bellevue church may name Lifeway CEO Ben Mandrell as new pastor

Ben Mandrell, the current head of Lifeway Christian Resources, is being considered to lead one of Tennessee’s largest Southern Baptist congregations.

Bellevue Baptist Church has received a unanimous recommendation from its pastor search committee to appoint Mandrell as its next lead pastor following the departure of longtime church leader Steve Gaines, The Christian Post reported.

As part of the formal selection process, Mandrell will preach before the Bellevue congregation on Sunday, July 13. Afterward, church members are expected to vote on his appointment. This development follows eight months of the church’s search for a new leader.

Longtime Lifeway leader receives unanimous endorsement

The selection committee announced its endorsement earlier this week, according to Baptist Press. Chad Hall, chairman of the committee, emphasized that prayer and unity guided their search. He stated that the group believes Mandrell is the person God intends to lead the congregation forward.

Mandrell, 48, has been the CEO and president of Lifeway since 2019. He played a pivotal role in relocating the organization to Brentwood, Tennessee, and helped steer it toward financial stability in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before joining Lifeway, Mandrell pastored churches in both Colorado and Tennessee. His background in pastoral leadership and ministry education has positioned him as a strong candidate for the role at Bellevue Baptist.

Ben Mandrell reflects on career change and calling

Mandrell expressed gratitude for his time at Lifeway while acknowledging a new spiritual direction for himself and his family. He said the decision to return to pastoral ministry has become increasingly clear in recent months.

“While I was deeply grateful for these years in Nashville with Lifeway,” Mandrell said, “the Lord has made it crystal clear that it's time for us to return to the pastorate and to join the Bellevue family.”

He also noted that he and his wife, Lynley, along with their four children, feel honored and humbled by the opportunity. Mandrell said they are enthusiastic about the journey that lies ahead with Bellevue and are committed to what God has prepared for both the church and Lifeway.

Steve Gaines steps away after cancer diagnosis

The upcoming vote follows the announcement from longtime pastor Steve Gaines that he would step down from his position. Gaines informed the church in September 2023 of his plans, saying he felt called to focus on itinerant preaching ministries.

Gaines, 65, has served as Bellevue’s lead pastor since 2005 and held the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2016 to 2018. His tenure was marked by leadership within both the local church and the broader denomination.

In November 2023, Gaines shared with his congregation that he had been diagnosed with kidney cancer. Despite this, he maintained that his health was not the reason for his departure and said treatments had been going well.

Church community prepares for leadership transition

During his announcement, Gaines emphasized the importance of transparency, wanting to deliver the news of his health himself. He told the congregation they had great doctors but even greater faith in God’s plan.

He said his recent PET scan results were promising and expressed unwavering faith in Scripture, referencing Psalm 118:17. Gaines affirmed that when his time comes, it will not be due to cancer and that his departure came from divine guidance rather than fear or illness.

“We can never put into words how grateful we are for Bellevue Baptist Church,” Gaines said. He acknowledged the church as the most cherished of the four ministries he served over his 41-year career.

Voting process to determine the next church leader

The church now looks ahead to July 13, when Mandrell will deliver a sermon that may determine his future role in the congregation. If approved by the members, he will become only the third lead pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church in decades.

Mandrell brings years of leadership and ministry experience, along with academic credentials from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Union University. He is also known for revitalizing Lifeway’s mission and operations during times of uncertainty.

As the congregation prepares to cast their votes, a sense of thoughtful anticipation surrounds the church community. Both Mandrell's potential leadership and Gaines' legacy have become key points of reflection for members of Bellevue.