The Reverend Bruce J. Shaw, Sr. is a graduate of the Pleasure Ridge Park High School. He matriculated at the Italian American Seminary, Naples, Italy; Florida Jr. College, Jacksonville, Florida; Reed Christian College in Compton, California, and he received the honorary doctorate of letters degree from St. Stephen’s Education Bible College (Los Angeles, California).

Pastor Shaw was licensed and ordained to preach the gospel by the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky, where he served 3 years as pastor.

He served 14 years in the United States Marine Corps, which afforded him the opportunity to preach and evangelize throughout the United States, and many other places in the world.

Pastor Shaw served as Senior Pastor of St. Mark Baptist Church of Long Beach California for 5 years and former president of the Long Beach California branch of the NAACP, he was elected to serve on the Regional Board of the American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest, and he served on the American Baptist Board of Directors (PSW).

In October 1997 he was called to be the senior pastor of Pleasant View, where he preaches, teaches, and provides spiritual leadership to his congregation.

Bruce J. Shaw Sr. was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and he and his wife, Monica, have one daughter and two sons.