About Us

Founder and Paster Emeritus,
Dr. C.L. Brookins

Dr. C. L. Brookins, birth name Clarence, was born on November 8, 1930 in Yazoo County Mississippi, where he accepted Christ in 1941 at the tender age of 11 at the Campbellsville MB Church in Yazoo City Mississippi under the leadership of the late Pastor E.D. Johnson. Dr. Brookins was ordained a Junior Deacon at the age of 17, and at the age of 19, he accepted God’s call to the preaching ministry and was ordained at the age of 21 by his pastor, the late Dr. Clay Evans. During this time, he was also a member of the gospel quartet group, The Faithful Wonders, singing throughout the Chicagoland area and also at the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education in 1948. In 1953, Dr. Brookins organized New Foundation Missionary Baptist Church, later named, True Foundation Church Baptist, and currently named, True Foundation Transformation Church. His education includes: Dunbar High School, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago Baptist Institute and Roosevelt University, all located in Chicago Illinois, along with schooling at Columbia Basic College in Pasco Washington and Trinity College in Newburgh Indiana.

Dr. Brookins served as pastor of True Foundation Transformation Church (currently named) for 49 years before retiring in 2002, having also served in many other leadership capacities, such as: President of The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (TIMA) within the Tri-Cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland Washington, and a Board of Directors member of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation in Pasco Washington, and the First and Third Vice Moderators of the Tri-State Baptist District Association in Pasco Washington, as well as the First Vice-President of Pacific North West General State Sunday School and BTU Congress. In addition to his religious duties, Dr. Brookins also participated in civic duties within his communities, conducted revivals, and implemented the first Black Religious Broadcasting service in Pasco Washington, as well as being the first Black Church to broadcast over Radio Station WEDC FM in Chicago Illinois. While serving as pastor of True Foundation, Dr. Brookins has produced several years of weekly radio broadcasts over various Chicagoland stations, as well as a weekly telecast entitled “The Inspirational Hour,” which still airs over Chicago Cable TV Channel 36, every Wednesday night at 9:30pm and Thursday mornings at 11:30am (CST).

Dr. Brookins has been married to Mary Frances (Scales) Brookins for 73 years (as of May 6, 2023) and the union birthed eight children: Patricia, Clara, Charlotte, Clarence, Herbert (deceased), Larry (current pastor of TFTC), Faye, and Danny, and the spiritual legacy continues. For years, Dr. Brookins has inspired many through preaching and teaching, Christlike love and lifestyle, as well as through song, telling the world: “Everything will be Alright.”

Bishop Larry A. Brookins

Bishop Larry A. Brookins is the sixth of eight children born to Clarence L. and Mary F. Brookins on September 14, 1957 in Chicago, IL. He is a husband (Sandra) and father (Tony, Larry II, Jordan, Lesa), as well as a grandfather. Licensed and ordained to preach in 1983, Bishop Brookins succeeded his father as pastor of True Foundation Church Baptist, currently named True Foundation Transformation Church in November 2002, having previously pastored Transformation Ministries, formerly named Greater Mt. Olivet MB Church, since 1994.

Bishop Brookins is a graduate of Bradley University (Bachelor of Fine Arts), Chicago Baptist Institute (Associate & Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies), McCormick Theological Seminary (Master of Arts in Theological Studies), and the recipient of Honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degrees from St. Thomas Christian College (Jacksonville, FL), and St. Michael’s Institute (St. Louis, MO). He was consecrated a Bishop in October of 2018 in Dover, Delaware to serve as the Auxiliary Bishop over the Department of Education for Frontline Covenant Fellowship of Churches under the leadership of its Presiding Bishop, Bishop Noman E. Hutchins.

Bishop Brookins is a Christian workshop facilitator and instructor, and his Christian educational materials are being utilized by pastors, Christian leaders, and churches worldwide, as well as his sermon manuscripts. Bishop Brookins served as an instructor for Chicago Baptist Institute for 18 years, teaching: “Old Testament Theology,” “New Testament Theology,” and “Introduction to Evangelism.” He has also served as an instructor for the Greater New Era District Association of Chicago and Vicinity, teaching a monthly course on “The Role of the Associate/Assistant Minister.”

Bishop Brookins is the Executive Producer of “The Inspirational Hour” Telecast, which is aired over Chicago Cable TV 36 Wednesdays from 9:30-10:30 PM (CST) and Thursdays from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM (CST) in the Chicagoland area. Bishop Brookins can also be viewed and heard weekly teaching Bible Study on Thursdays at 7:00 PM (CST) on the church’s social media platforms of YouTube, Facebook, and Holyconnection.tv. He is also the CEO of L.A. Brookins Ministries, Inc. and has authored numerous books, workbooks, and manuals that can be purchased on his website, www.labrookins.org, as well as on other online retail stores, such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Bishop Brookins is a gifted preacher, teacher, and writer who loves sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as edifying and equipping the body of Christ to do the work of the Kingdom of God to the glory of God. His motto: “It’s All About the Kingdom!”

Dr. Sandra D. Brookins

Dr. Sandra D. Brookins was born in Canton, Mississippi but raised in Chicago, Illinois. As a preschooler, her parents, Percy L. Davis and Eva L. Harris-Davis brought her to church for Sunday School and morning worship service every Sunday. In the summer of 1970, at the age of 8, Sandra committed her life to Christ and was baptized under the leadership of Rev. Eugene Henley, pastor of Greater Mount Olivet MBC. Throughout her Christian experience, Sandra has been a choir member, choir director, bulletin coordinator, Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Secretary, church announcer, and Sunday School Superintendent. Today, she continues to teach Sunday School as well as the TFTC New Members Orientation class.

Sandra married Bishop Larry A. Brookins on July 10, 1998 and was blessed with a son, Jordan Isaiah, exactly one year later. She credits her spiritual growth to her husband who she believes God has anointed to teach His Word so that Christians are better prepared to “let their lights shine . . .” [Matthew 5:16].

Dr. Brookins has earned several degrees – a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education minoring in mathematics; a master’s degree in Reading/Literacy; a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and most recently, a doctorate degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

Dr. Brookins began her career in education with Chicago Public Schools as a 7 th /8 th grade reading and mathematics teacher. Later, she transitioned to a high school setting and taught Algebra I and Algebra 2 Trigonometry. Her success as
a high school teacher brought about a promotion and she was hired to become a citywide mentor for 1 st and 2 nd year teachers new to CPS. A short time later, she received another promotion and became an instructional coach with several networks in CPS. Today, Dr. Brookins serves as an administrator at a middle school in a suburb of Chicago and is grateful for the opportunity to support middle school teachers in their literacy work with a diverse population of students.

In her spare time, Dr. Brookins loves reading, bargain shopping, traveling with her husband, studying and teaching God’s Word and chatting/spending time with her son, Jordan Isaiah Brookins.

Church History

In the month of June 1953, a Missionary Group was formed at 310 W. 43^rd Street in Chicago, IL under the leadership of Rev. Clarence L. Brookins. Services were held every Sunday afternoon, and as the mission group increased in number there grew a need for a church to be established. Therefore, in the month of September of 1953 a body of ministers was called together to organize this body of believers and ‘New Foundation Baptist Church’ was started with Rev. Clarence L. Brookins as its Pastor. As the church continued to grow, there grew a need for a church home and New Foundation Baptist Church settled down at 38^th and South State Street (Chicago). While here, different auxiliaries were organized, such as: a Sunday School Department, Choir, Usher Board, and others. However, due to reconstruction and demolition in the area of the church, New Foundation relocated and found a temporary home at a funeral home that was located at 49^th and South State Street (Chicago). Later, with the prayers of Pastor Brookins and the Lord’s blessings, New Foundation moved to 48^th and South Champlain Avenue (Chicago), where it shared a fellowship with Rev. Johnson and Zion Temple Baptist Church. With the help of Rev. Johnson, New Foundation relocated to 540 East 43^rd Street (Chicago) and while here, the church began a weekly radio broadcast over radio station WEDC, becoming the first black church to broadcast over that station.

Three churches were birth out of New Foundation while at 540 East 43^rd Street, and as the church continued to grow, once again it needed to relocate to accommodate the growing congregation and New Foundation found a home at 4620 South Cottage Grove Avenue (Chicago). Later, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church and New Foundation joined together as one church and moved to 4315 South Cottage Grove Avenue (Chicago). However, after 2 years the churches dissolved due to merging conflicts in 1964 and New Foundation changed its name to ‘True Foundation Missionary Baptist Church.’ Through the faithful contributions of its members, True Foundation moved to Tabernacle Center where the church held a weekly broadcast every Sunday evening from 7 – 8 pm over radio station WSBC. From there, the church relocated to 7427-35 South Cottage Grove Avenue (Chicago) where it remained for several years until it moved to its present location of 8801 South Normal Avenue (Chicago) in 1982, and once again, the name was changed to ‘True Foundation Church-Baptist.’ In June of 2001, True Foundation merged with Transformation Ministries under the pastorate of Rev Dr. Larry A. Brookins, Dr. C.L.’s son, and the name was once again changed to what it is called today, ‘True Foundation Transformation Church,’ and as Dr. C.L. retired in November of 2002, Rev. Dr. Larry A. Brookins, now Bishop Larry A. Brookins, became the Pastor of these joint churches, and the church continues to flourish in many ways to the glory of God, purchasing a house, which became an educational building, and other surrounding properties enabling the church to have adequate parking spaces for its worshippers.

In the tradition of the church, True Foundation continued its outreach through radio broadcasting over several stations and later expanding to television, currently telecasting over Chicago Cable TV Channel 36 every Wednesday night from 9:30 – 10:30 pm and Thursdays from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm for well over 30 years now. From the leadership of Dr. C.L. Brookins to Bishop Larry A. Brookins, the vision and the work of the church continues from one generation to the next, as souls are still being added to the church, and the body of Christ is still being edified through preaching, and teaching, and fellowship, and outreach, and it does not yet appear what the future has in store through the ministries of True Foundation Transformation Church. God be praised!

Mission & Beliefs

Mission Statement

To bear witness to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ with a goal of converting the unsaved community for the Kingdom of God to the glory of God. Thereafter, we endeavor to teach and train new believers on how to fulfill the Great Commission of the Church, which is to make disciples of all nations of the earth and to baptize them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Statements of Belief

THE BIBLE:

We believe the Bible, comprised of the Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word. We also believe the Bible to be inerrant in the original writings, God-breathed, and the complete and final authority for faith and practice. While still using the individual writing styles of the human authors, the Holy Spirit perfectly guided them to ensure they wrote precisely what He wanted written, without error or omission.

GOD:

We believe in one God, who is Creator of all, who has revealed Himself in three distinct Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet who is one in being, essence, and glory. We believe God is eternal, infinite, sovereign, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and unchanging. We also believe that God is holy, just, and righteous―that God is love, gracious, merciful, and good.

JESUS CHRIST:

We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ. We believe that He is God incarnate, God in human form, the express image of the Father, who, without ceasing to be God, became man in order that He might demonstrate who God is and provide the means of salvation for humanity. We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary; that He is truly and fully God and man; that He lived a perfect, and sinless life; that all His teachings are true and worthy of obedience. We believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for all humanity as a substitutionary sacrifice. We also hold that His death is sufficient to provide salvation for all who believe in Him and receive Him as Savior; that our justification is grounded in the shedding of His blood and that it is attested by His literal and physical resurrection from the dead. We believe that Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven in His glorified body and is now seated at the right hand of God as our High Priest and Advocate.

THE HOLY SPIRIT:

We believe in the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit. We believe that He regenerates sinners and indwells believers. We believe He is the agent by whom Christ baptizes all believers into His body and that He is the seal by whom the Father guarantees the salvation of believers unto the day of redemption. We also believe that He is the Divine Teacher who illumines believers’ hearts and minds as they study the Word of God and that He is ultimately sovereign in the distribution of spiritual gifts, endowing every believer with at least one spiritual gift to be utilized for the good of the one body―the Church.

SALVATION:

We believe that salvation is a gift of God’s grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. We believe that Christ’s death fully accomplished justification through faith and redemption from sin, and that Christ died in our place and bore our sins in His own body, and that on the third day after His death, Jesus physically rose again, demonstrating His victory over sin and death, by the Will of Power of God the Father. We believe salvation is received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. We also believe that good works and obedience are results of salvation, not requirements for salvation, and that due to the greatness, sufficiency, and perfection of Christ’s sacrifice, all those who have truly received Christ as Savior are eternally secure in salvation, kept by God’s power, secured and sealed in Christ forever. We believe that just as salvation cannot be earned by good works, neither does it need good works to be maintained or sustained―good works and changed lives are the inevitable results of salvation.

THE CHURCH:

We believe that the Church, the Body of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all believers of this present age. We believe in the ordinances of believer’s water baptism by immersion as a testimony to Christ and identification with Christ, and that the Lord’s Supper is a memorial meal of remembrance of Christ’s death and shed blood. We believe that through the church, believers are to be taught to obey the Lord Jesus Christ and to testify concerning their faith in Him as Savior, as well as to honor Him by holy and righteous living. We believe in the Great Commission as the primary mission of the Church and that it is the obligation of all believers to witness, by word and life, to the truths of God’s Word, proclaiming the Gospel of Grace to all the inhabitants of the earth.