Rev. Leon McKinley Corder, Jr., senior pastor of Swift Tabernacle Baptist Church (STBC) will celebrate 10 years as pastor on July 10. The church is located in North Nashville at 905 Clay St. at 10th Ave. North. The anniversary service takes place at 3 pm, CDT, at Swift. If this year is like previous years, attendees may want to arrive early to secure a seat.

Supporters travel many miles from several states for Rev. Corder. A ‘Salad & Tea Social’ fundraising event and Men’s Fashion Show will also take place on July 9 at the Goodwill Career Solutions Center, located at 937 Herman St. Nashville, TN 37208.

Swift Tabernacle Baptist Church was established in 1906. The church has seen many pastors and great membership growth throughout the years. Rev. Walter Corder, grandfather of Leon Corder, Jr. was the pastor for 34 years. In the spirit of tradition, excellence in ministry continues. Swift Tabernacle is known as ‘A Church of Love’ welcoming all who desire to worship.

Leon M. Corder, Jr. is the second of four children, born to Linda E. Petway and Leon M. Corder, Sr. According to his mother, he was always a spiritual child. From a very young age, he emulated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He also gives credit to his late stepfather, Edward Petway. His mother maintains that she always knew he would be a minister, even though he was known as the ‘class clown’ in his youth.

Corder has always believed his calling is to win souls to Christ. In following this calling, he founded Vine Hill Community Baptist Church in 2001. He was senior pastor of this church body until God sent him, in the same capacity, to Swift Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church on March 19, 2006. On June 4, 2006, the two church bodies merged under the already established name of Swift Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.

Rev. Corder remains consistent in bringing the word that convicts the soul and challenges everyone to change the way you act, think, feel, and speak about the power of God. He encourages everyone to always stay in the Word, and when times get hard, stand on the Word.

Corder became a graduate of American Baptist College in May, 2009, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible Theology. He enrolled at Trevecca Nazarene College to obtain his Master’s degree and graduated in May, 2013. Rev. Corder pledged Phi Beta Sigma fraternity in 2009. Corder is married to Audrey Ray Corder, who is dedicated to the Women’s Ministry at Swift. Together they have one son, Louis Corder who is a college student in Alabama.

For more information, visit <www.facebook.com/swifttabernaclechurch> or <www.swifttabernaclebaptist.com/>