Memphis pastor Steve Gaines says in a new video that his cancer is largely gone and he is “thankful to God for the miracle and medicine” and plans to return to the pulpit. He said he was looking forward to it.
Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, and president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2016 to 2018, was diagnosed with kidney cancer last fall.
in video Gaines, who was released Friday, said his health has improved as a result of treatment and prayers.
“We rejoice because the Lord has done wonderful things in our lives,” he said. “The last PET scan I had showed that there were no more cancerous polyps in my lungs. The last PET scan I had had multiple polyps there, but they were all gone. And we are grateful for that. Me too. [previously] I had cancer on my left rib, but it also shrank and disappeared. ”
Kidney cancer has also been “significantly reduced,” he says.
“I mean, I still have cancer, but it’s really, really going away and I’m thankful to God for the miracle and the medicine,” he said.
But Gaines said the chronic neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis had been “recreated.”
“I’ve had this for 24 years and it’s not fatal,” he said. “But thanks to immunotherapy and targeted drugs, my immune system has gotten a huge boost, which is great. That’s good for my cancer, but it’s tough for myasthenia. Muscles Parts of my body are weak, and the main pain this time was my neck. But I ask that you continue to pray for that. But it’s more of a nuisance than anything else.”
Gaines returned to the pulpit Sunday and received a standing ovation. He sat in a chair while preaching.
“We love you too,” Gaines told the members with a smile.
Image credit: Bellevue Baptist. Used with permission.
Michael Faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His story was published in Baptist Press. Christianity Today, Christian Poecent, of leaf chronicle, of toronto star and of knoxville news sentinel.
