Duncan sets broadcasting milestone

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – The old preacher, gray, curly hair and all, marked another Campbell County, if not national, broadcasting milestone on Wednesday on WLAF. Dr. Clarence Duncan began his 39th year, preaching six days a week, on the radio in Campbell County yesterday morning. It’s highly unlikely that Duncan’s milestone will be matched, certainly in these parts.

When you crunch the numbers, Duncan has delivered more than 11,800 sermons on his radio program entitled “A Look At The Book.” Additionally, the good natured Duncan begins his 31st year on WLAF-TV 12 this Sunday. The television milestone includes more than 3,000 Sunday sermons.

November marked 60 years of service in the ministry for the 89- year- old Duncan, and he was celebrated by family, friends and parishioners.

In the 1960s, he quit the coal business and gave in to the Lord’s strong urging to enter the ministry. “It was a Sunday night at Pruden, Speed Powers was the preacher, when I surrendered to preach at that little church.  It was on the right as you head to Fonde,” Duncan said. The next morning, Duncan headed to Williamsburg and bought air time on WEZJ, and that was his first step in his ministry. On March 16, 1967, he devoted his fulltime to his ministry.

Duncan’s ministry travels started on that radio station and then to churches in Laurel County, Kentucky, a short stint in the mid-1960s at Bethel Baptist Church at Jacksboro, Roane County and finally at Bethel for a second time in 1984.  In between, there were stops at the Kingston Children’s Center, the Dalton, Georgia, Rescue Ministry and Rock of Ages Prison Ministry in Georgia.

When asked what has carried him all these years, Duncan quickly responded, “Oh, the love of the Lord and my precious wife.  She’s the best.”  The couple married as teenagers and raised seven children.  The couple met in church and was married in that church, Pleasant View Baptist Church on Black Oak Ridge in Anderson County, in 1952.

Duncan, who was born at Clinchmore, was called to Bethel Baptist Church a second time 39 years ago.  He told the church. “I’m selling my home in Dalton, Georgia, to make my home here, and I’ll be here until one of us dies.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 02/02/2023-6AM)