ALL ARE WELCOME! COME AND BE BLESSED!
Progressive History
In 1910, members of the Pleasant Valley Church of Rosedale Kansas, located near KU Medical
Center, organized a church in Missouri under the leadership of Reverend H.E. Strickland. They
met in a rented tent until they were able to rent a space in Toliver’s Hall on West 30 th street
where Progressive Missionary Baptist Church was formed. Three years later, the congregation
purchased the building located down the street from WDAF TV at 2930 summit.
1914, Reverend James Holley was named interim Pastor and became their
Pastor full-time in 1915. Under the leadership of Pastor Holly,
1918 the church moved to 1416 Vine.
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1921, Reverend J.S. Sutton became Pastor and in
1925 Reverend Charles L. Versa became Pastor.
1941 Reverend Matthew H. Houston who came from the
historic African American city of Nicodemus, Kansas, became Pastor and under his leadership
the church moved to 2115 Forest. The first service was conducted on the second Sunday of
June 1941 at this location.
August 11, 1942, Reverend W.A. Sparks became Pastor, and the Church added its first
Parsonage near the Old Municipal Stadium located at 2330 Park. Reverend Herad was called
and served one month as Pastor. Tragically he was killed in an automobile accident.
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1951 to 1952, interim Pastors ministered to the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church
congregation. Finally, in July of 1951, a young dynamic baseball enthusiast by the name of
Andrew Hudson from Memphis, Tennessee was called to Pastor.
1954 under Reverend Hudson, the church paid off the mortgage at 2115 Troost and the
parsonage at 2330 Park and moved to its current location at 2945 Bales where Reverend
Hudson remained and Pastored for the next 36 years. Once again, the mortgage was paid off
and a cornerstone was placed on October 16, 1983.
December 17, 1989, Reverend Hudson became Pastor Emeritus and his spiritual
son, Reverend William F. Snorgrass became Pastor of Progressive Missionary Baptist Church.
During his tenure, Pastor Snorgrass served in a variety of roles outside the church such as
President of New Era Missionary Baptist District Congress of Christian Education and served as
Vice President at large for the Missionary Baptist State Convention. Despite battling many
health issues that lasted several years, Pastor Snorgrass remained steadfast and determined to
“not give up…but used what God gave him” to the best of his ability.
March 29, 2023, after thirty-three years of obedience, dedicated and faithful service, Pastor
Snorgrass was called home to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
August of 2024, Reverend Jeremy F. Robertson, Sr., was called to Pastor at Progressive
Missionary Baptist Church and preached his first sermon Sunday, September 1, 2024.
