Sundays at Brookside
Brookside Church meets on the northeast side of Fort Wayne at 6102 Evard Road, and two Sunday morning services at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. form the backbone of life here. The full gathering runs about 70 minutes from start to finish. A worship band leads several songs with lyrics projected on screen, followed by a brief welcome, a few announcements about upcoming next steps, and a Bible teaching from one of the pastors that runs around 30 minutes. The tone is relaxed, the attire is casual, and the church describes its culture as a place where "real people" learn to follow Jesus together.
On the first Sunday of every month, the church adds a Prayer Gathering at 6:30 p.m. Most other Sunday evenings, the Young Adult Group gathers at 6:00 p.m. for fellowship and study.
Arriving as a Visitor
The Guest Experience team focuses on first impressions from the parking lot through the sanctuary doors. Greeters point newcomers toward the cafe, where volunteers serve locally roasted coffee and lattes before the service. A Plan Your Visit form is available online so the church can prepare for families with children. Free parking is on site, and a downloadable map plus directions are available. Sermon Notes are posted each week so first-timers can follow along, and services are also available on the Brookside YouTube channel for those who want to look in before coming.
Kids and Students
Children's ministry at Brookside covers nursery through fifth grade and runs during both Sunday morning services. Parents check children in at a dedicated Kids Check-in station, and greeters walk them through the process; arriving 10 to 15 minutes early is recommended for first visits. The space is divided into age-specific rooms with memorable names such as Wiggly Field for nursery, Construction/Space/Race Room for preschool, and Beach Room for elementary. Each room introduces Scripture through songs, lessons, and hands-on activities, and Vacation Bible School is part of the yearly calendar. Preschool and elementary families are also given resources to continue the conversation at home.
Middle school students meet in their own room during the 9:00 a.m. service. High school students are encouraged to serve during the first service and then gather as a group. Classes for grades 5 through 9 are offered at both 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. A weekly youth group meets Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., with annual events that include a fall retreat, Miracle Camp, Ice Camp, and short-term mission trips. Bill Erdman directs youth ministry, and Danae Gibson leads the Kids team with Susan Wilkie and Yvonda Roberts-Whitfield serving alongside her.
Adults and Groups
Adult ministry at Brookside centers on small groups that meet on campus and in homes across Fort Wayne. The goal is for members to live out the way of Jesus beyond Sunday mornings in places where they can be known and loved. Child-friendly options vary by group, and prospective members are encouraged to talk with a group leader about their specific situation. New leaders are supported with resources and Q Place coaching.
Men's ministry centers on building a Jesus-centered lifestyle at home through Bible studies, men's breakfasts, and men's bike rides, with gatherings in the Fellowship Hall and elsewhere. Women's ministry focuses on Coffee Chats, Bible studies, retreats, and a "Gather at the Table" dinner series held in the Fellowship Hall and the High School Room.
Young adults meet Sundays at 6:00 p.m. in the Cafe or High School Room for fellowship and spiritual growth. Senior adults gather for a monthly luncheon, a Thursday-night dinner out, and other activities that connect them with a strong community of believers.
The church also runs a sports ministry out of its gym, with men's basketball in the morning and evening, pickleball, and ultimate frisbee. An annual all-ages ultimate frisbee tournament is a recurring highlight on the calendar.
LifeTrack Courses
LifeTrack is Brookside's lineup of seminars, courses, and workshops that tackle real-life topics from a biblical angle. Courses cover parenting, conflict, caring for aging parents, discovering spiritual gifts, and a foundational class for those exploring Christianity for the first time. Classes meet in various rooms across the campus.
Worship and Creative Teams
Worship at Brookside is led by a volunteer team that rehearses on Thursday nights and serves at Sunday gatherings. Auditions are part of joining, though formal musical training is not required; a heart for worship and a desire to serve are what matter. David Johnson serves as Worship Pastor, and Dustin Wegner directs the Production side of services. The Creative Team uses photography, video, graphic design, and storytelling to support services and create content for online audiences. Experience is welcomed but not required.
Care, Compassion, and Community Partners
Brookside's Compassion Ministry, led by Ryan Delagrange, serves as the front door for prayer requests, hospital visits, phone support, and financial assistance through the church's Care Fund. Beyond its own walls, Brookside partners with several local ministries to serve Fort Wayne.
Serving Simply gathers meals, clothes, and supplies for those in need on Saturday nights. Brookside volunteers serve on the first and fifth Saturday of every month. Hope Alive offers over 1,500 hours of affordable professional counseling each year through licensed therapists and interns, plus a residential program serving about 50 women annually who are working through mental health struggles and homelessness. Brookside supports Hope Alive financially and with facility needs. Fort Wayne Community Schools Study Connection matches volunteer tutors one-to-one with students identified as needing academic support; Brookside also provides meals for FWCS families during the holidays. Hope's Harbor provides housing for families in medical or crisis situations, and Brookside volunteers prepare meals there one day each week.
Missionaries and Global Outreach
The church supports several missionaries and global initiatives. Shawn and Julie Yoder serve with Campus Ministry at CRU, where Shawn leads the Mission Trip Finance Team sending 2,000 students on more than 100 trips a year, and Julie coaches CRU staff women in leadership. Bob and Stacy Hirschelman help lead Grace International School in Thailand, a school primarily serving missionary kids. Kent and Angie Morton are church planters in Albania, where the evangelical population is less than half a percent. Carol Pebley serves with Wycliffe Bible Translators, currently translating the Bible into Kagayanen in the Philippines. The Africa Church Planting Initiative, an FEC effort begun in 2019, plants indigenous, multiplying churches in rural southern Africa.
What Brookside Believes
Brookside's statement of faith describes God as Creator and Ruler, existing eternally in three co-equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is held to be sinless, to have died on the cross as the sacrifice for sin, to have risen on the third day, and to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Holy Spirit is described as present in the world to draw people to Christ and as living within every believer from salvation onward.
Humanity is described as created in God's image but marred by an attitude of disobedience called sin, which separates people from God. The Bible is described as God's Word, written by human authors under the Holy Spirit's guidance and "truth without any mixture of error." The Church is the gathered community of God's people, centered on worship, Bible study, and service to the surrounding world. Salvation is described as a gift received by faith in Christ, not by works. Baptism is taught as a public declaration of faith and an outward symbol of new life. Eternity is described as literal heaven or hell, depending on a person's response to Christ.
Leadership
Eric Dubach serves as Lead Pastor, with John Mueller as Executive Pastor and David Johnson as Worship Pastor. Ministry directors include Bill Erdman (Youth), Danae Gibson (Kids), Dustin Wegner (Production), and Ryan Delagrange (Compassion). Governance includes a body of elders: Brandon Lemberg, Jerod Hevel, John Augsburger, Nate Zimmerman, Scott Gibson, Steve Wyatt, and Tony Thompson.
Next Steps
Brookside 101 is the church's introductory class and the first step toward membership. From there, members move into baptism, serving on a team, or deeper studies through LifeTrack. The S.H.A.P.E. test helps members identify their spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences for ministry placement.
Facility Use and Giving
Brookside's gym, classrooms, and meeting rooms are available for ministry events, outside community groups, and a limited number of private events. Weddings and memorials follow a separate approval process. The church receives gifts through its MyWell Giving app, online portal, and offering boxes at services. Donors can direct gifts to the General Fund, Vision Fund, Care Fund, Missions, or specific mission trips such as the youth mission trip and DR medical missions trip. Stock and securities gifts can be arranged through the church office.
The church's mission is to build Jesus-centered homes through healthy relationships that result in Gospel-saturated communities, and that thread runs through everything from Sunday gatherings to small groups in living rooms to Saturday nights serving meals alongside partners across Fort Wayne.