The Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist Church was officially organized under the leadership of the late Rev. Ruben Watts in the year of 1950 at the Law Height Hall, 2652 Piety Street. With the assistance and guidance of the Holy Spirit, day and night services were held.

In August 1952, the church purchased the property at 3056 Laussat Place. This house was converted into a church building.  Several men of the church were appointed as members of the first Deacon Board.  For over a decade, this church continued to strive towards the principles of the teachings of God’s holy word.

In 1965, the church building was demolished by Hurricane Betsy. In May of 1968, a new edifice was completed. It was erected on the property at 3056 Laussat Place. 

In 1972, the Pastor added seven additional brothers of the church to the Deacon Board. Rev. Ruben Watts served as Pastor from 1950 until his death in July of 1981.

On August 16, 1981, Bro. Pete Varnado, Jr. acknowledged his calling. On December 13, 1983, he was called to the position of Pastor. Under the leadership of Pastor Varnado and the courageous Board of Directors, Pleasant Valley moved forward. All members were encouraged to tithe and the original mortgage was liquidated.

On May 9, 1995, our church building was once again severely damaged by a devastating flood. The Lord turned this tragedy into a blessing; the entire building was renovated internally and all new pews and furniture were purchased.

The spiritual growth of this congregation far surpasses its physical growth. We have been blessed with laborers in the vineyard.  Under the leadership of Pastor Varnado, six ministers have been ordained: Rev. Stephen Lockhart, the late Rev. Isiah Walker, Rev. Brian Llopis, Sr., Rev. Marlon Coleman, Rev. Reginald Varnado, Sr. and Rev. Nikki Carr, and three ministers were licensed.  The following deacons were added: Bro. Daniel McDonald, Sr., the late Bro. Charles Jackson, Bro. Cail Jones, Sr., Bro. Clarence Williams, III, Bro. Josh Watson, the late Bro. Marshall Hughes, Bro. Leonard Russell, Bro. Melvin Williams, Bro. Frank Faulkner, Jr., Bro, James Faulkner, Sr., Bro. Willie Bickham, Sr., and Bro. Rickie Riley.

Once again, the church experienced a great loss. Hurricane Katrina destroyed the church edifice on August 29, 2005.  For many months, the members of the church were scattered throughout the country.  For ten months, much of the church business was handled through Pastor Varnado and the Trustee board via emergency management.  However, many of the members continued to tithe despite the conditions.  God had a great plan for our church. In January of 2006, the Pastor inquired about the purchase of another building in a new location in New Orleans east. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the help of the Lord, we acquired the property at 5919 Morrison Road in November 2006. In order to acquire this property, we donated our previous property at Laussat Place to the Southern Region of the Presbyterian Church to be used as a relief center for hurricane victims. Furthermore, God blessed the church to receive the funding necessary to renovate our new building through loans and grants.

In June 2006, we were blessed to be able to begin worship services again. With the help of our friend and neighbor, the Greater Evergreen Baptist Church, we held worship services each Sunday morning.  In addition, prayer services and bible classes were held on Wednesday evenings. Although many of our members returned, some were still displaced or relocated.  In order to continue operating effectively, many staff changes were made.  Bro. Leonard Russell was appointed as the new Chairman of Trustees; Bro. Erroll Audrict as the new Assistant Chairman of Trustees; Sis. Azelean Bickham was appointed as the Pastor’s Secretary; Sis. Linda Jackson returned as the Church Secretary; Sis. Nikita Ussin was appointed as the Church Clerk; Bro. Andre Varnado, Sr. was appointed as Executive Administrator.  In addition, many other staff positions were reconfigured and many auxiliaries were reinstated. We were truly blessed to have had one of our founding members, Sis. Mary Lou Porter, attend our first service in our new location.  As a matter of fact, when the church was founded in 1950, she was the member who named the church.

We have been truly blessed with a successful Sunday School, Daily Vacation Bible School, bible classes for adults and youth, Education Department, Youth Department, three female Mission’s Boards, Brotherhood, Young Men for Christ, Young Ladies for Christ, Audio/Video service, as well as other vital, thriving auxiliaries that are essential to the functioning of the church.

Since moving to our new location, five new Deacons were ordained on March 29, 2009. They are Bro. Donald Baldwin, Bro. Eddie Bunch, Bro. Thomas Bunch, Sr., Bro. Harold McMillian and Bro. Conrad Smith,  Jr.  Bro. Lionel Horne was also added to the Deacon Board.  In addition, Bro. Melvin Morgan was appointed as a Deacon.

In the year 2010, when our Senior Pastor was ill and could not fulfill his duties, Rev. Reginald Varnado, Sr. was appointed as the Interim Pastor by Senior Pastor Varnado and the Deacon Board. Rev. Nikki Carr was also appointed as Youth Pastor. As Interim Pastor, Rev. Reginald Varnado, Sr. continued to lead the church with the guidance of the Lord. He ordained two new Deacons: Bro. Eddie Horne, Sr. and Bro. Johnny McGill, Sr.  In November of 2011, Senior Pastor Varnado acknowledged that his illness was terminal. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Senior Pastor Varnado advised the church to elect interim Pastor Reginald Varnado, Sr. as the new Senior Pastor.  In obedience, a motion was made and approved unanimously by the church body on November 27. 2011.  A few weeks later, on December 15, 2011, our beloved Pastor of 28 years, Rev. Pete Varnado, Jr. was called home to be with the Lord. On December 30, 2011, Rev. Reginald Varnado, Sr. was installed as Senior Pastor by the Louisiana Freedmen Missionary Baptist General Association. 

Under his leadership, eleven additional brothers became Deacons of the church: Bro. Melvin Bardwell, Bro. Walter Curry, Jr., Bro. James McDonald, Bro. Kenneth Roach, Bro. Andre Varnado, Sr., Bro. Charles Horn, II, Bro. Victor Matthews, Bro. Rynell Hartford, Bro. Conrad Smith, III, Bro. Jonathan McDonald and Bro. Allen Smith, Sr.  Pastor Varnado has continued the tradition of extensive teaching and learning of God’s Word in our church.  We have also purchased a new church bus, made many renovations to the physical building, upgraded the church’s technology and implemented a technology committee that teaches classes and trains members on the latest in technological advancements, reinstated our church Drill Team and liturgical dance team, as well as purchased new robes for our Youth and Mass Choirs. We have purchased and installed a new sign and a bench for community members.  We have also instituted our new sermon notes technique to encourage additional weekly study of the Sunday message. 

There have been difficult days over the past 67 years. However, God has blessed our church and its ministry. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the leadership of our current Pastor, our membership has grown tremendously over the past five years.  Furthermore, our membership has shown growth spiritually, as seen in the attendance and active participation during our Sunday School, Bible Class and Sunday worship services. Our motto is the same as it is written concerning the church of God: “To continue steadfastly in the Apostle’s doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Praising God, and having favor with all the people” and we know, “The Lord adds to the church daily those who are being saved.” (Acts 2: 42 & 47)