Meet the Staff: Derek Brokke, Director of Small Groups & Discipleship
Welcome to our “Meet the Staff” column, where we’ll get to know each of Hillside’s staff members a little better, “Q & A” style!
Name:
Derek Brokke
What is your job title?
Director of Small Groups & Discipleship.
What are your job responsibilities?
As the Director of Small Groups and Discipleship, I oversee the overall vision for adult discipleship within the life of Hillside Church. The largest branch of adult discipleship is our flourishing small groups ministry. We are not a church WITH small groups: we are a church OF small groups. In addition to small groups, we offer various other discipleship opportunities, including Men’s and Women’s Bible Studies, Sunday morning classes, disciple-making training via The Timothy Initiative’s curriculum, Stephen Ministry, and more! I also teach our membership class called The Hillside Story, perform baptisms, and preach monthly.
How long have you worked at Hillside?
1 year.
Tell us a little bit about your background:
I was born in Siloam Springs, AR, but our family moved to Colorado Springs, CO when I was 7 years old, and I graduated high school from there. After high school, I went to the Youth With A Mission base in Kona, HI, and did outreaches to Taiwan, Egypt, Mexico, and Venezuela. I completed my BA in Biblical and Theological studies at Biola University in southern California, and my MA in New Testament at Johnson University in Knoxville, TN. From 2013-2022, I served as the Dean of Men, Director of Student Life, and Hermeneutics professor at Bethany Global University just down the road from Hillside. I also served at Bethany Church on the eldership team, oversaw Lifegroups ministry, led worship, and served on the preaching team.
What are some favorite parts about your job and/or working at Hillside in general?
Hillside Church has been such an incredible blessing to me and my family. The members of Hillside are passionate about glorifying Jesus and proclaiming the gospel, and they are eager to use their gifts both to serve Hillside’s body and to bless the city around us. I am blessed to work with an incredible team, where every fellow staff member clearly functions within their gifting and serves the church with a deep sense of joy and purpose. I personally love that my role allows me to serve within multiple ministries and teams. I love that I get to teach, equip, preach, provide care, disciple, and see smaller communities within Hillside grow in deeper connection with one another. One of my favorite aspects of my role is seeing new people find a home here at Hillside, where they can discover their own gifting and purpose within the body of Christ.
Name a favorite passage of Scripture or book of the Bible, and why you like it.
John 15 has become the central passage of my life. The centrality of abiding in Christ is what gives everything else meaning and eternal significance: “if you abide in me you will bear much fruit, but apart from me you can do nothing.” This passage beautifully expresses what it means to live out the gospel, that we first rest in the sufficiency of Christ, and through that place of rest we embrace the empowering of the Holy Spirit to actually bear the fruit of righteousness in our own lives.
What are some of your hobbies?
I love doing riddles, playing ping pong, spikeball, basketball, and soccer, playing drums, drinking coffee, and eating great food.
What are a few of your favorite things these days?
Some of my favorite books are the Chronicles of Narnia (favorite is The Horse and His Boy), The Pursuit of God (Tozer), The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (Comer), and Surprised by the Power of the Spirit (Deere). One of my favorite podcasts is Theology in the Raw by Preston Sprinkle, along with Sean McDowell’s YouTube channel, since they both challenge me to think critically with why I hold my beliefs and to dialogue charitably with those whom I disagree. Also, just because, top 5 favorite movies: 1) Good Will Hunting; 2) October Sky; 3) Shawshank Redemption; 4) Gladiator; 5) The Count of Monte Cristo.
Household/family info?
Wife, Molly – married 8 years Daughter, Sonnet – 3 years old
What city (or general area of the Twin Cities) do you live in?
West Bloomington.