Jimmy "Papa J" Mahaney serves as pastor to Jr. High and Sr. High Students here at Heritage. Because of the great vastness of the student ministry, Jimmy is supported with over thirty awesome volunteers to help pull of this busy and explosive ministry. Jimmy received his bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Temple University where he met his wife, Wendy. After college, Jimmy served as Singles Pastor then moved to Student Pastor several years later at Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
 
The Lord moved Jimmy and his family to Grand Rapids in 2001 to serve here at Heritage. Jimmy has more of a passion today to work with students than ever before. Engaging students with the hunger and the desire to know God intimately and passionately has become Jimmy's motivation to keep moving forward. When he is not working, he spends a lot of time with his wife and two handsome boys, Tyler and Trevor (they look like dad). He also enjoys drinking sweet tea and watching to see who will get kicked off Survivor.