Born to Stephen and Julie Bentley, Heather (Bentley) Hicks entered life in Lexington, Kentucky on October 20, 1980 while her father was in Seminary. Both parents share a loving relationship with God, and taught Heather how to build a similar relationship herself. She has grown up with two brothers, Adam and Andrew Bentley. Both young men are currently serving in the Navy. Adam is married to a young woman named Aireen, whom he met while serving in Japan. They have a beautiful, 3-year-old daughter, Julie. They currently live in South Carolina. Andrew serves as a diver in Hawaii.

     As the daughter of a Pastor, Heather shared in her father's ministries with several congregations, including the Hocking Valley Parish where she spent most of her middle school and high school careers. She was baptized at the age of 12, and began to explore a strong call to active parish ministry from the same age. She was a part of the youth program at the Hocking Valley Parish and attended Phyo Conference at Camp Christian.

     Heather also engaged in music and theater programs during her high school years. She was an active member of the marching and concert bands, as well as the show choir, and three high school theater productions. She graduated from Athens High School in 1999.

     From high school, Heather proceeded to Bethany College to earn a major music degree in vocal (soprano) performance and a minor in theater performance. She was also an active Timothy/ Priscilla student while attending Bethany. She served three churches in various fields, two of which involved educational and youth ministry. Heather graduated from Bethany in May of 2003.

     Shortly after graduating from Bethany, Heather moved to Lexington, Kentucky where she hoped to start her seminary education, but the death of a mentor brought this seminary education to a halt. She returned home in December. For the next few months, she worked in the Trimble Local School system as a substitute teacher. During this time, she bumped into a camp friend, Stuart Hicks, and they started dating long-distance. The following summer, she moved to Warren, Ohio where she was offered a job working as a caregiver for people with mental retardation and physical disabilities.

     After two years, Heather felt the call to ministry again. She applied to the Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO) where she was accepted to start classes January 2006. While moving back to Columbus, Ohio Heather asked Stuart (soon-to-be a computer programmer at OhioLink), to watch her cat for a few weeks. Shortly after this, Stuart proposed marriage, and they were married on July 28, 2007.

     Currently, Heather and Stuart live in Marysville, Ohio. Heather graduated from MTSO in May 2009 and was Ordained into Christian ministry in July 2009.

     Heather hopes to grow the education program at First Church. She is working with children and youth during Church School and the MidWeek program. She is looking forward to meeting everyone, and to being a witness to the various aspects of God's ministry in and through First Church.