Former Bellevue pastor Steve Gaines dies at 68, funeral services announced
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – The former lead pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Steve Gaines, has died.
John Steve Gaines passed away on Friday after his battle with cancer.
Last week, current lead pastor Ben Mandrell announced to the church congregation Gaines has entered hospice care.
In 2023, Gaines announced he had been diagnosed with kidney cancer and a year later, he announced he was stepped down from his role to focus on his health. He said it was his life mission to spread the gospel. Mandrell stepped in as pastor in July 2025.
Gaines was born in Corinth, Mississippi, and grew up in Dyersburg, Tennessee, where he attended Dyersburg High School. He earned his bachelors degree in science from the Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, and masters degree in divinity and doctor of philosophy from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Steve has pastored as churches in Texas, Tennessee and Alabama before his journey at Bellevue in 2005. He succeeded Dr. Adrian Rogers, who served as pastor for 32 years.
“Steve Gaines was a remarkable example of family leadership, pastoral effectiveness, preaching power and evangelistic zeal. He inspired me and encouraged me to be a better husband, father, friend and leader. We thank God for his leadership in the Southern Baptist Convention, pray for his family as they grieve and celebrate the peace he now enjoys in heaven,” Jeff Iorg, Executive Committee President and CEO of Southern Baptist Convention, said.
Gaines also served as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2016 to 2018.
Visitation will be held at Bellevue Baptist Church on Sunday, March 22 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m with funeral services to follow.
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