Jay Strother, senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church in Tennessee, has announced he will take an extended leave from ministry after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.
Dr. Strother, who has served as senior pastor of the multi-campus church since 2023, shared the news with his congregation and broader community, asking first and foremost for prayer.
"First, pray! Pray for my health and healing, pray for my wife and kids, pray for the doctors that they'll have Spirit-led wisdom. Please pray that I'll be a good witness to them. Pray for our staff and leadership teams. Pray that, if this is spiritual warfare, the enemy be stopped and that God get all the glory," Strother wrote.
He and his wife, Tanya, are raising five children. Church leaders expressed gratitude for the Strother family's transparency and faith during what they described as a difficult and uncertain season.
Brentwood Baptist Church, one of Tennessee's largest congregations and part of the Southern Baptist Convention, has a strong leadership structure in place. Church officials indicated that staff and elders will continue overseeing ministry operations during Strother's medical treatment and recovery.
Since arriving in 2023, Strother has led the church through continued outreach initiatives, discipleship efforts and community engagement across its campuses. Prior to Brentwood, he served in senior pastoral roles in multiple states and has been recognized for his emphasis on gospel-centered preaching and mission-driven leadership.
In his message, Strother framed the diagnosis through the lens of faith, asking believers not only to pray for physical healing but also for spiritual endurance and testimony.
Church members and leaders have responded with an outpouring of support, pledging ongoing prayer for healing, strength for the family and wisdom for medical teams.
About Brentwood Baptist Church
Brentwood Baptist Church is a multi-campus Southern Baptist congregation based in Brentwood, Tennessee, committed to making disciples and engaging communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For updates and ways to support the Strother family, visit brentwoodbaptist.com.
