B.A.S.I.C.S. (Brothers And Sisters in Christ Serving) is a Christian nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created in 1996 to strengthen churches and Christian outreach ministries throughout the metropolitan area. The group supports dozens of city ministries such as prison and re-entry ministries, community outreach events, recovery programs, youth activities and many others.
Strengthening churches
From the beginning, BASICS has focused on forming partnerships between city churches and suburban churches. This effort has resulted in many helpful and practical projects to help inner city churches. BASICS has assisted more than 200 church pastors and 100 outreach ministry leaders, equipping them through training, support, and access to needed resources like a network of urban contractors to help with construction projects.
Leveraging resources
BASICS currently supports over 30 smaller ministries that are unable to be financially independent. BASICS Ministers to Milwaukee (M2M) receive support through BASICS to equip their work and increase their impact. In 2001, BASICS in Milwaukee, Inc. became the financial fiduciary agent for the ministers working in Milwaukee. The generous and sacrificial giving of local churches and individuals helps provide for those who are hurting and enable these workers to focus on reaching out to the lost in Milwaukee. In addition to financial support, hundreds of volunteers are actively involved in many ways. They donate their time, talents, treasure, touch and tears for the work of God in Milwaukee.
LEADERSHIP
Co-Presidents Gary and Laurie Hendrickson
Under the leadership of Arn Quakkelaar, founder and CEO Emeritus, alongside Co-Presidents Gary and Laurie Hendrickson, BASICS continues to serve the citizens of Milwaukee with the love and care of Christ. BASICS ministers with the time and talent of its staff, Ministers to Milwaukee, and volunteers, made possible by the treasure of friends like you. By adding the caring touch of qualified ministers and friends and the tears of empathy, BASICS reaches those who need help the most.
Learn More
Read the Blog
Hear the latest from members of BASICS about the work of God happening in Milwaukee:
The Lord Jesus Christ, God's son, redeems us through His death and resurrection and empowers us by the Holy Spirit.
The Bible is God's word, and through it we are called to live out justice, reconciliation and redemption.
The church of Christ nurtures God's people who are gathered in the community to carry out God's will.
In the spirit of the unity of Christ's church, BASICS has chosen to use the Nicene Creed as our statement of evangelical belief. This creed was written in AD 325 at the council of Nicea, and revised in AD 381 at the council of Chalcedon. This ancient creed is one that all truly Christian churches can accept and celebrate as a basic statement of our common faith in our risen Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.
The Nicene Creed is as follows:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit the Lord, and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the Prophets. And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
