April 4th Foundation Events

Steve Gaines is known as a man of prayer and a preacher of God’s Word. Since 1983, he has pastored churches in Texas, Tennessee, and Alabama before coming to Bellevue Baptist Church in 2005 as Senior Pastor.

He received a bachelor’s degree from Union University and a Master of Divinity and Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Gaines has served on denominational boards and committees, most notably the Baptist Faith and Message Study Committee. He was President of the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference in 2005 and has been the keynote speaker at many denominational events.

His two books—Morning Manna and When God Comes to Church—reveal the heart of a man who walks with God and longs for genuine spiritual awakening “when the glory of God once again fills the house of God.” 

His passion for evangelism has galvanized his congregation to reach their city with the Gospel in unprecedented ways by meeting practical needs throughout Memphis. Everyone is welcome at Bellevue, because Dr. Gaines wholeheartedly believes Jesus’ declaration, “My house shall be a house of prayer for all people.”

Dr. Gaines’ bold, straightforward preaching is often punctuated with singing in  

spontaneous, joyful praise to the Lord. He enjoys playing guitar, being with his family, and leading trips to the Holy Land. His wife Donna is a gifted Bible teacher and devoted student of the Word. She serves the body of Christ in a number of ways, including serving as chairman of the board for the Pastors Wives’ Session of the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference each year.

The Gaines have four children. Their son Grant is a doctoral student at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he and his wife Melisa live with their baby daughter Alivia. Lindsey, married last year to minister and musician Ryan Wingo, will graduate from Union University this spring. Allison is a sophomore at Union University, and Bethany is a sophomore at Evangelical Christian School. The Gaines joyfully welcomed their first grandchild, Alivia, in August, 2008.