Seminarian partners to visit Grace Lutheran Church on Sunday

Ashton and Jennifer Roberts, seminarian partners to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Oak Ridge, will visit the Oak Ridge congregation Sunday, July 30, to lead worship, talk about their ministry, and get acquainted with local supporters.

Ashton and Jennifer have completed their first year as students at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS) at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Columbia, South Carolina. They are both seeking a master of divinity degree under ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), a press release said. Grace partners with an LTSS student each year, providing them financial and other assistance in reaching their goals.

Ashton Roberts is a native of Northeast Tennessee, and he began his bachelor’s degree at East Tennessee State University, the press release said. The couple moved to Lenoir City, Jennifer’s hometown, after their son Zion was born, and they spent nine years discerning God’s call to the ministry, the press release said. Jennifer Roberts received a bachelor’s degree in human development and learning from East Tennessee State and a master’s degree in teaching from Tusculum College. She taught at Eaton Elementary in Loudon County. Ashton finished his degree and received a national certification as a pharmacy technician. In the fall of 2015, they decided it was time to take a leap of faith and follow God’s call for their family by enrolling in seminary.

Jennifer will preach and Ashton will serve as worship leader at the 10 a.m. contemporary service on July 30, and they will participate in an 11:15 potluck brunch, where they will talk about life as a family at seminary and answer questions from Grace members. Everyone is invited to attend, the press release said.

Grace Lutheran is the only ELCA congregation in Oak Ridge and Anderson County, the press release said. The ELCA is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Grace Lutheran Church is located at 131 West Gettysburg Avenue in Oak Ridge. For more information, call (865) 483-3787 or visit www.graceoakridge.org.