History

History of Oakbrook Church

Oakbrook Church was planted by Converge Great Lakes in 1994. Our launch team started out meeting in a chiropractic office. Our first public service was held at Ashwaubenon High School on February 5, 1995. We met the next four years at Ashwaubenon High School and the following three years at the Radisson Inn. In 2001, we bought land and built our current facility. We are located at 3600 Lost Lane in De Pere, WI.   

Our founders are Pastor Terry and Susan Martell. Pastor Terry was Oakbrook’s only Lead Pastor until his retirement in June of 2018. Pastor Mark Schmechel served at Oakbrook as a Church Planting Intern and Associate Pastor from November 2001 – November 2003. Oakbrook partnered with Pastor Mark to plant Journey Community Church in east De Pere in September 2004. Pastor Tim Hoeksema has been our Interim Pastor since July 2018.

Our name is taken from two key scriptures: Isaiah 61:1-3, that declares “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor,” and Psalm 1:3 which describes a man as a “tree planted by streams (brooks) of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither. Whatever he does prospers.” We desire to be a fruitful tree displaying God’s splendor. Our goal is to help seekers and believers become faithful followers of Jesus Christ, displaying character fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), conversion fruit (John 15:6) and discipleship fruit (2 Timothy 2:2).

Missions have played an important role in our more recent history. We participate in missions locally, regionally and globally on a regular basis. Our mission called Picnic in the Park (PIP) has taken place each summer for the last seven years. We provide sandwiches, drinks and snacks, and spend time interacting with the children and families in a local inner city park on Wednesdays. For the last eight years at Christmas time, we have filled an average of 100 shoeboxes for children in need in our community. A recent regional mission trip was to City on a Hill in Milwaukee, WI. We also have a partnership with Pastor Diogene Pierre in Haiti.