Transition Updates

July 14, 2025

On Sunday, July 13, 2025, the Bellevue congregation voted in overwhelming unity to call Dr. Ben Mandrell as our eighth Senior Pastor and to confer upon Dr. Steve Gaines the title of Pastor Emeritus.

The Pastoral Transition Committee would like to inform you of the following key dates as we enter this period of honoring God through the welcoming of our new pastor and celebrating our previous pastor:

• Bro. Steve will preach on July 20, July 27, and August 3.
• Dr. Ben Mandrell (he has asked us to call him “Ben”) will officially begin his pastorate on August 10.

Then, on Sunday, September 7, 2025, we will celebrate Bro. Steve and Donna Gaines’ 20 years of faithful ministry at Bellevue. Bro. Steve will preach that morning, and we look forward to a wonderful celebration of their service at Bellevue during one combined service at 10:00 a.m. Life Groups will not meet, but children’s programming will be available for 3rd grade and younger.

Please be in prayer for the Mandrells, the Gaineses, their families, our Bellevue staff, and our wonderful congregation during this season of transition as we “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3 NIV).

Please mark the key dates above on your calendars, and may God bless you. We look forward to worshiping with you this coming Sunday!

Grace and Peace From Your Pastoral Transition Committee,

Wes Bowen, Chairman
Harry Smith
Jeff Arnold
Chad Hall
Mark Smith