Senior Pastor: Joel A. Brooks, Jr.
Pastor Joel brooks is a nationally known speaker, author, and the Senior Pastor of Christian Life Center, a dynamic, 2,100 member, multi-cultural church located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with a new, additional location in Grand Rapids, MI. He is also the founder of Romantic Warrior Ministries. Pastor Brooks places an emphasis on men taking the leadership role for which God created them, takes a strong stand for racial reconciliation and unity, and targets young adults, challenging them to mature and to accept responsibility.
Pastor Brooks is a featured author of a chapter in Dr. Edwin Louis Coles’ book entitled, Man Power. He has also co-authored a book entitled What Women Don’t Know (And Men Don’t Tell You) which speaks to the heart of women and brings value and fatherhood to women in a world where self-dignity and respect is often lost. Most recently, Pastor Brooks was a featured writer with the Kalamazoo Gazette, a local newspaper, for a bi-weekly column titled “Practical Answers to Today’s Questions.” His television broadcast Transformed is viewed nationally and internationally and has had a dramatic impact in West Michigan and beyond for over 20 years.
He and his lovely wife, Yvonne, are the proud parents of eight beautiful children. Pastor Brooks and Pastor Yvonne are an awesome ministry team and together they are transforming lives through the power of God’s Word.
Pastor Yvonne Brooks
Pastor Yvonne is a native New Yorker with over 20 years experience in education, school administration, and leadership. She is the Performing Arts Pastor at Christian Life Center, with a unique ability to bring talent and anointing together for transforming worship experiences. She oversees all aspects of the performing arts ministry and is a dynamic worship leader as well. Pastor Yvonne is also gifted leader and presenter on spiritual things, women, marriage, singles, blended families, children and the arts. She is married to the man of her dreams, Pastor Joel A. Brooks, Jr. and assists him in leading Christian Life Center. They are the proud parents of eight beautiful children.
Pastor John Knowlton
Pastor John is an associate pastor of Christian Life Center and provides pastoral care to CLC members on the South side of Kalamazoo and in the Portage area. He previously served as a United Methodist pastor for 6 years. John is a financial planner and branch manager at Oak Point Financial Group in Portage. He made his first investment at age 11, buying a certificate of deposit in 1980 paying 15.9%! He is married to his lovely wife, Julie, and they have four beautiful children.
Pastor Steve Griffin
Pastor Steve has been at CLC for 20 years and has served in various capacities during that time. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree and taught public high school for 7 years. He was involved in, and later led, Children’s Ministry at CLC for a number of years. He currently serves as an associate pastor at CLC and provides pastoral care for families on the East and North Side of Kalamazoo and in the Grand Rapids area. He has been married to his wife, Anissa, for 16 years and they have five beautiful children
Pastor Michael L. Brown
Pastor Mike is originally from Washington, DC. He moved to Michigan in 1992 after retiring from the Navy, where he achieved the rank of Senior Chief and later served as the Religious Program Manager while serving in the Persian Gulf. Michael is the Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission. He has been a member of Christian Life Center since 1992 and has served on the camera team, counting team and as an instructor for connection classes He currently serves as an Associate Pastor at CLC, providing pastoral care to CLC members on the West side of Kalamazoo. He and his wife, Rosemary, met here at CLC and have been married for 11 years.
Pastor Donna McLaughlin
Pastor Donna oversees Assimilation and Children’s Ministry at Christian Life Center. She has been at CLC for over 23 years and has led and served in a variety of ministries. She received her B.A. from Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota and her Masters Degree from Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan, both in the field of Education. She is also a graduate of World Harvest Bible College, Columbus, Ohio and the Dale Carnegie Instructor Training. She is married to her husband of 35 years, Larry, and they are the parents of four adult children and 2 grandchildren.
Pastor Tom Jennings
Pastor Tom is the executive pastor of Christian Life Center. He was ordained in 1991 and served with Pastor Lafayette Jennings for several years. He completed seminary at Trinity College and became pastor of Victory Temple Ministries in 1997. As he pastored a local church for several years, Tom looked to Pastor Brooks as one of the pastors he sought for wise counsel. Tom later joined Christian Life Center in 2005 and has been involved in marriage ministry, prayer ministry, and in teaching connection classes. He is also a part of Pastor Brooks’ pastoral roundtable leadership. He has been married to his wife Valerie for over 22 years and they are the proud parents of six adult children and four grand children.