L. RUSSELL BREWER JR.
31701 Ridge Route Road #110 Castaic, CA 91384 webmaster@nightflare.com · Cell: 661-755-9499 · Home: 661-295-0419
Objective: As the Lord sees fit, my desire is to serve Him by assisting a community of His people to obey His will for their lives. Obedience to Christ comes from a true relationship with Him. Thus my ministry would seek to deepen that relationship through exalting Him by teaching the scriptures, discipling believers to grow in Christlikeness, and evangelizing the lost by bringing God's elect to their Savior. Fast Facts: For a philosophy of ministry and more information, please visit our website: www.nightflare.com. Born in 1972 in WI, raised in NJ, spent 3 summers in ME, lived 8 yrs in IL, 1 summer in CO, 3 yrs in CA. I graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 1996 with a BA in Pastoral Ministries. I have been married five years to a sweet gal named Corinne. She grew up as a PK in OR and CA. We have 2 ½ children—our daughter Alethia is 4 and our son William was 2 in June, and a baby due in July. I graduated from The Master's Seminary with a Masters of Divinity Degree in May 2003. Hobbies Include: Dating my wife, hiking, computers, and sprawling out on the carpet with my kids.
Pastoral experience
1) Church Planter—One at a Time Baptist Church (Jan 2003-Present). Currently on a two-person team planting a church in downtown Los Angeles in what is known as “Skid Row”. I preach most weeks, counsel and pray with attendees, evangelize, visit, street witness, and continue to seek new avenues of discipleship, fellowship, and lasting ministry. The primary focus is to deliver the Word of God at the level where the attendees understand the scriptures so that the Holy Spirit can use it to change their lives. Christ is truly at work in this difficult and drug-infested environment. 2) Student Body Vice President—The Master's Seminary, Sun Valley, CA. (2002-2003). In this position, it was necessary to be spiritually sensitive to the various needs of seminary students, and helping them to develop a biblical perspective concerning the challenges and problems of seminary life. Responsibilities include reading scripture during chapels, planning monthly chapels, organizing several student functions, organizing "welcome" events for new students, and bringing student concerns to the school administration. 3) Admissions and Placement Assistant for Masters Seminary—The Master's Seminary, Sun Valley, CA. (2001-2003) I initially began this position as a representative of the seminary to potential students. Over 2 ½ years, my responsibilities evolved into placing our graduates in pastoral positions by researching churches and suggesting possible candidates from the TMS alumni. 4) Assistant to the Business Pastor—Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows, IL. (1998-2000). My role was to serve the Business Pastor in the oversight of all facility issues including finances, building projects, vehicles, parking ministry, food ministry, benevolence/walk-ins, human resources, etc. My days were filled with serving the 30 person staff, fixing technology issues, pinch-hitting as impromptu “Pastor of the Day” if no other pastoral staff were available, making sure rooms were set up, praying with church members needing counsel, managing heath insurance policies, keeping track of the various budgets, helping to organize huge events, dealing with facility related emergencies, plus whatever else the fast-growing 3500 person church needed—it has now reached an average attendance of 6000. 5) High School Youth Volunteer—Calvary Bible Church, Mundelein, IL. (1997). For several months, I assisted in the High School Youth Program mentoring the students, teaching and serving as a lay leader. 6) Pastoral Intern—New Monmouth Baptist Church, NJ. (Summer, 1995). Assisted with many aspects of pastoral ministry including administrative help, visitation, adult Sunday school, evening service preaching, and preaching in one Sunday morning service. 7) Dormitory Resident Assistant—Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL. (1995-1996). Managed a college dormitory floor of 30 men, offered counseling for most issues that young college men face, established a floor council and appointed officers to administrate floor events, led weekly council meetings, and organized many social activities.
L. RUSSELL BREWER JR.
preaching experience
1) Church Plant Preaching—(January 02-Present) Planting a church and preaching almost weekly. 2) Drug Rehab Preaching—Warms Springs Rehabilitation, Castaic, CA. (Summer, 2002- Summer 2003). A friend led this ministry at a drug rehab center and I have preached there several times. 3) Rescue Mission Preaching—Pacific Garden Mission, Chicago, IL. (Spring, 1996). On a team that preached to drowsy-eyed audiences of 70-100 residents, once preached to an audience of 600-700. 4) Nursing Home Preaching—King James Care Center, Navesink, NJ. (Summer, 1994). Preached several times and helped orchestrate worship services at this nursing home. 5) Extended Testimony Preaching—In various settings, I have delivered my 20-40 minute testimony including churches, several youth groups, a youth group in Croatia, several churches in Jamaica, Yonkers Rescue Mission, and Warm Springs Rehabilitation Center.
teaching experience
1) Retreat Coordinator—(Fall, 2003). Organized and led a small two-day retreat for several of our attendees from our Los Angeles church plant. Included orchestrating travel, housing, and activities. Also led the group through interactive Bible studies and prayer. 2) Adult Sunday school—Fillmore Bible Church, Fillmore CA. (Spring-Summer, 2002). Began a comprehensive adult Sunday school program which took existing classes and folded them into an overall program that systematically taught scripture to the adults. Each Sunday session began with refreshments, worship, and a short devotion delivered by myself. Courses included Hermeneutics, Christology, various practical theologies, and a study of Matthew and part of Isaiah. 3) Elementary Age Sunday school—Grace Community Church, Sun Valley CA. (2000-2001). I spent a school year serving in the 4-5th Grade ministry. The ministry performed a complete children's worship service and I assisted in various functions including co-leading one of the boy's break-out discipleship classes where I gave a mini-sermon that applied that morning’s lesson to their lives. 4) Home Fellowship Group Leader—Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows, IL. (1999). I took an existing Home Fellowship Group through a 12-week course in biblical principles for finances. We enjoyed the fellowship group so much we ended up staying there for the rest of our time in the church. 5) College and Careers—New Monmouth Baptist Church, NJ. (1990-1992). Served under the Senior Pastor and provided administrative leadership to the fellowship group.
short-term mission trips
1) Croatia (July 2002). Taught English classes, preached, gave my testimony, and had a great time developing relationships and evangelizing some sweet high school “hooligans” who milled around the grounds of our English school smoking and palavering. 2) Oklahoma (April, 1996 and 1997). Lots of wonderful preaching out in backcountry Native American churches. Plus I was on a team that went to several schools and held gospel rallies in the gym auditoriums. 3) Utah (April, 1993). Door-to-door witnessing to Mormons, campus evangelism. 4) Jamaica (August, 1991). Taught VBS to four remote mountain churches, often gave my testimony.
organized evangelism
1) 2) 3) 4) Open-Air Street Preaching Chicago, IL. (1992-1993). Preached street gospel messages in Chicago. Tract witnessing Chicago, IL. (1992-1993). Routinely went tract-witnessing in downtown Chicago. Door-to-door Evangelism Cicero, IL. (1994). Served a church doing weekly door-to-door evangelism. Billy Graham Crusade Meadow Lands, NJ. (Summer, 1991). Spent a week serving with the Billy Graham crusade ministry in 1991 in the New York City area. 5) Chicago House AIDS Home Chicago, IL. (1996). Served weekly for nine months in a residence for people dying of AIDS; physically assisted the residents while seeking to share the Gospel and show Christ's love.
31701 Ridge Route Road #110 · Castaic, CA · 91384 · webmaster@nightflare.com 661 -755-9499
L. RUSSELL BREWER JR.
6) Campus Evangelism Provo, UT. (April 1993). In Utah we set up a booth in a local community college and spent hours talking with Mormon college students about the true Jesus.
31701 Ridge Route Road #110 · Castaic, CA · 91384 · webmaster@nightflare.com 661 -755-9499