Hickmans bring ministry of the body and mind
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Mike and Benae Hickman

"We chose Whitehouse because it just feels like home," Mike Hickman said.

Mike and Benae Hickman have made the move that hundreds have recently made. They've made the move to Whitehouse. The Hickmans moved not only their children into the schools and their residence, but they brought their business as well.

With two school age children, Eli and Sarah, the Hickmans wanted the best schools. They also wanted to feel safe and feel comfortable about the town they called home. They agreed that Whitehouse totally filled that bill.

Mike and Benae met during their time in massage therapy school. Following her graduation, Benae joined Mike's practice in Tyler. Love was in the air and they were married. As their family and business grew they began to look for the right place to put down roots. Whitehouse had what they were looking for.

The Hickmans bring with them two businesses. First is New Life Massage Therapy.

"We specialize in relaxation and stress relief therapy," Hickman said. "We see our practice as a ministry of mercy. We are Christians and feel we are ministering to people through our therapy."

Both Mike and Benae are registered massage therapists. They serve clients, by appointment, from their studio at 202 W. Main, Suite A, as well as offering corporate chair massages where they come to your place of business.

They are also involved in Christian work through a ministry they call VOICE. They offer worship leading, drama and concerts to churches, youth camps, conferences and retreats. They can serve as a couple or a full band.

Along with the massage therapy studio, the Hickmans own and operate Rose City Sound and Production. One area of this business offers sound and light rentals for stage. Another is live sound reinforcement for big events such as fairs and concerts. They also do some order sales for churches in sound and lighting needs.

Another area covered by this family venture is a professional recording studio. They offer professional industry level production with home studio affordability.

"I really enjoy working with up-and-coming people in the studio," Hickman said. "We have people come in who are serious about their future and their music and just need a good place to get started."

Hickman says that about 60 percent of their studio clients are Christian music artists with the others being all areas of secular music, "clean secular music." He says they have even done recordings for people coming in to just record one song for someone special in their life.

"We are looking forward to plugging in to the community of Whitehouse," Hickman said. "We are 'people' people and that's why we do the type of work we do.

"Unless God has other plans, we plan to grow old here."