In 2003, before smartphones were ubiquitous and social media platforms dominated, microblogs like xanga.com gained popularity. On his Louisiana college campus, a young Chad Brooks observed with interest as people expressed and lived their faith online.
Brooks was already interested in how spiritual relationships uniquely cohabited online, and the Seminary was having these conversations. The blog was called Web Parish. His Seminary professors were supportive of his efforts to forge new paths in ministry.
For Method and Praxis, Dr. The Covid-19 pandemic was a catalyst leading Brooks to recognize his full calling. In 2022, his official appointment became “Extension Ministry,” which occurs almost entirely online. “This is my call. This is who I am,” Brooks says.
According to Brooks, our digital age is a learning curve for churches that are still communicating linearly. Yet, anyone under 35 is accustomed to running conversations that are relational, like a web. “Think of a rat’s nest. It looks confusing, but it’s strong and stable,” he says of digital relationships.
Brooks says the “best forward step for pastors is to realize they are pastors online. The person you are online is the person people expect you to be 100% of the time.” To anyone who asks whether online ministry is valid, Brooks points out that our people are already being discipled by a digital world.
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Upon graduation, Brooks served as a consultant for social media in the Church, an Associate Pastor, and then a Church Planter in the United Methodist Church in Louisiana. Through intentional focus on his local demographic, he grew his church plant to 350 members.
Chad Brooks was elevated to head men's soccer coach in August 2021.
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During his fourth season, Coach Brooks led the Spartans to a 4-7-5 record overall and a 1-4-4 conference record. Three Spartans were honored on the All-HCAC Team in First Year Ean Jones and Sophomore Kole WIlliams making second-team and goalkeeper Aaron Ketchmark receiving third-team honors.
During his third season, Coach Brooks led the Spartans to an undefeated regular season and the Spartans first HCAC men's soccer regular season championship since 2003. Under Brooks, Harley Kruschwitz would take home the offensive player of the year award for HCAC, First team all region, and Second team All-American. The Spartans tallied four first team All HCAC selections, one second team All HCAC selection, and one honorable mention All HCAC selection. As for Coach Brooks, he took home some hardware after receiving the HCAC Men's Soccer Coach of the Year.
During his second season, Coach Brooks led the Spartans to the 2023 HCAC Men's Soccer Semifinals after finishing the regular season with a 5-7-5 and an HCAC record of 4-2-3. Three Spartans earned All-HCAC recognition including Noack Black (Second Team), Julian Keough (Second Team), and Ruben Gonzalez (Hon. Mention).
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In his first season at the helm of the program, Brooks' program produced three All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference performers and nine Academic All-HCAC selections. Sophomore Harley Kruschwitz was tabbed First Team All-HCAC after leading Manchester and the conference in goals (14), game-winning goals (5), and points (29).
Brooks had served as an assistant coach for the Black & Gold for three seasons. In 2020-21, freshman Harley Kruschwitz was named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year. Kruschwitz was a Second Team All-HCAC honoree, as was Julian Keough, Keegan Wondergem, and Cory Mitchell.
In 2019, the men's soccer program advanced to its third straight Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament. An Indiana Tech men's soccer alum, Brooks was a NAIA and WHAC academic honoree as a senior. He was also awarded the program’s Mettle and Dr. LeRoy Walker Character honors. He also earned a spot on the WHAC Champions of Character list.
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