Brooks Halbrook — Side by Side

Calling & Mission

To faithfully serve, disciple, and empower individuals and communities to grow in Christ, live with purpose, and reflect God's love in everyday life.

"For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer." Hebrews 4:12-13 NASB

About Our Work

A dedicated and compassionate servant leader deeply committed to mentoring young people, building meaningful relationships, and sharing hope through faith-driven community outreach in the urban neighborhoods of Manila.

How God Called Me

My calling began during a crusade led by Luis Palau in the 1990s. From there, I served within several Christian organizations, but I came to see the limits of staying confined within four walls. So I stepped out.

I went to the places where people are actually in the streets, living their realities, and declaring who Jesus is. And there, I understood something deeper: Jesus did not call the influential or the comfortable of His time. He called those willing to abandon everything, to answer, and to follow.

My reach is no longer bound to a place. Wherever you are, the glorious salvation of Jesus Christ must be proclaimed.

Why This Place & People

I’ve been part of different organizations, and one striking difference I’ve consistently noticed is how they move, especially in the way they reach people. It’s not merely about vision statements or achieving goals; it’s about posture and approach.

Too often, Christian organizations position themselves at a distance, hidden away in secluded spaces or comfortably established in prominent business districts. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but we can still reach people that way. But what if, instead of observing from afar, we chose to stand in the middle of the battlefield? That’s where our sincerity is revealed, where we show how serious we truly are about extending our hands to those who desperately need them.

We often quote, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” but who exactly is our neighbor? Are we truly living among them? Can we genuinely see them from where we stand? Or have we built comfortable walls that keep us close to ministry while remaining distant from people?

I’m reminded of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem in Luke 19:41–44 because He saw the destruction coming upon the people He loved. He did not look away. He saw clearly, and Jesus grieved deeply.

“May we be given the same eyes to truly see what is happening around us and the courage to respond rather than remain comfortable spectators."

That is why I’m here. This is where I belong!

A Turning Point

When the sacrifice becomes greater than what you think you can endure…

Ministry has always required sacrifice. I understood that long ago. For nearly 33 years, I’ve served in ministry, yet I was never what people would call a “support-raising missionary.” I worked in the corporate world as a Data Security Analyst (SecEng), earning a stable income while helping support missions and ministry work on my own terms. If there was enough funding, the mission moved forward. If not, it could wait. That was the life I knew.

I prayed to Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider and He never failed me. Provision came regularly through my salary, through predictable means, through systems I could understand and control. Faith was present, but comfort and stability often walked beside it.

Then God introduced me to a different calling. Becoming a support-raising missionary changed everything. Suddenly, faith was no longer theoretical—it became deeply personal. I had to trust that God would move in the hearts of others to partner in the mission He had entrusted to me. I had to believe that provision would come, not from a paycheck, but through God’s hands working through His people. That kind of surrender is difficult to explain until you live it.

It stretches you. It humbles you. It challenges your pride, your fears, and even your understanding of security. It also challenges your family to see that being a missionary is not just something you do; it becomes your life.

And through it all, God continues to remind me of this truth: We need more ministry partners, although they are not the source. They are simply the conduit. Every provision for the mission still comes from God alone.