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“The Bible Way Is the Pleasant Grove Way”
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The History of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church

2801 Conti Street
Houston, Texas 77020

Mailing Address:
P. O.  Box 15256
Houston, Texas 77220

C. L. Jackson, Pastor
Sheldon L. Jackson, Pastor




The journey for Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church began in 1872.  The great 5th Ward was a very small community when Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church was founded by Reverend Stewart, who was pastor of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church.     In a short time the church had bought property at Opelousas and Clark Street and created a beautiful church building.    Pleasant Grove was led by 15 Pastors between 1872 and 1945. Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church continues to grow spiritually, financially and numerically. The services' crowds were always phenomenal. 
In 1921, the old church came down and the new facility was built at Clark and Conti Street, where it is still standing. 

   
Being led by the HOLY SPIRIT the church selected in 1945 the Reverend Aaron A. McCardell, Sr. as the Pastor who served for 21 years. After Reverend McCardell’s became pastor of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, he initiated on January 1, 1948 the Prayer Bowls.  It is a time when people came from all over the world to experience “prayers, praises and testimonies.”  Pastors’, members of other churches flocked to Pleasant Grove to hear the good news of JESUS CHRIST to start their journey in the New Year.
To properly describe the development of the church under this very young man one can only use the word-----Amazing.  The spiritual fervor that gripped the church grasped all worshippers upon attendance to the worship service.  The attendance grew from a mere sprinkling of the faithful members to capacity audiences for both services.  GOD’S grace abounds and His prerequisites prevailed because truly:  “The Bible Way Is The Pleasant Grove Way.”  No one knew to what great heights we would climb, but all could ascertain that the church growth was sure and steady.
As we approach the 21st century the journey toward GOD continues in the
ministry of Pastor Charles L. Jackson, a man who believes that the effectual and fervent prayers of the righteous availeth much. 


As it stands now, Pastor Charles L.  Jackson has been the Pastor for 43 years at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church over 17 years longer than his uncle, the late Pastor A.A. McCardell, Sr.
The Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church has been blessed with an added leadership of the dynamic Pastor Sheldon L. Jackson who has served as Pastor for 13 years.  He is the son of Pastor Charles L. Jackson, and the great nephew of the late Pastor A. A. McCardell, Sr. 
Pastor Sheldon L. Jackson has demonstrated a unique love and commitment to this ministry. Under his leadership he has establish the Family Night ministry, he serves at the second worship location on Walters Road, The Ministry of Inclusion and the ARK Ministry for the families of the church and community.


They have endured because they founded themselves upon the rock of CHRIST JESUS and no man or institution founded there, shall fail.  Great must be our accomplishments because noble has been our heritage.”


Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church has not only seen the disparities of negatives, but there have been some gracious Blessings from GOD. As servants, Pastor C. L. Jackson and Pastor Sheldon L. Jackson have allowed the HOLY SPIRIT to use them to found the A.A. McCardell Academy. It was an educational institution that allowed troubled teens and adults to enter the doors and leave with a testimony and their General Educational Development (GED) degree. 


Pleasant Grove has been an example for many other churches that imitated its structural design. The church has also served as an example to reach out to your fellow man in need. The
church and its leaders happily opened its doors to New Orleans Katrina victims at both locations, providing Red Cross assistance, housing, clothing, food and most of all the WORD of GOD.
This church stands as a pillar for Pastor C. L. Jackson and Pastor Sheldon L. Jackson as they travel across the continent telling others what thus said the LORD. 


Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church is not only a church, a facility to help and serve others; it is a unique band of soldiers mounted up with the Word of GOD to save all that come in its path, walk through its doors, or hear a Word from the men of GOD at this church. It is a place where the infamous attorney the late Johnnie Cochran has crossed its path and spoke to the churches congregation. The Nation of Islam’s Minister Louis Farrakhan drew thousands through the doors and on the streets of the crime infested Fifth Ward community to speak to the men who travelled from around the world. It is a place where all reverence is due to the men of GOD that serve its members, other churches, the community and most of all, GOD.