Cordova, Tenn. | Ben Mandrell has been called to be the senior pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church. Mandrell, a native of Tampico, Ill., has served as president and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources since the summer of 2019.
“I cannot tell you how thankful we are for this moment,” Mandrell, 48, said in a statement from the church. “This big hurricane of Bellevue love has just swallowed us up.”
The vote came as the entire church met in an overflow worship service followed by a special-called business session. His first Sunday as pastor is scheduled for Aug. 10, according to church staff.
Bellevue has played a key role in the Memphis area and across the Southern Baptist Convention over the last century with pastoral leadership from R.G. Lee, Adrian Rogers and Steve Gaines, all former SBC presidents.
Outgoing Senior Pastor Steve Gaines (left) greets Ben and Lynley Mandrell at Bellevue Baptist Church. The church called Mandrell as its next senior pastor. Bellevue photo
Gaines, 67, announced last September his desire for a pastoral transition process to begin at the church. He has served as Bellevue’s senior pastor since 2005.
The pastor search committee began its work in November 2024, according to the release.
“In our first meeting, we spent most of our time in prayer,” said Chad Hall, chairman of the pastor search committee, in the statement. “From that very first night, we began praying for our pastor. We prayed for his wife, his kids – his whole family. We didn’t know who he was, and we didn’t know where he was, but we knew God did.”
According to 2024 Annual Church Profile data, Bellevue reported 7,382 people for in-person and online worship attendance, 329 total baptisms and $26,276,186 in total undesignated receipts.
Earlier this week, Mandrell, met with Lifeway staff to inform them of the potential call.
“Our entire family is deeply grateful for these years in Nashville with Lifeway,” he said. “This ministry is filled with salt-of-the-earth people, and it’s truly heartbreaking to think we won’t see their faces as often in the years to come. Even so, the Lord has made it crystal clear that it’s time for us to return to the pastorate and to join the Bellevue family.”
Lifeway Christian Resources’ Board of Trustees has asked Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Joe Walker to serve as interim president and CEO until a new president is named.
Lifeway’s next steps
At a special-called meeting on Tuesday (July 15), Lifeway’s Board of Trustees asked Joe Walker, current Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, to serve as interim CEO and president.
James Carroll, chairman of the Board of Trustees said, “Selecting Joe Walker to lead was an easy and unanimous decision. Because we have served closely with him and watched him lead in a variety of capacities, we have the utmost confidence in him and his ability. In fact, I believe God has equipped him through his four decades with Lifeway and placed him in his current role for the purpose of raising him up to serve as interim president during this season of transition.”
Since March 2025, Walker has served as Lifeway’s executive vice president and COO, overseeing daily operations and helping provide strategic leadership of the organization. Prior to serving as COO, Walker served as CFO for six and a half years and 12 years as corporate controller. He has held various financial positions at Lifeway since 1986.
A native of Tennessee, Walker is a CPA and holds a bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting from the University of Tennessee, Martin. He is a member of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tenn.
“I’m so grateful to have served with Ben for the past six years,” Walker said. “During this time of transition, I will work closely with our leadership team and our trustees to continue the strong culture and financial results Ben led us to achieve.”
Walker expressed both appreciation for past leadership and full confidence in God’s continued guidance as Lifeway navigates this new chapter.
During their meeting, trustees also named an eight-person search committee to find Lifeway’s next leader.
Carroll asked the trustees to be in prayer for the search committee and for the future leader of Lifeway.
“We trust that our sovereign Lord already knows who will fill this role,” Carroll said. “We ask Southern Baptists to join us in praying for God to lead us to this man and to begin preparing his heart for this work.”
Mandrell’s biographical details
Mandrell has roots in West Tennessee, having served as pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, Tenn., from 2006-2013. He also served as the church’s college pastor and as director of discipleship ministries at Union University in Jackson.
Ben Mandrell preaches to a full house at Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn. The church called Mandrell to be their eight senior pastor. Bellevue photo
The Mandrells left Jackson in 2014 to help launch Storyline Fellowship in Denver, Colorado. The church, planted through a partnership with the North American Mission Board and First Baptist Church in Orlando, Fla., grew to nearly 1,000 in weekly worship attendance prior to Mandrell’s departure for Lifeway in 2019. Before becoming senior pastor, he served as the church’s college pastor and as director of discipleship ministries at Union University in Jackson. He previously was on staff with Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., K-Life Ministries of Orlando, Fla., and Sterling Christian School in Sterling, Ill.
The Tampico, Ill. native is a 1998 graduate of Anderson (Ind.) University. He also holds a master of divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctor of ministry degree from Union University.
Mandrell and his wife Lynley have four children.
By Brandon Porter with additional reporting from Lifeway’s Carol Pipes & Illinois Baptist staff.
Updated July 15, 2025 at 11 a.m.
Originally published at BaptistPress.com