Brooks Andrews is the son of Reverend Emery Andrews of the Seattle Japanese Baptist Church. At the time of World War II, Brooks was four years old. Before the war Rev. Andrews and his family would frequently travel to Bainbridge Island for a joint service with Reverend Hirakawa, of the Lighthouse Baptist Church on Bainbridge Island, and also for Sunday picnics and outings. During the war, with all the Japanese Americans gone, Rev. Andrews moved his family to Twin Falls, Idaho to continue to minister to his congregation. Brooks grew up playing with children from the Japanese American community.