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We are pleased to announce that Rev. Ansell Baker's series on Revelation is now available on our website! Rev. Baker preached this series while Interim Pastor in 1989-1990. It has been a much requested resource since. A direct link to the Revelation series is https://northetowah.org/series/revelation-baker

Rev. Baker also served as Interim Pastor in 2000 during which time he preached a series on Daniel. This series is currently being converted from cassette to digital and will be posted when complete.

About Rev. Ansell T. Baker

Rev. Ansell T. Baker, beloved pastor emeritus and former pastor of First Baptist Church of Athens passed away June 9, 2007. He was known, loved and respected by many, having served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Athens, Tennessee for 15 years and during his retirement years served as interim pastor in churches in Cleveland, Sweetwater, Etowah, Niota, Englewood, Lenoir City, Knoxville, and Chattanooga.

Mr. Baker was born in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, December 31, 1921, and moved to Winchester, Virginia at the age of 14 and became a U.S. Citizen in 1951. He was a graduate of Bob Jones University and Eastern Baptist Seminary where he was recognized for his many talents and abilities of leadership.

He married Sue Gilbert in Dothan, Alabama in October of 1945. His first church after graduation was the Canaan Baptist Church in Bessemer, Alabama. He was called to Central Baptist Church in Chattanooga in 1952. He served there for 20 years having a very fruitful ministry both in the church and community where he was known widely through his radio ministry as well. While in Chattanooga, he was moderator of Hamilton County Baptist Association, President of the Chattanooga Ministerial Association, and was listed in the Registry of Prominent Americans. For fifteen years he served as a Chaplain (Major) in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He was active in the Brainerd Kiwanis Club, being the President-elect at the time of his move to Athens.

Mr. Baker was active in Baptist work in the state of Tennessee and across the Southern Baptist Convention. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Northern American Mission Board, the Tennessee Baptist Children's Home, and Carson-Newman College. He was also the Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and President of the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference. After being called to the First Baptist Church of Athens in 1973, he continued a radio ministry at the First Baptist Church which was widely heard and appreciated. He served on the Board of the McMinn County Tri-State Center and was a member of the Kiwanis Club where he served on various committees.

During his ministry, Mr. Baker was in constant demand for speaking engagements, revival meetings, weddings and funerals where he was known for his memorization of the scriptures, but his priority was always his church ministry. He was a man of humility, kindness and courtesy, always considering others before himself. One of his special interests was traveling to various parts of the world covering 65 countries, including various mission trips, and 18 trips to the Middle East, making it possible for hundreds of people to share this experience.