On August 17, 2025, Pleasant Valley overwhelmingly affirmed Zac Hufty as the next Lead Pastor with a 99.7% vote. We are filled with gratitude for God’s clear direction and the unity He has given our church.
MEET ZAC HUFTY
ABOUT ZAC HUFTY
meet the candidate
Zac Hufty has served in full-time ministry for more than 20 years, helping people follow Jesus, love the church, and live lives shaped by the hope of the gospel. He has served in a variety of roles in Missouri, Texas, and North Carolina—including Student Pastor, Minister of Campus Development, and, most recently, Lead Pastor. Over the years, Zac has served at Troy First Baptist Church (MO), Houston’s First Baptist Church (TX), Prestonwood Baptist Church (TX), and currently, The Village Baptist Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Zac began ministry as a student pastor and later served in multi-site leadership, helping launch and grow new campuses. In every setting, his focus has remained the same: to preach God’s Word faithfully, serve alongside the local church, and help people discover the abundant life found in Christ.
A native of Kansas City, Zac was saved, baptized, and discipled at Pleasant Valley. That legacy has left a lasting impact on his life and is part of what makes the opportunity to reconnect with Pleasant Valley so meaningful. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Biblical Languages from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Zac and his wife Nicole have been married since 2005 and have three daughters: Emmalyn, Kaylin, and Vivian. As a family, they enjoy spending time outdoors, making memories together, and serving the church as a team.
As they take this next step, Zac and Nicole are praying for the people of Pleasant Valley and trusting God to lead in every detail. They are excited for what is ahead and grateful for the opportunity to be part of this new season.
HOW WE GOT HERE
search updates
Sunday, September 14th 2025 | Key Dates This Fall
Zac will officially begin his ministry at Pleasant Vallet on September 22. His first sermon will launch a new series about PV’s mission, vision, and values called This Is Our Yes, starting October 5. Merle and Zac will both teach through this series together. Merle’s final Sunday preaching as Lead Pastor will be on November 23.
Sunday, August 17th 2025 | The Church Affirms Zac Hufty
On August 17, 2025, Pleasant Valley overwhelmingly affirmed Zac Hufty as the next Lead Pastor with a 99.7% vote. We are filled with gratitude for God’s clear direction and the unity He has given our church.
Sunday, August 3rd 2025 | Special Called Business Meeting
The Personnel Team and Leadership Team are excited to share that we are unanimously recommending a candidate for the position of Lead Pastor. The candidate will be preaching in our services on Sunday, August 17, 2025. A Special Called Business Meeting for church members to vote on calling the candidate will be held later that day at 5:30pm
Sunday, July 13th 2025
Church Family
We want to keep you updated as we continue walking faithfully through the Lead Pastor succession process. We’re excited to share that we have officially started engaging with a group of potential candidates.
To date, over 100 individuals have applied. Of those, 7 have been prayerfully and thoughtfully moved forward in the process, and an additional 3 candidates are under active consideration for possible inclusion.
This week, our Personnel Team is studying the portfolios of the 7 candidates and will begin conducting Zoom interviews next week. We are grateful for the quality of these leaders and for the way God is guiding this process.
Based on the strength and spirit of the candidates we’ve seen so far, we are in a great place—and we continue to believe God is doing something truly remarkable in this season.
Please continue praying for wisdom, unity, and discernment as we move forward. Thank you for your trust, your prayers, and your partnership in what God is doing at Pleasant Valley.
With hope and confidence,
PV Personnel Team
Sunday, May 18th 2025 | Pleasant Valley's Next Chapter
NEXT STEPS
Ministry Begins at PV
September 22, 2025
Zac officially begins his ministry and joins us for worship.
This is our Yes
October 5, 2025
Merle and Zac will co-lead a new teaching series focused on our mission, vision, and values.
Merle’s Final Sunday
November 23, 2025
We will celebrate Merle’s nearly 19 years of faithful leadership on his last Sunday at PV.
The Process: The Slingshot Way
To help guide this transition with wisdom and clarity, Pleasant Valley is partnering with Slingshot Group, a trusted Christian organization specializing in leadership transitions for churches and nonprofits. Slingshot will support our search by identifying strong candidates and guiding us through a prayerful and strategic process. While they will help us discern potential fits, Pleasant Valley will make the final decision on our next Lead Pastor.
Have a Question?
We’re here to help. If you have questions about the Lead Pastor process or anything you see on this page, we’d love to hear from you.
You can use the link below to reach out, or email us directly nextchapter@pleasantvalley.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for the search and selection of the new Lead Pastor?
The search and selection of the new Lead Pastor is led by the Personnel Team and the Leadership Team, as outlined in our bylaws. These teams work together to prayerfully evaluate, recommend, and bring forward a candidate for the church’s consideration. While the church membership ultimately affirms the Lead Pastor through a vote, the Personnel and Leadership Team are responsible for leading and guiding the selection process.
How is the process Determined?
Bylaws
Article III Section 1: Lead Pastor
1.2
Call of the Lead Pastor. The Church shall elect the Lead Pastor upon the recommendation of the Personnel Team and Leadership Team, provided, however, that the Church’s call of the Lead Pastor shall require the support of not less than seventy-five (75) percent of members voting at a meeting called for the purpose of electing a Lead Pastor. The Lead Pastor shall be elected for an indefinite period. The process for bringing a candidate to the church shall be determined by the Teams and announced to the Church. A candidate brought to the Church in view of a call, must preach at least one weekend with at least one week’s advance notice to the membership.
What’s the timeline for finding a new Lead Pastor?
Merle plans to step out of his role as Lead Pastor at the end of June 2026. He will continue to lead Pleasant Valley during this season as we thoughtfully and prayerfully prepare for our next chapter. If the right candidate is identified earlier, or if the timing shifts slightly, Merle is committed to helping ensure a smooth and healthy handoff.
Will we receive regular updates?
We will update the congregation every 5 to 6 weeks throughout the search process. All updates are also available on the website.
Will our beliefs or teaching change?
We are committed to finding a Lead Pastor who believes what we believe and will continue to teach the truth of God’s Word in the same way Pleasant Valley always has.
What qualities are we looking for in the next Lead Pastor?
We are prayerfully seeking a Lead Pastor who embodies the biblical qualifications outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and 1 Peter 5:1-3, as stated in our bylaws. You can read the full description of the role and qualifications on the Slingshot website.
How can we be part of the process?
You can support this process through prayer. If you are a PV member, you will have the opportunity to vote to call the new Lead Pastor at a church business meeting. If you are not yet a member and would like to learn more about membership at Pleasant Valley, you can learn more here.
How will the decision be communicated once a new Lead Pastor is selected?
In accordance with our bylaws, once a new Lead Pastor is selected by the Personnel Team and Leadership Team, the church will hold a business meeting for members to vote to extend the call. The candidate will preach at least one weekend with advance notice to the membership. After the church affirms the new Lead Pastor with the necessary approval, we will joyfully share the news with the congregation.
Is there a way to recommend someone I believe would be a great fit for the Lead Pastor role?
If you know someone who you believe would be a strong fit to lead Pleasant Valley, we encourage you to share the opportunity with them directly.
We are partnering with Slingshot Group to guide the search, and all candidates will go through their process. Potential applicants can learn more and apply at:
https://slingshotgroup.org/jobs/pleasant-valley-baptist-church-lead-pastor/
What should someone do if they’re interested in applying for the Lead Pastor position?
Thanks so much for thinking of someone for this important role. We’re partnering with Slingshot Group to help guide the search and identify the right person to lead Pleasant Valley into the future.
If someone you know is interested in applying, they can learn more and submit their application directly through Slingshot at: https://slingshotgroup.org/jobs/pleasant-valley-baptist-church-lead-pastor/