Pastor Heap was raised in Peru and Guatemala where his parents were missionaries. After attending college at Southern Nazarene University he earned a Masters of Divinity degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary.
He married Marcia Heasley and began pastoring in Oklahoma where he also served as district missionary president and was elected to the advisory board. Pastor Heap pastored two churches in Texas Harlingen First and Arlington East Park. Erin was born into the family while in Harlingen, and Loren came while they pastored in Arlington.