Missions


OUR MISSION: TO PROCLAIM + EMBODY
THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE CITY + THE WORLD

Our Missions ministry exists to lead the church in the process of seeking transformation through the love of Jesus Christ in our city and world. This requires a courageous spirit to go to the hard places, an open heart to build relationships with those we serve, a faithfulness to be in step with God and be Spirit-led, and a willingness to serve together, not in isolation, by accident, or without support.



OUR VALUES:

Bringing transformation to our city and world is not easy, and it certainly isn’t guaranteed. However, throughout our history as a church, we’ve discovered four core values that we carry forward as we enter into missions, seeking transformation. These core values help shape how and what we do in missions.


HARD PLACES

As we read in the Gospel of John, we see that God did not merely send His son out of love, but He sent Him into a challenging context. He sent him into a Roman-occupied, religiously-oppressed, culturally-ambivalent, economically-impoverished, and subsistence-agricultural context. It was a Hard Place. Our call is the same. That is why we as a church family go to the hard places in our City and our World: the unreached, unchurched and under-resourced.


SPIRIT-LED

Even after answering the call to hard places, we can still be working out of our own efforts, desires, and dreams. That is why we at Eastbrook yearn for the Holy Spirit to lead just as He did in the early church in Antioch (Acts 13:2-3). We want to be a church body whose efforts and mission can only be explained by the power of the Holy Spirit.


BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

When we reflect on God’s chosen mission model, we are drawn to how relational it is. Whether it is Israel in the desert being invited to join God on the mountaintop, or God sending His Son to live among us, His call is to relationship with Him and with those around us. As we enter into Hard Places, we need to follow this model. We build relationships with those who are broken, hurting, and lost. Every activity we do is done not as an end unto itself, but as a gateway into a deeper friendship with those we serve. Through those relationships, we seek transformation.


SERVING TOGETHER

In John 17 we are given a simple truth: the reality and truth of the Gospel will not be understood due to eloquent speech, strategic clarity, or abundant resources; the Gospel will reveal its truth and power when we as believers are united as one (John 17:20-23). A clear modern call to this truth is found in Dietrich Boenhoeffer’s compelling book Life Together. Likewise at Eastbrook, we strive to see all involved in the ministry they are gifted for, serving together as one.





LIVING ON MISSION IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

The next, immediate step beyond our church family into the city is right next door. God has placed you and your family where you are for a reason. He has placed your literal, physical next door neighbors in your life as an opportunity to be on mission. If you want to be involved in the city or the world, know that one of the first questions we’ll ask is, “How are you loving your neighbor?”


Here are some stories of how Eastbrookers around Milwaukee are living on mission right where they are:


Better Together: A Story of Neighboring in Sherman Park
John and Dawn Schuessler
April 2019


View on Vimeo

A Whole Bunch of Love: A Story of Neighboring in Brown Deer
Brenda Banks
April 2019


View on Vimeo

Our Mission Field: A Story of Neighboring in Wauwatosa
Tyler and Andrea Smith
April 2019


View on Vimeo



LOCAL OUTREACH:

Missions to the city is imprinted into the DNA of Eastbrook Church, stretching back to the very beginning of our story as a church in 1979 when Eastbrook was formed from a series of small groups on the East Side and North Shore of Milwaukee. Since that time, we have been intentional about being a church that is in the city of Milwaukee as well as involved in overseas mission.


BREAD OF HEALING CLINIC

Eastbrook serves as a host site for the Bread of Healing clinic which serves our low- income and uninsured neighbors.

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FOOD PANTRY

Eastbrook Church has hosted a food pantry on site twice a week for nearly two decades where we provide emergency food to over 500 families each year.

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INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER (ICC)

Located on the city's South Side, the ICC provides a safe learning space for refugees coming into Milwaukee.

Learn More

HOURS:
Mondays, 3-7 pm
Third Saturday of the month, 9 am-12 pm

 

HOURS:
Mondays, 6:30-8:30 pm
Saturdays, 9:30-11:30 am

HOURS:
Monday-Friday, 8 am-3 pm



In addition to these three ministries, Eastbrook members are Reaching Out across our city to meet a variety of needs in our community including women’s prison ministry, men’s prison ministry, homelessness, human trafficking, housing, families in crisis, foster care, and so much more. To connect with one of these areas of ministry, contact our team.



Curious how to get involved with local missions through Eastbrook? Click the button below to check out our Serve Guide.


View SERVE Guide


INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH

When it comes to Global Missions, it is not practical to equip each one of our church members to go out to the ends of the earth. This is why God has provided a unique role within His Church for which He continues to raise up men and women. In Biblical terms it is an apostolic role, in historical terms it is a missionary role, and for Eastbrook it is the role of Field Worker.

Our Field Workers are a vibrant and diverse group of men and women, individuals and families, who have answered God’s call to make disciples of all nations. They bring this transformation through an equally diverse list of roles and work around the world.

We also recognize that the call to the ends of the earth is central to Global Missions. We focus our resources on parts of the world which are considered unreached in regards to this call. We strive to raise up from within and partner with national leaders to bring the transforming power of the Gospel to these regions of the world.

Horn of Africa

Eastbrook has cared for and loved the Somali people since our early days. This has expanded to partner with and support efforts throughout the Horn of Africa through traditional and creative access efforts.

Middle East

Eastbrook Church has been partnering with our dear friends serving in the Holy Land and the Middle East for many years. We have watched God bring Christian schools to places closed to the Gospel, seen refugees cared for long-term, seen businesses started, local churches mobilized, and trauma care provided to those affected by war and persecution.

Asia

Eastbrook has been connected to the continent of Asia for over three decades, adopting orphans with special needs, planting churches, supporting pastors and providing skills training.

& Beyond

While we have four key focus areas, we also have field workers serving in Europe and the Americas and give God space to draw us into new partnerships as our world changes.

Curious how to get involved with international missions through Eastbrook? Click the button below to check out our Send Guide.


View SEND Guide


TAKE A NEXT STEP:

MISSIONS PRAYER CLASS

Not sure how to get connected in Missions at Eastbrook? Start here. Join us weekly as we pray for our members, partners, and field workers serving around our city and world.

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WOMEN'S MISSIONS PRAYER

Join other Eastbrook women as we meet with and care for our international workers. We learn how we can be praying for these workers and spend time together as a group praying through their requests.

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TOUR OF MILWAUKEE

Take a first step right here in our own city — help our church family welcome newly-arrived international students. You have the opportunity to provide them with a driving tour of their new home!

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BOXES OF LOVE FOOD DRIVE

Eastbrook partners with Cru Inner City Ministry in order to fill hundreds of boxes with Thanksgiving meals and supplies to distribute to families in need across Milwaukee. Churches around the city deliver the boxes directly to the doors of those who need them!

Learn More


UPCOMING EVENTS:
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OUR TEAM:

Pastor Dan Ryan
Sr. Director, Mission
dryan@eastbrook.org
414.228.5220 x225


Okumu, Yudah Tadeo
Manager, City Ministry
ytokumu@eastbrook.org
414.228.5220 x224


Jim Dressner
International Community Center (ICC)
jim@iccmke.org
414.988.0202


Brian Dressner
Food Pantry Coordinator
bdressner@eastbrook.org
414.228.5220


Mackenzy Perry
Ministry Resident, Missions
mperry@eastbrook.org
414.228.5220 x236



QUICKLINKS:

Giving to Missions

Our work cannot happen without financial resources. Our efforts in the city and world are not supported from Eastbrook’s “general” fund but rather through a special, designated, Mission Fund. Make financial support a part of your missions involvement by donating to the fund linked below.


Click to Give

Visit the Missions Spot

The Missions Spot is a space set aside in the Worship Hall Lobby for connecting with and learning from disciples in our midst. We have many visuals and materials available for visitors to better understand the work our missionaries currently do, and how you can get involved yourself!


Serve

A great way to get engaged and involved in the community life of Eastbrook is to begin serving. Sign up for our monthly Top Serving Needs email list today!


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