Bishop Harold Nathaniel Brooks, Jr., is indeed a God-sent preacher who knew very early in life that God intended him for a higher purpose. Pastor Brooks credits his maternal grandmother, Anna Stinger, a humble laborer in the vineyard of Providence Baptist Church in Leesburg, Virginia for his early exposure to the “Great Commission” and for nurturing his feeling of a higher calling. Bishop Brooks began his ministerial walk in 1994 after expressing an “irresistible urge to preach” to the Rev. Dr. Harold S. Stinger, Pastor of First Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Leesburg, Virginia. He was licensed to preach in 1996. He joined Purity in January of 2000, and in September of that year, the late Rev. Dr. J. Terry Wingate ordained him. While at Purity, he served as an Associate Minister. In April 2002, he was called to pastor Zion Baptist Church of Eastland Gardens in Washington, D.C. Pastor Brooks was called to the pastorate of First Baptist Church in December 2004 and began his ministry at First Baptist Church in February 2005 installed as the church’s 14th pastor on April 5, 2005.

Pastor Brooks is a native of Washington, D.C. and an honors graduate of Howard University, where he received a Master of Divinity and B.A. degree in Communications and a Doctorate of Ministry from Virginia Union, in May 2007. Pastor Brooks is also a member of many Organizations and Associations. On August 27, 2022 at the Rock Christian Center in Falls Church, Virginia, he was consecrated to the office of bishop with the House of Paul Ecumenical (HOPE). In October 2022, Bishop Brooks united with the Global United Fellowship, and now serves as the District Bishop of Washington DC for Global United Fellowship. In July 2024, Bishop Brooks was awarded “District Leader of the Year” for the Mid Atlantic Province of Global United Fellowship.