John Leslie Brooks is a native of Kansas City, Missouri, and the seventh child of Ruby Jean Brooks. He is married to Mrs. Teri C. Brooks, and they have two sons, Benjamin and John II. Pastor Brooks received his high school diploma from Lincoln Academy in Kansas City, Missouri. He received a football scholarship from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology and a Minor in Social Work. He is also certified to teach in Kansas City, Missouri. In May 2003, Pastor Brooks graduated from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, earning his Masters of Divinity. 

After graduating from Lincoln University, Pastor Brooks moved back to Kansas City and procured employment as the program director with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. Within eight short months, he was promoted to Unit Director of the John T. Thornberry Boys and Girls Club. After holding that position for two years, Pastor Brooks was promoted to Area Director, and in September of 1993, Pastor Brooks became Vice President of Operations for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. Pastor Brooks resigned his position at the Boys and Girls Club on November 15, 1998, to become the full-time pastor of Macedonia.

Pastor Brooks was called to the ministry and licensed in August of 1988 under the late Dr. Mac Charles Jones, who was then pastor at St. Stephens Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. He was ordained by the late Pastor Preston Allen Jr. at Macedonia Baptist Church. Pastor John L. Brooks was called to pastor Macedonia Baptist Church on April 19, 1997.

Under the pastorate of Pastor Brooks, several new ministries were introduced; Macedonia hired its first full-time youth pastor, Financial Secretary, Office Manager, and Administrative Assistant; several brothers accepted their call to preach the gospel; and numerous deacons have accepted their call to serve. There have been many outreach endeavors under his pastorate, including the Senior Outreach Luncheon, Door-to-Door witnessing in the Greater Kansas City area, Freedom Fire, pancake breakfast and clothing giveaways, Convoy of Hope, and International Missions trips. Also under Pastor Brooks’s leadership, Macedonia built a new edifice located at 1700 E. Linwood, still in the heart of Kansas City, to accommodate its rapid growth and to continue the mission “To Lead Men, Women, Boys, and Girls to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.”