MEET HEIDEN & NEENA

Heiden and Neena Ratner grew up in Las Vegas, NV where God has called them together to plant WALK Church. Heiden and Neena did not grow up in typical Christian households, however God did a radical work in their lives during their early college years and they have never looked back. It was during one of Heiden’s first ever Bible Studies in Las Vegas, which Neena had attended, that they established a lasting friendship. Two years later they decided to turn their friendship into a relationship and on November 18, 2011, Heiden and Neena were married in Israel, where Heiden was playing professional basketball. Heiden and Neena have one baby boy, Epaph Ratner. Together the Ratner’s share a love for the people of Las Vegas and are excited to be a part of God’s Kingdom activity in the city through planting WALK Church.

Heiden holds a B.A. degree in Religious Studies from Mercyhurst College (now University) and after playing four years of college basketball, Heiden played a season of professional basketball in Israel. After coaching a season of college basketball in Kentucky, Heiden sensed God calling him to move his family back to his hometown of Las Vegas, NV to plant WALK Church. Heiden is the pastor of WALK Church and is currently working toward finishing his Master of Arts degree in Church Planting at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary online. Heiden also enjoys playing basketball, traveling, and taking his wife out on dates!

Neena is the wife of Heiden and she is currently the director of The 4 Twelve Kids Ministry at WALK Church. Neena is near finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education at Liberty University Online and she holds a strong passion to teach children. Neena also enjoys pouring into fellow women on a personal level and has a heart to see women set free to walk in Jesus. She loves to go to the movies with her husband and have the opportunity to stay home and raise her son.

The Calling

It was within that first summer of leading Bible studies and loving on people that Heiden began to experience a passionate sense of calling from God to plant churches in Las Vegas and around the world. In the following years God would continue to clarify His calling on Heiden’s life through affirmations from key leaders around him, a blazing aspiration in his heart to reach people, various Scripture confirmations, and the reality of the great need for more gospel saturated churches in Las Vegas. More than just planting one church, WALK Church has a passion to multiply churches throughout the city of Las Vegas and around the world.

There were three verses that God used to confirm Heiden’s call to church planting:

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him…” – Colossians 2:6

“Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you…” – Mark 5:19

“And you will say in that day: ‘Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.'” – Isaiah 12:4

What others are saying…

"What an honor it is for Hope Church to partner with Heiden Ratner to plant a new church here in Las Vegas. It is a blessing to see God bring people out of the harvest and then see them discipled and sent back into the harvest! Heiden came to Christ as a native Las Vegan an
d is now being used to engage this city with the gospel. His passion for Christ and reaching people are contagious. We look forward to working together to impact Vegas for the glory of Christ."

− Vance Pitman, Senior Pastor of Hope Church, Las Vegas, NV

"Heiden has a love for people and a passion for God’s Word. I have watched God lead him back to Las Vegas to launch a ministry in an area he knows well."

− Donnie Dee, Former NFL Player, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)

"When I met Heiden and Neena at the LAUNCH Church Planter Assessment retreat I was captured by the story of God’s work in their lives. This couple has an authentic deep devotion to God and His calling on their lives. I'm convinced God is going to use them in an uncommon way to spread the Gospel in Las Vegas and beyond."

− Mac Lake, Visionary Architect for The Launch Church Planting Network

"Heiden is a consummate leader. His love of Christ and the Word of God is contagious. He is positioned to make a huge impact for the Kingdom of God."

− Derek Sanford, Lead Pastor, Grace Church, Erie, PA

"I have no doubt that Heiden will be a tremendous church planter for three reasons: he’s from Las Vegas and is a great fit, he is teachable, and he is a natural people gatherer. I am excited to see what God will do through Heiden, Neena, and WALK Church!"

− Kevin Cox, Lead Pastor, Vista Church, Heartland, TX

OUR HISTORY

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The Joy is in the Journey

We have come a long way since our first Bible study held back in the summer of 2008. God has loved on, shaped, and grown our group immensely since then. We have truly experienced God’s steadfast grace and love over the years and we couldn’t be more excited about the next adventure He has called us on in planting WALK Church.