About Our Pastor

Leonard P. Butler Jr. is a native of Kansas City, Missouri.  He has been preaching for 21 years.  He is the former pastor of the Genesis Baptist Church, serving as their pastor for 5 years.  He returned to Palestine at the request of the Pastor Earl Abel in 1989 to be the assistant to the pastor. In January of 1999 he became the co pastor of Palestine. 

Currently, he is the pastor of the Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ.   Rev. Butler is a graduate of the Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri.  He received his Master of Divinity from the Central Theological Seminary. Rev. Butler is a former school teacher, having taught in the Kansas City, Missouri School District for 20 years.  During this time he taught both elementary and high school.  He also instructed in-service sessions for the Board of Education for all teachers. Rev. Butler was baptized by Pastor Abel at the Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ and has been a member for 46 years. 

He has served as the president of the Midwest District with Pastor Fate White, Jr. as moderator.  He has preached for the State Laymen’s Conferences for a number of years and as a facilitator for many study courses. Rev. Butler has been married for 30 years to Rosalind M. Richardson-Butler.  They have two children, Leonard, III and Rachel Marie Hayes, one granddaughter, Madison and two grandsons, Leonard, IV and Andre’ Hayes, Jr.

 “I love the Lord, He has heard my cry and pitied every groan.  I feel the least of all, so I won’t appear to be some big preacher.”  Just say, “I am a servant of God.”