Pastor Dr. Mark Martin

I came to know the Lord as my personal Savior when I was five years old.  My teacher was teaching about Heaven and hell and I knew that I didn’t want to go to hell.  I prayed and accepted Him into my heart that day.  I told my father and he baptized me the following Sunday. It was in my teen years that I surrendered to go into the ministry.  Although I thought, at the time, that it would be in music, God has a way of changing the best of laid out plans.

 I’ve often wondered why God allows us to go through difficult times but as I look back upon my life I can see God working in every circumstance.  He has led me through a path of intense training in almost every conceivable position in the church.  I know that He has been preparing me, from my youth, for the awesome task of pastoring. After graduating from Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, TN, I began following God’s call upon my life in full time worship ministry. There were no plans to further my education but God moved in my heart to change from worship ministry to pastoring and He set before me an opportunity to further my education. I completed my Masters of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, and then on to finish my Doctorate of Ministry in Pastoral Studies from Covington Theological Seminary.   

I know now that God does have a sense of humor.  God often picks people to perform wondrous things that they would not normally be able to accomplish.  There are so many men out there that are more qualified and more experienced than me and would have been better suited to pastor Grassy Valley Baptist Church, but God chose me and I am very humbled by that decision.

It has been said that behind every great man is a greater woman.  This is especially true in my case.  I was privileged to marry Jennifer M. Vittetoe on May 22, 1993.  She has truly been a help mate for our ministry and me.  God gave me a woman that is strong in areas that I am weak and I am truly blessed to be married to her.  God has continued to bless us with two beautiful children and one beautiful daughter in law, our son Bradley, his wife Katie and our daughter Shannon.

I hope and pray that you enjoy your visit with us here at Grassy Valley Baptist Church.  May God fill you with wisdom and strength as you seek to do His will.  If you have any questions regarding our ministries or our church, please feel free to contact me at...

Pastor Dr. Mark Martin  | (865) 693-1741 | pastor@grassyvalley.org