A Hispanic congregation, meeting at Grace Covenant,grew from a casual conversation between a member of the church and an Oak Ridge National Laboratories Credit Union Service Officer. Martin Luna was assisting the member when he noticed the church's heading on one of her documents and asked about Grace Covenant Church. Martin was looking for a place to provide Bible classes for Hispanic people in Oak Ridge. Impressed with the young man, the church member passed the information to her pastors. After meeting Martin Luna and his family, the congregation responded with enthusiasm, providing the Hispanic congregation with a place for study and worship and Spanish language Bibles.
Martin (pronounced Marteen) Luna is a native of Mexico, born in Morelia, Michoacan. He immigrated to the U.S. at age 12 and grew up in California and Florida where he was active in Hispanic Apostolic Assembly churches. In Florida, Martin received a technical school diploma as a Specialist in Office Systems and was certified as an Associate in Theology by the Florida Apostolic Bible College. He and his wife Martha, also a native of Mexico, settled in Homestead, Florida, where Martin became a credit union branch manager.
In traveling through the Knoxville area, Martin and Martha were attracted by a sense of calling to East Tennessee. They and their two children, Jasmine and Jaden, left jobs and friends in Homestead and moved to Knoxville. With Martin’s credit union experience he quickly found employment with ORNL Credit Union.
The congregation, now in its fourth year, gathers for worship at 1:30 p.m. on Sundays and for study and music on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Services are conducted in Spanish, although Martin and Martha and some in the congregation also speak English.
The relationship of Grace Covenant Church and the hispanic ministry may appear to be a strange mix to some. Differences in language, culture, race, and denominational roots have raised questions about how such different people could come together. Grace Covenant Church is interdenominational and committed to embracing diversity in Christian faith. Both Grace Covenant and the Hispanic congregation share one faith in Christ. Both are a part of the one body of Christ--the church.
