Davis called Gaines “a tremendous personal encourager, prayer partner, and friend” as well as “one of the greatest leaders of my generation for the Southern Baptist Convention” and “one of the Convention’s most respected voices.” He added, “Steve is a winner, and Donna is a gracious and strong Christ-follower. I have full confidence that by the Lord’s grace, he will beat this cancer.”
On social media, other church leaders requested prayers for Gaines, his family, and Bellevue congregants. Malachi O’Brien, a pastor in Missouri, posted that Gaines is “a man of the Word & a man of Prayer.” He added, “Holy Spirit make Jesus known to every cell in Steve’s body. We say the cancer has to flee in Jesus name.”
