Bishop Phillip Aquilla Brooks was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 21, 1931, to Deacon James and Eleanor Brooks. He accepted Christ at an early age and was filled with the Holy Ghost during a revival led by Evangelist E.E. Cleveland. In 1949, following the leading of the Holy Ghost, he relocated to Detroit, Michigan—a move that would define the course of his ministry and his life.

In Detroit, he met Doris, the love of his life. They were united in holy matrimony on February 2, 1952, in the home of Bishop William M. Winston. Their union produced two children, Faithe and Phillip, and their marriage endured for more than sixty‑eight years, marked by devotion, partnership, and unwavering commitment to God and to one another.

In 1954, with his wife, his mother‑in‑law, and a room full of borrowed chairs, Elder Brooks founded the New St. Paul Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in their Detroit home. The ministry quickly grew, moving first to East Warren and later to a former bank building on Grand River and Kentucky. Under his leadership, New St. Paul flourished spiritually and numerically, becoming a vibrant center of worship, holiness, and community service. Bishop Brooks pastored New St. Paul for sixty‑six years, faithfully shepherding the congregation until his transition to the Church Triumphant on April 9, 2020.

As the church expanded, Elder Brooks was entrusted with greater responsibilities within the Northeast Michigan Jurisdiction. He served in District 21, was elevated to Superintendent, and led the Northeast State Choir under Bishop C.J. Johnson. His gifts in administration, music, and pastoral care became evident early in his ministry.

Bishop Brooks served the Church of God in Christ in numerous capacities—pastor, jurisdictional bishop, national official, builder, author, civic leader, husband, father, and friend. Above all, he was known as a man of deep spirituality and sincere worship. In 1975, he was consecrated as the Jurisdictional Prelate of the Historic First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Michigan. Over the next several decades, he became one of the longest‑serving bishops in the state’s history and the senior bishop across several Midwestern states and Ontario, Canada.

Beginning in 1984, and at every national election thereafter, he was chosen to serve on the General Board, the governing body of the Church of God in Christ. In 2007, he was elevated to the office of Second Assistant Presiding Bishop by Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr.

Bishop Brooks expanded his ministry far beyond the pulpit. He founded the “March of Faith” radio and television broadcast, which ministered to people in homes, hospitals, and correctional facilities for nearly thirty years. He was among the first COGIC bishops to establish a digital presence for both his church and jurisdiction, and one of the earliest to livestream Sunday worship services online.

His compassion for people led him to develop ministries in education, housing, and community support. He founded the Grandmont‑Rosedale Christian School and Day Care, built Faith Manor Senior Apartments, and led the New St. Paul Non‑Profit Housing Corporation. Under his leadership, the church offered tutoring, business development programs, food distribution, job placement, day care, senior services, and annual Thanksgiving basket outreach to hundreds of families. He also produced two worship recordings—Live in Praise and Alive in Praise 2—which became sources of encouragement and testimony for many.

Within the jurisdiction, Bishop Brooks strengthened churches and pastors through visionary programs and initiatives. He helped establish Faith Community Mortgage LLC, the first Black‑owned mortgage company within the denomination. He created insurance and benefit programs for pastors and widows, and he led the jurisdiction in acquiring and renovating the Cathedral Conference Center, its official headquarters. His leadership contributed to the construction, renovation, or financing of more than fifty churches across the jurisdiction.

As an author and teacher, Bishop Brooks co‑authored Understanding Bible Doctrine as Taught in the Church of God in Christ, a widely used study guide for ministers preparing for ordination. The book has been translated into Spanish, and for more than a decade he donated all proceeds to the National Church.

During more than twenty years on the General Board, Bishop Brooks served as Secretary, Interim Bishop in multiple states, Chairman of the New Bishops Training Committee, and a strong supporter of global missions in Africa, Haiti, Asia, and South America. Earlier in his ministry, he became the first Chief Adjutant of the Church of God in Christ, serving the Presiding Bishop and the General Board for fourteen years. His national contributions included coordinating the denomination’s first live nationwide webcast, chairing scholarship and youth committees, and producing the first national COGIC television special.

Beyond the church, Bishop Brooks was deeply involved in civic life. He served on the Board of Directors of First Independence Bank for twelve years and on the board of the Museum of African American History in Detroit. Lewis College of Business awarded him an honorary doctorate for his humanitarian work, and in 2006 he was inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum for his contributions as a musician, worship leader, and supporter of sacred music. He was also a founding member of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, served as Guest Chaplain to the 102nd Congress, and received the FBI Outstanding Community Service Award.

Through his leadership, generosity, and steadfast devotion, Bishop Phillip Aquilla Brooks enriched countless lives and strengthened the spiritual foundation of the Church of God in Christ. His legacy continues to inspire generations, and the impact of his ministry will endure for years to come.