Two Sunday Mornings on Route 291
At 1600 North State Route 291 on the north edge of Liberty, Missouri, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church greets visitors twice every Sunday morning. Worship services are held at 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., with the same message preached at each gathering and live-streamed online for those who want to watch from home. Lead Pastor Zac Hufty and the rest of the staff state the church's purpose in a single line: "To Know Jesus, Become like Jesus, and Lead others to do the same." That mission shapes everything from the weekly schedule to the missionary partnerships that carry PV people to Sierra Leone, India, Greece and Ecuador.
What to Expect on Your First Sunday
Guests can pull into a designated "Guest Parking" space on the east side of the building and follow the signs from there. At the Main Entrance, a host team answers questions, points families to the right rooms and helps with anything else that comes up. The dress code is intentionally relaxed: some people arrive in their Sunday best, others in jeans and a t-shirt, and all are welcomed.
Nursery, Children's Ministry and Middle School small groups are available during both the 9:00 and 10:45 services, so families with kids can drop them off and head into the worship center without juggling schedules. The church also runs a separate Chapel service with its own worship leader, giving members who prefer a quieter setting an option beyond the main worship center.
PV Kids from Birth Through Fifth Grade
PV Kids is the umbrella for everything happening with children on the Liberty campus. At both Sunday services, the nursery cares for the littlest learners and Kids Crossing welcomes preschoolers with a place to experience the love of God through caring adults. Kindergarten through fifth grade meets at the same hours for interactive Bible teaching, worship and games led by trusted adult leaders.
Midweek programming adds another layer. Kids Rally runs on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for birth through fifth grade, giving kids a place to find community and engage with the Bible while their parents participate in the Wednesday evening adult classes on the same campus. The children's ministry team, led by Children's Ministry Director Kim Wilson, also produces a weekly parent email and keeps an active Facebook and Instagram presence for families.
For families who want sports as well as Sunday school, Upward Sports offers basketball (grades K-5, January through March), flag football (grades 2-8, April through June) and soccer (grades K-8, August through October). The leagues emphasize fundamentals, positive coaching and personal and spiritual growth for every player.
Kids Connection Learning Center Preschool
Sharing the Pleasant Valley campus is Kids Connection Learning Center (KCLC), a Christian preschool that is open during the school year for ages 18 months through Pre-K and Transitional Kindergarten. KCLC is part-time, not a full-time daycare, and offers two schedules: a 2-day program on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a 3-day program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, both running from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Class sizes are intentionally small, with child-to-teacher ratios that exceed state requirements, and the daily rhythm includes monthly themes, Bible principles, free play, snack, story, lunch and rest time, with crafts, music and P.E. added for children two and older. Director Karole Morehead oversees a waiting-list admissions process; tours are available by request.
PV Students for Middle and High School
Middle school and high school students have a dedicated ministry called PV Students, led by a team of staff and small-group leaders under the umbrella of Next Gen Pastor Wes Payne. The goal is to create safe environments where every student belongs and takes a next step with Jesus.
MSM Sunday Mornings meets during both the 9:00 and 10:45 services in the Student Center. Middle schoolers hang out with friends, worship together, hear a short message and then break into small groups with adult leaders. On Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., the same group gathers for Midweek with games, worship and a Bible teaching that's easy to bring a friend to.
High school students meet on Sunday nights from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the newly renovated Student Center for HSM Sunday Nights, the flagship weekly program that includes Jesus-centered teaching, energetic worship, rec time and small groups. Parents stay in the loop through a dedicated parent email list and the PV Parents Facebook group.
Twenty-Somethings and Young Adults
For the 18-to-29 crowd, Pleasant Valley runs Twenty-Somethings (sometimes written Twenties KC), a weekly gathering centered on Bible study and community. The group meets on Thursday evenings in the Commons and Library, with rotating teachers and plenty of room for newcomers. A private Instagram and Facebook page share the latest meetup details, and the ministry also takes annual mission trips, including a 2024 journey to Greece where team members served alongside Greek high schoolers and church leaders.
Adults: Group Life, Discipleship Groups and Marriage
The spiritual rhythm for adults runs through three overlapping structures. Community Groups are gospel communities where people belong, encounter Christ in His Word and become who God designed them to be; they meet in homes and on campuses across the area, generally organized by life stage. Discipleship Groups (D-Groups) are smaller still, gender-specific groups of three to five men or women who commit for twelve months to Bible reading, H.E.A.R. journaling, Scripture memory, accountability and prayer, with the goal of multiplying themselves by starting new groups at the end of the cycle.
For couples, the Marriage Ministry offers Merge pre-marital discipleship for engaged and seriously dating couples, the SYMBIS assessment with four to six facilitator sessions, and Re|Engage for marriages that need reigniting or resurrection. The PV Counseling Center, an in-house counseling resource, provides professional support for families and individuals who need help healing mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Women's Ministry and Men's Ministry
The SHE Ministry exists to encourage women, teach about God and create community. Studies, events and gatherings cover a wide range of seasons and stages of life, and a private Facebook group called She Connects keeps members up to date on what's coming next.
Men's Ministry exists to connect men of different generations for fellowship, Bible study and spiritual growth. Jay Minnick coordinates the ministry, which hosts regular men's events as well as ongoing Bible study and accountability opportunities. Pastoral staff and ministry coordinators for both men's and women's ministries serve alongside volunteers drawn from the broader congregation.
Care Ministries on Wednesday Nights at 6:30
One of the most distinctive rhythms at Pleasant Valley is its Wednesday evening care track. At 6:30 p.m. each week, a set of support groups runs simultaneously across the campus, so anyone walking through a hard season can find a place to land without having to wait for a particular series to begin.
GriefShare supports people who have lost a loved one. DivorceCare is a thirteen-week program for those healing from separation or divorce, with a one-night Surviving the Holidays event held each year. Embrace Grace surrounds women navigating an unexpected pregnancy with a judgment-free community. If Money Talked is a five-week study that approaches budgeting and stewardship from a biblical perspective. Steps is a gospel-centered healing resource for people wrestling with patterns of sin or suffering. Resilience God Style focuses on the spiritual side of bouncing back from life's hardships. Healing Conversations, led by the Stephen Ministry team, equips members to listen well and provide emotional and spiritual care to others.
Two specialty groups meet monthly: Women of Hope gathers on the fourth Wednesday for women walking through any cancer diagnosis as well as those in remission or long-term survivorship. The Sisterhood meets on the third Thursday and exists for widows seeking encouragement and relationship.
Individual Support, Counseling and Practical Help
Outside the Wednesday groups, Pleasant Valley runs a Stephen Ministry of trained lay people who walk one-to-one with individuals going through loneliness, anxiety, grief, divorce, job loss, illness or other life events. A team of Financial Coaches offers budgeting guidance and accountability rooted in biblical principles. The PV Counseling Center provides professional, Christ-centered counseling for those who need more than a peer-led group. Two additional ministries, Hospital and Homebound, send volunteers to visit members who cannot attend services, and PV Cars accepts donated vehicles (model year 2009 or newer with working engines and transmissions) to support neighbors in need.
Mission Engagement: From Neighborhoods to Nations
Mission Engagement frames the church's local and global work under a single motto: "From Neighborhoods to Nations." The team, led by Pastor Brad Daniel, mobilizes people around the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-38) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). Local missions take the form of partnerships with organizations already serving in the Kansas City area, including ongoing work with Hillcrest Hope of Liberty and Love In Christ (Love INC) of Clay County. Recent posts describe spring break serve trips for PV Students in Kansas City, New York City and South Bend, Indiana.
Internationally, Pleasant Valley supports ongoing ministry in Sierra Leone, India, Greece and Ecuador. Teams travel from the Liberty campus for short-term projects (painting and maintenance at Greek evangelical churches, refugee ministry in Athens, teaching Re|Engage marriage curriculum to pastors in multiple countries) and channel financial support through a dedicated Missions Fund and trip-specific giving. Members can also join the Mission Engagement Facebook group to keep up with partners, prayer requests and upcoming trips.
Beliefs, Values and the Statement of Faith
Pleasant Valley teaches historic Christian orthodoxy from a Baptist perspective. The church's statement of faith affirms belief in one God existing eternally in three co-equal persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit); the full deity and sinless humanity of Jesus Christ, His death, burial and bodily resurrection; the present ministry of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer and gives spiritual gifts; the Bible as the inspired, inerrant Word of God; and the creation of human beings in God's image, marred by sin and in need of salvation.
Salvation is described as a free gift received by faith in Jesus Christ, eternal security as the believer's persevering hope grounded in God's power, and baptism by immersion as the New Testament pattern and a prerequisite for church membership. The Lord's Supper is observed as a symbolic remembrance of Christ's death.
On marriage, the church formally aligns with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, defining Christian marriage as the spiritual and physical union of one man and one woman in an exclusive lifelong covenant and reserving officiating at weddings on church property to licensed or ordained ministers who share that conviction.
The five values are Gospel-Centered, taking next steps of growth, doing life together, strengthening families and practicing whole-life generosity. The mission statement ties them together: "Inspire and Equip People to Know Jesus, Become like Jesus, and Lead others to do the same."
The Pastoral Team and Staff
Lead Pastor Zac Hufty leads a large staff of ministry directors, ministry pastors and support personnel. Pastor Chase Carlisle oversees the Worship Arts team that leads the main services, while Michael Schiller serves as the Chapel Worship Leader for the alternate service. The student ministry is anchored by Wes Payne as Next Gen Pastor and Nathaniel Kuhns as Student Minister. Care Ministries Pastor John Newsom oversees grief, divorce and recovery groups. Pastor Ryan Long runs the Next Steps pathway that walks newcomers from a first visit toward baptism and beyond. Pastor Josh Herod leads Spiritual Development, the umbrella for adult group environments, and Caleb Eissler serves as Adult Minister.
Children's Ministry Director Kim Wilson, Preschool Ministry Director Kim Glover and Brittni Kingston (Women's Ministry Coordinator) and Jay Minnick (Men's Ministry Coordinator) round out the ministry leadership alongside Director Lindy Sheets who connects newcomers to ministries. Cassidy Zambrano leads the production side of the Worship Arts team, and John Mills serves as Creative Arts Minister. The church is governed by an autonomous Leadership Team consistent with the Baptist conviction of congregational polity.
Serving at PV
Every Sunday happens because a large volunteer team shows up. The serving page lists roughly a dozen ministry areas where members can plug in: Next Generation (kids), Guest Services, Next Steps, Mission Engagement, Worship Arts, Communications, Care, Spiritual Development, Safety, Administrative Support, Facilities and Grounds, and Environments and Experiences. Signing up for a role is a specific commitment for a season rather than a permanent obligation, and the staff helps newcomers find a fit based on their gifts and availability.
Giving and Financial Accountability
Pleasant Valley is accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), which requires standards of biblical accountability, board governance, financial transparency, integrity in fundraising and proper use of charitable resources. Members and visitors can give through the Church Center app or online, by dropping a gift in the giving boxes in the back of the worship center or near the east and west entrances, by using the drop box near the Chapel entrance on the west side of the building, or by mail. Gifts of stock, planned gifts and other assets can be arranged by contacting the accounting office at 816-781-5959. A portion of every gift can be directed to the Missions Fund to support local and global partnerships.
Digital Tools for Staying Connected
The Church Center app ties everything together. Members and visitors can register for events, pre-check their kids before arriving on campus and set up recurring giving. The Message podcast and a longer Podcast by Pleasant Valley distribute recent sermons, and the YouTube channel carries full services and recent messages. Free access to RightNow Media, a streaming library of Bible studies and curriculum, is available to anyone connected with the church. A weekly PV Update email and articles at pleasantvalley.org keep members in the loop with stories from missionaries, devotionals and ministry news.
Getting Around the Building
For newcomers trying to learn their way around, the church runs a Building Tour as part of its Next Steps pathway. Worship services take place in the main Worship Center; the Student Center houses PV Students and Midweek; the Chapel and its adjoining west-side drop-off serve the alternate service; and the Commons and Library host Twenty-Somethings and other adult gatherings. Guest parking is on the east side; the Main Entrance opens directly into the worship center lobby where hosts are stationed to answer questions.