Dr. Clarence Duncan preached his last message on Sunday at Bethel Baptist Church

TOP PHOTO: Decades long Bethel Baptist Church member Tim Mefford prepares to honor Pastor Duncan.

Dr. Clarence Duncan sits at his desk one last time before a sermon to his congregation.

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Most Campbell Countians have either heard or seen Dr. Clarence Duncan on WLAF or in person at Bethel Baptist Church these past four decades. After marking his 58th year as a full-time pastor in March and countless sermons, Duncan delivered his final message yesterday in front of his congregation at the church that sits at the top of Hatmaker Ridge.

Folks came out for Dr. Duncan’s last message entitled “Forgetting the past and looking to the future”.

The almost 91 year old Duncan, who was born at Clinchmore, was called to Bethel Baptist Church a second time; 1984.  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.”

Duncan lives on but shared that he’s just not able to continue as a fulltime pastor. Earlier this year, he spent several weeks recovering from a challenging illness that took him to death’s door as he’s said.

One of the Duncan’s sons, Rick, has filled in for his father while he’s been recovering from illness. “This is a special day for daddy, 41 years here with mother working by his side,” said Rev. Rick Duncan.

“Forgetting the past and looking to the future” was the title of Duncan’s last congregational sermon. The foundation of his message came from Phillipians Chapter 3 from the writings of Paul. “There’s a lot of bad I’d like to forget, but it seems like I remember that more than all the good. The Good Lord has truly blessed me,” said the white, curly haired Duncan.

While addressing the congregation, he reminisced on the appearance of the church when he arrived in 1984. “The doors were black and the red carpet had been laid in a most unorthodox way while two window air conditioners struggled to cool the sanctuary.

Bethel Baptist Church went to white doors and new carpet. The window air units gave way to central heating and cooling. “We have a fellowship hall thanks to the men of the church who built it,” said Duncan.

Bethel Baptist Church sits atop Hatmaker Ridge.

As a young man, Duncan did not initially set out to become a minister. He explained that 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, Duncan devoted his full-time to his ministry, and on Sunday, June 29, 2025, his full-time calling came to an end. Though he will continue his radio ministry over WLAF radio at 9:30am, Monday through Friday.

“It’s a joy to be here for my brother,” said Rev. Clayton Duncan, Clarence Duncan’s younger brother. Clayton Duncan retired last Sunday after 25 years at Mount Olive Baptist Church in South Clinton, concluding a 56-year ministry.

Duncan’s ministry travels started on that little radio station at Williamsburg 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, 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, Jane.  She’s the best.”  The couple married as teenagers and raised seven children.  The pair met in church and was married in that church, Pleasant View Baptist Church on Black Oak Ridge in Anderson County, in 1952.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 06/30/2025-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)

One Reply to “Duncan delivers last of a long, long line of sermons”

  1. Pastor Clarence Duncan is not only a bastion of faithfulness to his family, his marriage and his church as a tremendous pastor for all these years – but there is much to be said for the faithfulness to the Word of God Pastor Clarence Duncan has demonstrated to multiple generations. He’s never compromised the Gospel, he’s never compromised in what he stood for, and he’s always stood for Truth. If only Campbell County – if only the church of the Lord Jesus Christ had more men of the mold of Pastor Clarence Duncan. There will be a tremendous reward awaiting this faithful servant one day; his goal has never been fame, it has never been riches, it has never been a mega church or his own personal agenda – it’s always been about Jesus. He has preached Jesus, lived Jesus, and for all these years He has given Bethel and the people of Campbell County… Jesus.

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