Dr. Clarence has been in the ministry for 42 years. For 26 years he has served as a pastor. Dr. Duncan spent 9 years in children's home work, and 7 years in prison Evangelism. He organized Manna Prison in the state of Georgia. This ministry was dedicated to providing Bible Study courses to the prisoners. He established Dalton Christian Academy while he was director of Dalton Rescue Mission Children's Home. Dr. Duncan has been interested in Christian education for many years as his past work indicates.

Dr. Duncan is now pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Jacksboro, Tennessee. He became pastor of Bethel in August, 1984.

Organization

Bethel Baptist Institute was organized in 1991 by Dr. Clarence Duncan. We are members in the American Educational Accrediting Association of Christian Schools of Dothan, Alabama.

Operation

Bethel Baptist Institute operated as a ministry of Bethel Baptist Church of Jacksboro.

Purpose

1. It is the purpose of the Institute to provide professional training for the practitioner of ministry, the evangelist, the educational director missionaries, and those engaged in other areas of Christian service.

2. It is the purpose of the Institute to provide a quality curriculum for those interested in furthering their education in the Bible and its Ministry.

3. It is the purpose of the Institute to provide a program of the study regardless of one's educational background. Much of the work is done in your own home, at your own speed.

4. It is the purpose of the. Institute to provide the above at a very reasonable cost to the student

Precepts

1. We believe that the Bible is God's Holy Word. Every word of the Old and New Testaments is the verbally inspired Word of God, inerrant, infallible and the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We believe in the 1611 King James Authorized Bible is God's preserved Word.

2. We believe that there is only one True and Living God, an intelligent, spiritual and an infinite being, the Creator Preserver and Ruler of the universe. God is one in His nature, yet subsists as a Godhead of three persons; the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection but is distinct in personal manifestation.

3. We believe that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity, eternally existing and equal with God.

4. We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, and co-equal with God the Father and God the Son.

5. We believe in a literal Devil. He was once perfect in creation and enjoyed heavenly honors, but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell. He is now the prince of power of the air and the god of the world. His ultimate destiny is the Lake of Fire, eternally condemned with his angels.

6. We believe that man was created a moral being in the image and likeness of God with a free will. Man chose to willfully disobey God's command and thus fell from his original sinless state. As a consequence, all mankind are now sinners having inherited a sin nature from the first man.

7. We believe in the Genesis account of creation and that it is to be accepted by all literally.

8. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit and in a miraculous manner was born of the virgin Mary.

9. We believe that in order to be saved sinners must be born again. Through this birth one becomes a new creation in Christ. Since the natural man is dead in trespasses and sin, it is only through the operation of the Holy Spirit using the Word of God, that a man will receive the Lord Jesus Christ as is Savior and be brought to repentance and faith.

10. We believe in God's amazing grace and that salvation is made to free to all who will receive the Lord Jesus Christ. Whosoever will may be saved through faith in Christ.

11. We believe that justification is God's full pardon of sin based upon righteousness imputed to sinners who have received Christ as Savior. This righteousness is God's righteousness bestowed apart from any work which we may have done.

12. We believe that at the time of salvation the believer of faith, becomes a child of God and is forgiven of all sin and is in Christ Jesus eternally secure.

13. We believe that Jesus Christ is in Heaven interceding for the believer at this time. However, the end of this age is approaching and He will return at that time and all dead and living believers will receive a glorified body and rise to meet Him in the air. After the seven years tribulation on earth, we will return with Christ to earth to reign for 1000 years in the millennium. After the Great White Throne Judgment of the wicked we will be with Christ for eternity.

14. We believe in the eternal blessedness of the saved in Heaven and the eternal punishment of the lost in Hell.

Program

Bible Diploma - The Institute offers this diploma for those who complete 32 semester hours of Bible training. The following courses are included:

7. Pastoral Leadership - 2 hours. This course allows the student to examine many of the problems found in the church and its work, solutions to the problems discussed by experienced pastors.

8. Evangelism - 2 hours. This course provides the student with a proven plan for personal evangelism.

9. Pastoral Ministry - 2 hours. This course allows the student to study the duties of a pastor in such areas as wedding, funerals, changing churches.

11. Bible Doctrine II - 2 hours. This course allows the student to study the doctrines of the Dispensations, the covenants, the angels, Satan, man, sin, salvation, righteousness, sanctification.

The Associate of Biblical Studies - The Institute offers this degree to those who complete 64 semester hours of Bible and related subjects.

1. Manners and Customs I - 4 hours. This course allows the student to study the manners and customs of Bible lands as found in the Old Testament.

2. Manners and Customs II - 4 hours. This course allows the students to study the manners and customs of Bible lands and found in the New Testaments.

3. Elemental Theology I - 4 hours. This course allows the students to study the meaning and purpose of Theology, Bibliogy, Theology Proper, Christology and Pneumatology.

4 Elemental Theology II - 4 hours. This course allows the students to study Anthropology, Hamartiology, Soteriology, Ecclesiology, Angelogy and Eschatology.

5. Expository preaching - 4 hours. This course allows the students to study the development of expository sermons.

6. Hermeneutics - 4 hours. This course allows the students to study the principles of Biblical interpretation.

7. Advanced Homiletics - 4 hours. This course is designed to allow the students to study the preacher and his preaching.

8. Church Ministry - 4 hours. This course is designed to prepare the student with a working knowledge of ministering to the local church.

9. Old Testament II - 4 hours. This course allows the students to study the entire Old Testament. This course may be substituted for any of the above courses.

All credits earned at the Institute are transferable to
Bethany Bible College in Dothan, Alabama and Tabernacle Baptist College in Greenville, South Carolina..