Minister Carnes Duren

I, Carnes Duren Jr. was born on July 22, 1933 in Sumter, South Carolina to Deacon and Mrs. Carnes Duren, Sr. I am the second son of nine children. When very young, I informed Pastor Weston that God had called me to preach, so after much counseling and prayer, he told me that he believed that God called me to preparation so that when I was ready, God had a place for me.

While in the military, I worked as Administration Supervisor for the Civil Government and was assistant Chaplin and served three years in the Korean War during which I met and married Ms. Laureen D. Thomas in October 1955. We have four daughter, five granddaughters, one grandson, two great-grandsons, and one God-son. After twenty-five years of service, I retired in 1972 and began my calling to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. I began my training at Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina and earned my BA Degree in Arts and Divinity while being trained at both Mt. Herman Missionary Baptist Church and Stucky Missionary Baptist Church in Bishopville, South Carolina by Dr. B.D. Lewis.

In 1974, I was called to Bethlehem Baptist Church in Marion, South Carolina; where I continued studying while pasturing and received my Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Divinity. After a successful tenure at Bethlehem Baptist Church, the spirit led me to resign the church and pray. After I resigned, I began teaching at New Vision University, Lincolnton, North Carolina, where I received my Doctor of Religion and Ph.D. in Philosophy. During the same period of time, Black Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Jefferson, South Carolina called me to be their pastor. I stayed there until I retired. The love of preaching and pasturing fills my soul but time has brought me in. Now, I continue doing God's will by helping the less fortunate children of God.

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