Bellevue Baptist Church pastor Steve Gaines is transitioning out of the pastorate and into a ministry as an itinerant preacher, he announced today (Sept. 22) during the church’s worship services.
He shared the news with the Memphis-area congregation after they honored him and his wife, Donna, for 19 years at the church.
“The Lord Jesus Christ clearly called our family to Bellevue and to Memphis 19 years ago,” Gaines said. “We can never put into words how grateful we are for Bellevue Baptist Church.”
But he said that many years ago, God “spoke into my heart that He would one day want me to serve as an itinerant preacher,” traveling and ministering to different churches instead of serving as the pastor of just one.
‘Good’ health report
“Nineteen years ago, the Lord began a season for us at Bellevue, and now we’ve heard His voice that it’s time for a new season,” Gaines said. “I am not retiring from ministry; I will now begin a transition out of the pastorate.”
He told the church that the decision wasn’t related to the cancer diagnosis he received in late 2023.
“My treatments are going well. I received a good PET scan report this last week, but regardless of all that, I’m standing on the promise that God gave us out of Psalm 118 — I will not die from this, but I will live and tell the works of the Lord,” Gaines said.
He said no one at the church had asked them to make this decision. “We have not felt pressure from anyone,” Gaines said.
He said he and Donna plan to stay at Bellevue as their “home base.”
Transition team in place
As for the search for a new pastor, Gaines said a transition team is already at work to prepare the way for a pastoral search committee.
“Even though this team isn’t fully formed yet, I ask that you begin praying for them every day,” he said. “Pray the Holy Spirit will grant them wisdom and that they will clearly hear His voice. We do not know the exact time frame in which this transition will be complete, but we are trusting the Lord to instruct us and teach us in the way that we should go and guide us with His eye upon us.”
Gaines said he would continue to serve as pastor until the next pastor is found and then “join you as our new pastor leads us forward.”
“Once our new pastor arrives, he and I will begin a several month process of transition as we pass the baton,” Gaines said, noting that he “will not slow down at all.”
‘My fourth quarter’
“I’m committed to handing the baton off well. As a church, Bellevue has gone through this transition six other times over the last 120 years,” he said. “My race as senior pastor of Bellevue is coming to an end but my commitment to you is to keep running with all my strength and effectively hand off the baton to the next senior pastor.”
Gaines told the church that he doesn’t have any fear or regret about the decision.
“I’m genuinely excited to enter into the next phase of our ministry that the Lord has for us,” he said. “I’m calling it my fourth quarter, and I’m taped up and ready to play. I’m all excited to have more time to invest in my children and our 18 grandchildren in a way that has not been possible while serving as a full-time pastor. By God’s grace, He has given all of us a path forward.”
He said he’s “convinced the greatest days for Bellevue Baptist Church are yet to come, and I’m looking forward to experiencing many more years with you.”
