Dr. Clarence Sexton
Dr. Clarence Sexton, an East Tennessee pastor who was instrumental in the ministry of Dr. Lee Roberson of Chattanooga, died Dec. 12.
Several thousand packed the Temple Baptist Church at Powell, Tn. on Wednesday for a memorial service at the church he pastored for 35 years.
Psalm 23 was one of Dr. Sexton’s favorite scriptures and was read at the service. It was noted Dr. Sexton trusted Christ at the age of 14 and he was Temple’s Shepherd who fed the congregation the Word of God.
Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs spoke and said, “The problem with history is there have been too many great men and not enough good men. Clarence Sexton was a rare case, not only a great man but a good man. When Dr. Sexton came to Temple Baptist the congregation numbered 400; now there are over 10,000 members. The mayor noted the establishment of Crown College in 1991 with 69 students and now there are over 1,000 students. The mayor said, “You can read his greatness in his over 100 publications.”
Mayor Jacobs also said, “Dr. Sexton called me a man of conviction. I thought to myself there’s no way I can be that person but I tried. Because of Clarence Sexton I became a better person and better mayor. Dr. Sexton made the world a better place. He spread the love of Jesus like so few do.”
According to the obituary from Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home in Knoxville, Dr. Sexton moved to Chattanooga in 1975 to serve at the Highland Park Baptist Church. Dr. Roberson asked Rev. Sexton to join the church staff as an assistant pastor and attend Temple Baptist Seminary.
Under his leadership, Highland Park’s bus ministry experienced tremendous growth. Over two thousand people rode the buses to church each Sunday. Clarence himself brought new converts down the aisles almost every week. He instituted “The Afternoon Sunday School,” during which thousands of people placed their faith in Christ. While serving with Dr. Roberson, he "absorbed many principles and traits that have influence his ministry over the years." Dr. Roberson described the time Clarence served with him as "the greatest years in the history of Highland Park Baptist Church."
Dr. Sexton said while in Chattanooga Dr. Roberson inspired him to pastor again and start a Christian school.
Dr. Sexton said because of that influence a 30,000 square foot Dr. Lee Roberson Christian Heritage Center was built and houses hundreds of displays about the Chattanooga preacher.
Dr. Sexton, at the funeral of Dr. Roberson in 2007, said, “I love the church I pastor and its people. It was the influences of Dr. Roberson that help instill that love in my heart.”
Clarence Sexton and Lee Roberson