“When a preacher dies, who will now answer the gospel call? We need more young men ready to answer the call to preach and to serve God’s people for the generations ahead,” Mohler added. “I will greatly miss Steve Gaines, who has now finished his race.”
“Steve Gaines is with the Lord,” said SBC President Clint Pressley. “He was an outstanding husband, father, and pastor. A generation ahead of me but always gracious, humble and a lot of fun. Join me in praying for the family.”
“Steve Gaines was a brother in arms to me if ever there was such a thing. He was a colleague, a captain, an older brother, a friend, a mentor,” said North Carolina pastor and former SBC President J.D. Greear. “He had a relentless, unflagging, inspiring fixation on evangelism. It stood at the center of everything he did, every venture he undertook, every fight he engaged in.”
“Many remember his and my intersection in the SBC Presidential election of 2016 in which I pulled out so he could win unopposed,” Greear recounted. “What most people don’t know is that he first insisted it be him to drop out. But it was clear that he was God’s choice for that hour. Stepping aside to serve and follow him was one of the easiest decisions I’d ever made.”
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“May God give us 10,000 more like him,” said Greear. “We certainly need more of him in this hour. You are loved and will be missed, brother.”
