Randy C. Davis
I love that a Tennessee pastor will be the next pastor of one of Tennessee’s most iconic churches.
Yes, I know Ben Mandrell is originally from Illinois and graduated from college in Indiana, but he served as college pastor, then senior pastor, of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson from 2006 to 2013, earned his Doctor of Ministry from Union University, and was president of Lifeway Christian Resources in Nashville since 2019.
He and his family have been members of Forest Hills Baptist Church, one of the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s most generous Cooperative Program-giving churches. That’s good enough in my book to earn him the honorary designation “Tennessean.”
On Sunday, Dr. Ben Mandrell became only the fifth pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church since 1927, adding his name to the list of the church’s pastoral giants, succeeding R.G. Lee, Ramsey Pollard, Adrian Rogers, and Steve Gaines. Notably, all four of those men were former presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention.
God’s hand of blessing and Providence has clearly been on Ben’s life and ministry. While at Englewood, the church grew from about 1,800 in weekly attendance to 2,600. The Mandrells then moved to Denver to plant Storyline Fellowship in partnership with the North American Mission Board. They launched the church with 250 people in 2015, and it grew to 1,600 in weekly attendance by 2019, when he was chosen as president of Lifeway Christian Resources.
It was a sacrifice for the Mandrells to step away from the local church for Ben to become President of Lifeway. That move tested his leadership and dependence on the Lord. He arrived to face significant financial challenges while needing to revise and rework Lifeway’s resource offerings for churches. Then, seven months after arriving, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, intensifying those challenges.
I’ve known Ben for a long time, but I’ve gotten to know him better during his years in Nashville. Those early days at Lifeway were long and difficult. Hard decisions were made. Unexpected circumstances arose. But through it all, I watched him lead his team through uncertain days with grace and dependence on God.
Ben Mandrell, who served as CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources, is the new senior pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church. — Photo by Van Payne / The Baptist Paper
Something I’ve appreciated about Ben during his time at Lifeway was his support. He supported our Tennessee Baptist Convention’s network of churches, the work of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, and he encouraged me personally.
What I love most about Ben is his love for the local church. That trait was evident during his time as a pastor, was a clear motivation during his tenure as Lifeway’s president and explains why his return to a pastoral role is no surprise. Ben didn’t take a demotion by leaving a denominational entity; he received a promotion by returning to shepherd the bride of Christ.
Bellevue is a unique church. It always has been. The first service was held on July 12, 1903, with Bellevue’s first pastor, Henry Hurt, saying he hoped the new church would become “one of the greatest powers for good” that Memphis had ever seen. How comprehensively has God honored that simple but profound hope? The local and global impact of Bellevue’s people over these 122 years cannot be quantified this side of heaven, but God’s faithfulness is evident throughout the church’s story, beginning with the men of God He sent to stand in that significant pulpit.
Now, Dr. Ben Mandrell is the next man up. I have no doubt that with God as his guide, there are great days ahead for Bellevue. Please join me in praying for Bellevue, its new pastor, his wife, Lynley, and their family.
Ben, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s fraternal order of pastors. I look forward to being on this journey with you. B&R
