Pastor Joshua M. West
I was born and raised in Springfield, IL, by God-fearing parents. Hence I was reared in the church and at an early age in life developed a deep, sincere love for serving the Lord. I have always tried to live by the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." It is my goal to live daily treating others as I would like to be treated.
Luke 6:31:
"And just as you want men to do to you, you also do unto them likewise."
In 2000, I was called to the Gospel Ministry where I continue to faithfully serve. From June 2000 until May 2007, I served as the associate minister of the Holy City Missionary Baptist Church in Springfield, IL. During this time, I was the Assistant Sunday School Superintendent, Junior Sunday School Class Teacher, Young Adult Bible Class Teacher, Choir President and Organist. I also had the pleasure of serving as the youth coordinator of Woodriver District Region II which included working with eleven churches within Decatur, Lincoln, Springfield, Jacksonville, and Quincy, Illinois.
Being called higher in the ministry, from 2001 until 2007, I was a lead singer in the gospel quartet group, The Mighty Sons of Zion. We ministered in music all over the country appearing on the Bobby Jones Gospel Show and the Word Network television station. We released two albums entitled, "I Know a Man," and "I Know I've Been Changed."
In May 2007 I was elected Interim Pastor of the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church of Peoria, Illinois and became full-time Pastor in September 2007. I have no greater love than serving in my calling as pastor and teacher. I walk in the role as leader as well as servant striving daily to live by example. In addition to pastoring the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, I am a member of the Baptist Ministerial Alliance of Peoria, Illinois where I serve as Vice President.
With the Lord being my first love, my family is a very dear second. I am a husband of one wife and father of two loving children. My family is my pride and joy. When not fulfilling my duties as pastor and teacher I am spending quality time with my immediate and extended families. I hold myself to a rich standard of living, encompassed with morals and values. I strive daily to exert a spirit of love, compassion, joy and exhortation. It is my prayer that in serving the Pleasant Grove Church family as well as the community that I will be a blessing to individuals and families in their time of spiritual growth and need as we together walk this Christian life and travel through life’s journey.
