Sunday, September 7, marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Bellevue’s history. After 20 years of faithful leadership, Bro. Steve Gaines will preach his final sermon at Bellevue before stepping into full-time itinerant ministry. For two decades, he and his wife, Donna, have poured out their lives in service to the Lord, to this church, and to the Memphis community.
When Bro. Steve answered God’s call to follow Adrian Rogers as Bellevue’s Pastor in 2005, he stepped into a type of role that few are called to, one with a wide breadth of influence. However, from the very beginning, he and Donna made it clear that their ministry would not be about personal ambition. It would be about faithfully walking in the path the Lord had set before them—loving God, loving people, sharing Jesus, and making disciples.
The impact of Bro. Steve’s ministry has been marked not only by bold preaching and visionary leadership, but also by a deep and personal care for his congregation.
“Bro. Steve, I so much appreciated the visit to my home when I was first diagnosed with cancer,” Long-time Bellevue member Jim Shoemaker said. “Your leadership has deeply shaped my walk with Christ. During the hardest season of life, you have shown me what it means to follow Jesus not just in word, but in every aspect of life. Thank you for leading with conviction, loving with Christ’s love, and living out the promises you proclaim.”
That same shepherd’s heart is what another Bellevue member, Jason Walters, remembers most about the legacy and heart of Bro. Steve.
“In 2016 my wife, Jennifer, got a diagnosis of ovarian cancer,” he said. “I remember early on after surgery that my phone rang while Jennifer was in the hospital bed, and it was Bro. Steve calling. It should not have surprised me, but it did. It really showed me how much they loved the people in the church. That has meant much to me over the years as it reminds me of how we look the most like Jesus when we are caring for other people.”
From the start of his time at Bellevue, Bro. Steve sought God’s direction for the church’s future. Mark Spiller, who served on the Pastor Search Committee that voted to have Bro. Steve come to Bellevue, remembers that early season well.
“Any man who would be willing to step into the role to follow Adrian Rogers would clearly have to hear from God,” Mark said. “I felt from the beginning that Steve Gaines would be a man who would connect well with the community of Memphis. I truly believe he has impacted the trajectory of families and generations because of how he lives out his faith.”
Through seasons of focused prayer, initiatives like Bellevue Loves Memphis, and a relentless commitment to evangelism, Bro. Steve’s leadership has left an imprint not just on Bellevue as a church, but on Memphis as a city.
Alongside Bro. Steve’s ministry, Donna has faithfully discipled, encouraged, and poured into the lives of women at Bellevue for the past 20 years. Her heart for discipleship has created a lasting legacy, as she has consistently opened her home and her life to invest deeply in other women’s spiritual growth. Whether leading small group Bible studies or meeting one-on-one over coffee, Donna has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to helping others grow closer to Christ. Her teaching is marked by both biblical depth and practical application, always pointing women back to God’s Word as the ultimate source of truth and guidance.
“I have had the honor and privilege of being discipled and mentored by Donna in two separate groups over three consecutive years as well as sitting under her teaching in women’s ministry for nearly a decade,” Bellevue member Mollie Snow said. “Her hunger for God’s presence is contagious, and after a few years of being mentored by her, I found myself insatiable—I was reading, studying, and praying with a new urgency. Donna’s obedience to teach the Word and sacrifice to disciple other women has changed my life. So, in gratitude and love, I intend to do the same.”
Another member of Bellevue, Susie Wright, said, “In every generation of Bellevue’s history, God has continued to raise godly women to show the love of Christ and passion for His Word, and I put Donna on the top of that list. Her unwavering faith to walk through the storms of life encourages me every time I see her. Every time I spend a few minutes with her reminds me that God’s love is real, He is always on time, and His time is always perfect.”
As we prepare to hear from Bro. Steve one last time, we pause to give thanks. For 20 years, he and Donna have faithfully served God’s people with humility, boldness, compassion, and conviction. They have prayed with us in our trials, rejoiced with us in our victories, and continually pointed us to Jesus.
Their legacy is not just the sermons preached or the ministries launched—it is in lives transformed, families strengthened, and generations who know Christ more deeply because of their obedience.
Thank you, Bro. Steve and Donna, for leading us so well. We honor you, we love you, and we thank God for the privilege of calling you our Pastor and Pastor’s wife for these 20 years.
Join us tomorrow morning for a combined service at 10:00 a.m. to hear from Bro. Steve one last time. Let’s come together as a church family to give Bro. Steve and Donna the celebration they deserve! Click here to learn more.