Rev. Dr. Laura Heikes is a pastor, writer, and speaker who believes the church is at its best when people discover their God-given gifts and put their faith into action. Throughout her ministry, she has helped congregations develop lay leaders, deepen their engagement with their communities, welcome new people, and discover new ways to share the good news.

Laura has served churches in Kentucky, Texas, and North Carolina in both associate and lead pastoral roles, including a decade leading a growing church in the Austin area and four years as a lead pastor in the Rio Grande Valley along the Texas/Mexico border. Her ministry has included developing new worship communities, strengthening outreach and mission, cultivating lay leadership, and helping churches grow in generosity and service.

Ordained in the United Methodist Church, Laura says her call to St. John’s came with a persistent nudge from God. “Coming home” is how she describes the experience of discovering this community and its vision for faithful, active ministry. She hopes you can find what she has found here- a church family.

Laura holds a Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary and M.Div. and Th.M. degrees from Asbury Theological Seminary. She is the author of Finding God: Discovering the Divine in the Gritty and Unexpected and writes regularly about faith, leadership, and the life of the church.

Laura and her husband, Kevin, have three children. She loves hiking, being outdoors, reading, writing, and looking for God in the gritty and unexpected places of everyday life.