation.
“Slowly through the years, they integrated into the corps,” he said. “Many of my aunts, uncles and cousins became soldiers, and some officers.”
For several years, Reggie enjoyed attending the corps with his family, but he began to wrestle with his faith as a young teen. He stepped away from church but quickly found himself bored and lonely.
“I missed my cousins. When I asked to hang out with them, they said come back to church,” he said, smiling at the memory.
Hanging around the corps, Reggie was often present when the praise team practiced, but he just listened and waited for his cousin, Scottie Rodriguez (currently a cadet at the College for Officer Training), to finish rehearsal so they could play in the gym. But God was at work and began to use music to connect Reggie with Himself.
“I was invited to sing with them one night,” Reggie said. “I learned that I love music. I love to sing, and I wanted to know more about God.”
By the time he was 14, Reggie began to get serious about his faith. He attended the intensive discipleship group Band of Survivors twice and gave his life fully to Christ while attending Wonderland Camp one summer.
“I’ve never looked back,” he said about the decision.
Now in a position of leadership that allows him to help develop praise teams and worship leaders throughout the territory, Reggie feels he has found where he belongs and is doing what God designed him to do.
“Whatever I can do to put people in a place to share their authentic worship to the Lord, I want to do that,” he concluded. “It’s easy to sing a song or be a musician and just do what you’re asked to do, but it’s another thing to find the reason behind it. That’s the impact I want to have.”
If you’re interested in learning more about leading worship or want to join the Territorial Worship Collective, reach out to Reggie Brooks, Jr.
