Former Bellevue Baptist Church pastor Steve Gaines begins hospice care as congregation rallies around family

Hospice care begins after recent health update

Steve Gaines, the former senior pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee, has entered hospice care, marking a significant development in a health journey that he disclosed publicly in late 2023. Bellevue leaders informed the congregation on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, that hospice services had begun earlier in the week.

The church also relayed the family’s request for privacy, including that no visitors come at this time, as relatives focus on time together and on caring for him.

Timeline: diagnosis, treatment updates, and leadership transition

Gaines announced on November 19, 2023, that he had been diagnosed with kidney cancer. Subsequent updates in December 2023 stated the cancer had spread to his lungs. In March 2024, he reported significant progress in treatment in a video update shared publicly.

On September 22, 2024, Gaines announced he would step down from the senior pastor role, stating the decision was not tied to his cancer diagnosis. He later received the title of pastor emeritus as the church moved through a formal pastoral transition process.

In July 2025, Bellevue members voted to call Ben Mandrell as senior pastor, with Mandrell’s pastorate beginning in August 2025. The transition plan also included scheduled services in which Gaines would continue preaching for a limited period during the handoff.

Bellevue’s role in Memphis-area religious life

Bellevue Baptist Church is among the largest congregations in the Southern Baptist Convention and has a prominent footprint in the Memphis area. Gaines served as Bellevue’s senior pastor beginning in 2005 and also held national leadership roles within the Southern Baptist Convention, including serving as its president from 2016 to 2018.

What hospice care typically means

Hospice care generally focuses on comfort, symptom management, and support for patients and families when a serious illness has advanced and the priority of care shifts away from curative treatment. While hospice often involves end-of-life care, the timing and duration can vary widely by patient and condition.

Key verified facts

• Steve Gaines has begun receiving hospice care as of early March 2026.
• The Gaines family has requested privacy and asked that no visitors come at this time.
• Gaines publicly disclosed a kidney cancer diagnosis on November 19, 2023, and later stated it had spread to his lungs.
• He stepped down as senior pastor in September 2024 and was later named pastor emeritus.
• Ben Mandrell began as senior pastor in August 2025 following a congregational vote in July 2025.

If you or someone you know is navigating hospice, many providers encourage families to ask about available nursing support, counseling, and spiritual care services, as well as guidance on visitation and communications during the patient’s care.