Dr. Jared McKinney – Interim Pastor
From our Interim Pastor:
I was converted as a teenager in March of 1990 at Pleasant Valley Community Church in Jasper, Ohio. However, this wasn’t my first experience with church. I was blessed to have been raised from birth in the Omega Churches of Christ in Christian Union in Omega, Ohio. I had perfect attendance for most of my childhood years. A wonderful pastor and dedicated Sunday School teachers poured into my life, and this rich upbringing undoubtedly led to my early conversion.
I met my future wife, Melissa, at a local grocery store where I worked in 1992. I invited her to church with me, and on our second date—at church—she gave her heart to Christ. Missy and I were married on February 25, 1995, in my hometown of Waverly, Ohio.
I was called into ministry in March of 1998 at the age of 24. Since then, I have divided my time between pastoring several churches and full-time evangelism. I earned my Doctorate in Pastoral Theology from Andersonville Theological Seminary in 2011.
Missy and I are blessed with two grown children. Our daughter, Madelyn, is 24 years old and lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she serves as a school guidance counselor. Our son, Garrett, is 22 years old and holds an associate degree in wildlife management. He is preparing to move to Minnesota to further his education in this field.
On October 11, 2009, Pastor Danny McCain invited me to preach for the first time at Pleasant View Community Church. At the time, I had been preaching a meeting in Glendale Springs, North Carolina, and Pastor Danny asked me to preach at Pleasant View that evening. Little did Missy and I realize how this church in Forest City would forever mold and shape our lives.
After that first service, Pastor Danny scheduled me for a revival meeting. During that revival, several people were saved, and some of those individuals are still faithfully attending the church today—a tremendous blessing. Pastor Danny became a mentor to me, and Missy and I quickly formed lifelong friendships with the wonderful people at PVCC. We began praying and planning to move to Forest City once our children were grown and finished with school. However, the timing never seemed right.
I was pastoring in Chillicothe, Ohio, when we received the heartbreaking news that Pastor Danny had contracted COVID. Just a week earlier, Danny had called me to check on how I was doing. I needed that phone call. As COVID disrupted everything, there was so much uncertainty about how to proceed with church—should we stay open, close, or switch to online services? The stress and pressure to make the right decisions were overwhelming. Danny’s call came at just the right time. He simply asked, “How are you, Preacher?” I remember replying, “I don’t know, Danny.” He took a few minutes to encourage me and offer some much-needed advice. After hanging up, I sat in my office feeling immensely blessed to have received that call from a trusted brother in ministry.
When we heard the tragic news of Pastor Danny’s passing, Missy and I were in shock. We immediately packed a bag and headed south to be near the beautiful people of PVCC during such a heartbreaking time. It was a season of deep grief for everyone at Pleasant View.
To be honest, it’s hard to believe that I am now stepping into the role of attempting to fill the giant shoes left by Pastor Danny McCain. I can only say that with God, all things are possible.
Missy and I are beyond blessed to be part of this wonderful community and congregation. Our prayer is to be used by God to minister to the amazing people of Pleasant View.
Have a question for our pastor and want to contact Dr. Jared directly? Click below!
Preston Holland – Youth Pastor
From our Youth Pastor:
Our Mission and Passion
Being a youth minister means more than just teaching young people about the Bible and God’s unconditional love—it’s about shaping their lives to reflect His joy and freedom. We strive to show youth that following Christ is not only meaningful but also fulfilling and fun.
True freedom in Christ isn’t about worldly pleasures; it’s about a life filled with peace, joy, and purpose. The world’s version of freedom often leads to brokenness, anxiety, and sadness, but the freedom found in Christ brings healing, wholeness, and a light-hearted joy.
One of our greatest missions in ministry is to help teenagers see themselves through God’s eyes—to understand their worth and identity in Christ. When they embrace how deeply they are loved by God, they can break free from the false identities the world pressures them to adopt. This truth empowers them to live boldly, without the destructive patterns of self-harm or insecurity.
Our Story
When Ruth and I got engaged, we came from different church backgrounds—she was raised in a Holiness church, and I grew up Baptist. Neither of us felt at home in the other’s church, but we understood how essential it was to build a united spiritual foundation.
So, we embarked on the journey of finding a church we could both embrace. After visiting several, a coworker recommended Pleasant View Christian Church (PVCC). From the first visit in 2003, something felt different. It was the perfect blend of our backgrounds, and over time, it became our home church. In August 2003, we were married and began our life together rooted in this community.
For me, church was a challenge. After being burned in the past, I wasn’t eager to get involved again. I attended for Ruth’s sake, but I kept my distance—arriving late, leaving early, and avoiding deeper connections. But God, in His mercy, began softening my heart. Over time, Ruth started teaching the youth Sunday school class, and I gradually joined in to help.
A few years later, I found myself assisting with the youth group. By 2006, I had stepped fully into the role of youth leader, despite my initial reluctance. God was working in ways I couldn’t have foreseen, leading me to a place where I could be used for His glory.
A Different Kind of Family
Like most couples, we initially assumed we would have children of our own. But as the years went by, we realized we didn’t feel called to parent biologically. Instead, we felt God leading us to pour our time and energy into the youth in our ministry.
Over the years, God has blessed us with countless “kids”—the teenagers we’ve had the privilege of mentoring and loving as our own. We’ve never felt like anything was missing because these young people have filled our lives in ways we never imagined.
We’re deeply grateful for the life and ministry God has given us. Even in the hard times, we’ve learned to trust and lean on Him, knowing that He uses every challenge to grow our faith. We wouldn’t trade this journey for anything, and we remain thankful for the story He continues to write through our lives.
Have a question for our youth pastor and want to contact Preston directly? Click below!
Katie Brooks – Director of Children’s Ministry
From our Director of Children’s Ministry:
John piper once said “you can teach a Young child that God is strong, in control, and good -and it will be a rock they can stand on forever”
This statement from John Piper perfectly describes my heart behind children’s ministry. I was 20 years old when I first felt God calling me into children’s ministry. I was on my first mission trip in Belize. My team was serving with a children’s ministry group there. The nudge from the Lord became more clear there than ever. I grew up at Pleasant View Community Church. I started attending when I was 14 years old and it quickly became home. So when I graduated college in 2017 it only seemed fitting to pour back into the church that poured so much into me. This is when I started directing the children’s ministry at Pleasant View, my home church. Proverbs 22:6 says “Train a child up in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it”
My prayer for children’s ministry is to pour the love of Christ into every child that walks though the doors of PVCC, and teach them that Jesus is truly the rock on which we can stand- forever.