Lead Pastor

---

My late wife, Karen and I grew up as dating teens at First Wesleyan when my father (the late Rev. Earl Heckman) was pastor.  We graduated from Bridgeton High School in 1970-71, were married at FWC and became involved in youth ministry.  In 1977 we answered a call to prepare for pastoral service and moved to Allentown, PA with our 2 sons to attend United Wesleyan College.  While there God blessed  us with a daughter.  Upon graduation we returned to New Jersey to pastor at Carney's Point Wesleyan for 10 years (1981-1991).  We moved back to Allentown, PA and served as pastor of Trinity Wesleyan for 19 years (1991-2010).  While at Trinity I was able to complete an MA in Pastoral Ministries from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Forty-seven years later we have now served as pastoral couple at FWC for 14 years as of Easter 2024.  We have the joy of having our grandson, Kevin Jr. (24 years old) live with us following a catastrophic accident on Christmas 2013 which left him a paraplegic. He graduated from Cumberland Regional High School in 2018, attended Rowan College of South Jersey and is currently enrolled at Kingwood University in New Brunswick, Canada.  Kevin will be following the fourth generation to answer a call to pastoral ministry.

On Sunday, September 22nd, Karen, wife and grandmother (Gigi) of 19 went on to her eternal reward after a couple of years battling health issues.  We celebrated her life and ministry on Monday, September 30th, 2024.