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 Heidenโs 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 three sons, Epaph (5), Asa (2), and Baby Heiden Jr. (1). Together the Ratner’s share a love for the people of Las Vegas and are excited to be a part of Godโs Kingdom activity in the city through planting WALK Church.
MEET HEIDEN &ย NEENA
Heiden is the Senior Pastor of WALK Church. He holds a B.A. degree in Religious Studies from Mercyhurst College (now University) and a Master of Arts degree in Church Plantingย from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. 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 also enjoys playing basketball, traveling, and taking his wife out on dates!
Neena is the wife of Heiden and she is currently the Women’s Guest Relations Coordinator at WALK Church. Neena is near finishing her Bachelorโs Degree in Early Childhood Education at Liberty University Online and she holds a strongย passion to disciple women and teach children. Neena loves to travel with her husband, as well as go to the movies together. Neena enjoys having the opportunity to stay home and raise her sons.
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 reachย 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…” โ Colossians 2:6
โGo home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you…” โ Mark 5:19
“And you will say in that day: ‘Give thanks to the Lord,ย call upon his name,ย make known his deeds among the peoples,ย proclaim that his name is exalted.'”ย โ Isaiah 12:4
What others are saying…
OUR HISTORY
The Joy is in the Journey
We have come a long way since our first Bible study held back inย 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 excitedย about the next adventure He has called us on in planting WALK Church.
