Pleasant Grove M. B. Church - About Pleasant Grove M. B. Church

Greeting in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Pleasant Grove M. B. Church has been a major part of this community for 147 years. This church have produce some great preachers, and members. Many have moved on to persue what God has called them to do, and our Lord and Savior has called so many home. A church that's filled with so much love, and spirit. If you're ever in this area, and would like to learn more about our church, please feel free to drop in. May God richly bless you. Church Motto: If we pray together, we'll stay together, if we grow together, we'll go together, some may say where are we going pastor, we're going to the next level, because Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Pastor Edward Richardson Jr.

Statement of Beliefs

Beliefs

We believe that all Scriptures are inspired by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, and correction for training in righteousness. We believe that all Scriptures center about the Lord Jesus Christ in His person and work, in His first and second coming, and hence that no portion, even of the Old Testament, is properly read or understood, until it leads to Him. (Luke 24:27,44; John 5:39; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16)

The Triune Godhead
We believe in the one true and living God, the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer and Ruler of all things. He is infinite, external, unchangeable and is revealed to us as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

     God the Father: God, as Father, reigns over all of His universe with providential care. He is all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing, and all wise. He is fatherly in attitude toward all men but is Father, indeed, to those who have become children of God through Jesus Christ, who will deliver them into the Father's hands. (Genesis 1:1; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Jeremiah 10:10, Matthew 6:9; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14,15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Ephesians 4:6)

     God the Son: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. This redemption He accomplished by voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God's righteous judgement against sin. After substantiating the accomplishment of that redemption/justification by His bodily resurrection from the grave, He ascended to the right hand of His Father where He intercedes on behalf of those who trust Him. (Luke 1:34; John 1:1,2,14,18; Romans 3:24-26,8:34)

     God the Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Devine Person who convicts the of sin (righteousness and judgement), that He alone brings new life to those who are spiritually dead; that He baptizes (or places) all believers into the one true Church, which is the Body of Christ; that He indwells them permanently, seals them unto the day of final redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them, fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him. Every believer is called to live so in the power of the indwelling Spirit that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God. (John 3:3-8, 14:16,17; 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11,13; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18)

We Believe that man was created directly by and in the image of God. We believe that God created the heavens and earth, including all life, by direct act. (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16,17)

We Believe that salvation is the gift of God's grace. It cannot be gained or made more secure by meritorious works, but freely bestowed upon all who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary. All who trust in the Savior are forgiven of their sins and born into the family of God by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. (John 1:12; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 10:9,10; Ephesians 1:7,2:8-9)

We Believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the mason of the fall of man, and is destined to the judgement of an eternal punishment in the lake of fire. (Matthew 4:1-3; Acts 5:3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10)

We Believe that every man is the steward of his life and resources which ultimately belong to God. We believe that tithing is a measure of obedience to the scriptural principles of stewardship.

We Believe in the worship of the Lord through singing, clapping, and the lifting of hands. We believe in the authority of the believer to ask freely of the Lord for his needs.

We Believe that evangelism is the obligation of every follower of Jesus Christ. The Lord commands us to go out and make disciples of all the earth. We believe that each person is first responsible to evangelism in their own family as the Holy Spirit leads them and gives them the ability.

We Believe in the ordinance of water baptism by immersion in obedience to the Word of God. Water baptism does not save us from sin but is an outward sign of an inward relationship with God. Holy Communion is an ordinance that remind us that His blood offer forgiveness for sin and that His body was broken for our healing. (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12)

We Believe in the rapture, that the dead in Christ will rise first, and those who are alive and remain shall be caught up to meet Jesus in the air.

We Believe that after death, eternal life begins either in heaven or hell; where one spend eternity is based on one's decision to live according to God's Word and commandments or to rebel against God.

Church History

Years and Years ago people would gather wherever they could and have church. There were no fancy buildings or padded pews, but there was a sincere desire to praise God for all He had done in the lives of His people. Many of those people are long gone and forgotten but a little church by the name of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church somehow seemed to stand through it all.
Pleasant Grove was founded in1862 by Rev. Aaron Ware. We were not fortunate enough to know the founding pastor, but the inheritance he left us was enough to know that he was after God's own heart with the desire to serve the people of God. During these early years not much was recorded on the church,but its establishment was honored by God and continues to be shaped as only He would have it.
The first location of the church was Brush Harbo(CarsonLake). However because of the increase in membership the church was later moved to Semmes Street(present location) and a new building was built by Rev. Leroy Jackson in 1938. With all of the praises going up, God saw fit to bless Pleasant Grove once again with an increased number of members. The increased was so that the church was soon rebuilt under the leadership of Rev.R.C. Cravin in 1940.After his leadership Rev. R.W. Guy was the pastor, although not much is known about his leadership he also contribute to Pleasant Grove being here today. In 1944 Rev. S.L.A. Jones became the pastor and under his leadership the youth choir , B.T.U, Sunshine Band, Necessity Club, Missionary Society, Willing workers Club and Deaconess Board was formed.
Many churches have started and fallen by the wayside, but even today Pleasant Grove has continued to prosper in the spirit and in the physical.

Recognition of Oldest Member

Mother Annie Mae Smith

Recgnition of Oldest Membership

Mother Louise Blackwell
76 Years

Sister Rachel Mae Thompson
64 Years

Mother Annie Mae Smith
58Years

Mother Annie Mae Collins
57 Years

Mother Ophelia Valliant
39 years

Past Pastor of Pleasant Grove

Rev. Aaron Ware
1862

Rev. Leroy Jackson
1938

Rev.R.C. Cravins
1940

Rev. R.W. Guy
unknown

Rev.S.L.A. Jones
1944-1970

Rev. W.F. Jones
1970-1971

Rev. Milton Jones
1970-1981

Rev. Moses Black
1981-1983

Rev. Will Long. Jr.
1984-1993

Rev.Larry T. Richmond Sr.
1993-2002

Rev. Cecil B. Thomas. Jr.
2002-2005

Rev. Edward Richardson Jr.
present