Colorado-based charismatic teacher and evangelist Marilyn Hickey died on Saturday at 94.
Hickey, who remained active until the end, pushed the boundaries of what women could achieve in Christian ministry. She co-pastored Orchard Road Christian Center, which had a long run as one of Denver’s largest charismatic churches.
She authored more than 100 books and other publications and hosted a television program that was on the air continuously since 1973, most recently as “Today with Marilyn & Sarah.”
Through Marilyn Hickey Ministries, she visited more than 100 countries, holding evangelistic gatherings that drew tens of thousands, even in locations with tight restrictions on proselytizing.
“Though we mourn this loss, we find peace in knowing she is now in the presence of the Lord and her ministry will continue for generations to come,” according to a statement issued by her family on Facebook.
No cause of death was disclosed for the long-time resident of the south metro area.
A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, at the Word of Life Christian Center, 8700 E. Park Meadows Drive in Lone Tree. The service will be .
Marilyn Ailene Sweitzer was born on July 1, 1931, in Dalhart, Texas, to John and Mary Alice Sweitzer. Her family moved often, and when Hickey was 16, they relocated from Pennsylvania to Colorado in search of cleaner air for her father, who had severe asthma.
Hickey was drawn to other cultures at an early age and obtained a B.A. in foreign languages from the University of Northern Colorado in 1953, according to an
She intended to become a Spanish teacher, but her life took another turn after her mother introduced her to Wallace Hickey, a young man active in the Assemblies of God denomination.
The pair would marry in 1954 and later start a home church gathering that became the Full Gospel Chapel, better known in metro Denver as “The Happy Church” because of its lively worship services.
Not content to stay in the traditional supporting role of pastor’s wife, Hickey served as a full co-pastor with her husband. She became known for her skills in teaching the Bible.
In 1973, she launched Marilyn Hickey Ministries and started her own television program, which proved popular on Christian networks and has run continuously since then. Her daughter, Sarah Bowling, joined her as co-host in 1996 on the renamed “Today with Marilyn & Sarah.” Her granddaughter, Isabell Bowling, now hosts the show.
She was also a prolific author, with some of her more popular titles including “Names of God,” “Breaking Generational Curses,” and “The Power of Prayer and Fasting.”
The Hickeys rebranded their church as the Orchard Road Christian Center in 1969 and in 1981, Marilyn Hickey started what would become known as Word to the World College.
In 1989, the Hickeys purchased the Beau Monde Mall, pioneering a trend of megachurches moving into large retail spaces. They sued after the T-Rex project blocked the view of the church from Interstate 25, but lost a precedent-setting court case before the Colorado Supreme Court in 2007.
Hickey avoided personal scandals and did not use her ministry to fund an extravagant lifestyle, unlike some other televangelists. But her fundraising methods copied those common in the Word-Faith movement, including selling small items like anointed prayer cloths and miracle carrot seeds, which drew criticism from some circles in the Christian community.
In the early 2000s, the Hickeys transitioned control of the Orchard Road Christian Center to Sarah and her husband, Reece. They and pursued a more mainstream charismatic style.
In 2012, Wally Hickey passed away. The couple, married nearly 60 years, had two children and five grandchildren. Marilyn Hickey focused on Bible study, healing prayer, encouragement, and global missions in her final years.
She proved especially adept at building bridges with political leaders of other faiths, especially Muslims and Hindus, which in turn granted her a rare level of access.
She made seven trips to Pakistan over the years, leading major imams to call her the “Mom to Pakistan,” according to and other media outlets.
Her visits culminated with a “Night of Healing” rally in November 2016. A 50-acre field in Karachi was covered in carpets to accommodate a crowd estimated to have reached 1 million people.
In 2019, Hickey received an International Lifetime Peace Award from the Grand Imam and President of Pakistan for her humanitarian and outreach efforts in the country.
In 2015, Oral Roberts University, where she had served on the board of regents for 19 years, recognized her with a Lifetime Global Achievement Award. In 2021, the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary recognized her with The Pillar of Faith Award and the Smith Wigglesworth Award. She also received a Lifetime Achievement award from President Donald Trump in 2021.
Hickey stayed active until the end. In , she offered a Bible study on the phrase “lift up your eyes,” but not before giving a nod to her long-time home.
“I tell you, living in Colorado is a privilege, and I travel all over the world. But when I come home, I think ooh, I am home in Colorado,” she said with a smile on her face.
