Marilyn Hickey Obituary: Global Evangelist Dies at 94 in Denver – ‘Anointed Leader’ Remembered by Christian Community Worldwide.

DENVER, CO – April 27, 2026 – The global Christian community is mourning the loss of a woman who brought the Gospel to millions across more than 100 countries. Marilyn Hickey , a renowned evangelist, Bible teacher, author, and television host, died on April 25, 2026 , in Denver, Colorado , at the age of 94. Her passing marks the end of a remarkable seven-decade ministry that inspired countless believers and broke barriers for women in evangelical leadership.

Hickey’s death was confirmed by Marilyn Hickey Ministries , which released a statement Sunday evening: “With heavy hearts but with confidence in the resurrection, we announce that our beloved founder Marilyn Hickey has gone home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her legacy of faith, healing, and bold proclamation of the Word will continue through this ministry and through the millions of lives she touched.”

Known for her fiery preaching, her deep love for Scripture, and her unwavering belief in divine healing, Hickey was a pioneer in charismatic Christianity — a movement that emphasizes the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues and miraculous healing. At a time when female evangelists were rare in mainstream Christian broadcasting, Hickey built a global platform that reached presidents, prisoners, and everyone in between.

Early Life and Calling: From Texas to the World

Marilyn Hickey was born Marilyn LaRue on July 1, 1931 , in Dallas, Texas. Raised in a modest Methodist home, she later recalled that her early faith was sincere but conventional. Everything changed in her late twenties when, after struggling with personal challenges and what she described as a “spiritual dryness,” she experienced what she called a baptism of the Holy Spirit — an event that would define the rest of her life.

“I felt like fire fell on me,” she said in a 2015 interview with Christianity Today. “And from that moment, I knew I was called to teach the Bible — not just to women, not just to small groups, but to the world.”

In the early 1960s, she began teaching Bible studies in Denver, Colorado, where she had moved with her husband, Wally Hickey (who predeceased her in 2018). What started as a small gathering in her living room grew into a full-fledged ministry. By the 1970s, Marilyn Hickey Ministries was broadcasting on television, reaching audiences across the United States and eventually around the globe.

A Ministry Without Borders

Over the course of more than 60 years of active ministry, Hickey traveled to over 100 countries, preaching in stadiums, churches, and even government houses. She was known for her boldness: She preached in communist countries where Christianity was suppressed, in Muslim-majority nations where open evangelism was illegal, and in war zones where her message of hope was desperately needed.

One of her most famous overseas crusades took place in India in the 1990s, where she reportedly addressed crowds of over 300,000 people. She also held major conferences in Brazil, Nigeria, South Korea, Ukraine, and Egypt , often partnering with local churches to provide humanitarian aid alongside the Gospel message.

“She was fearless,” said Pastor Samuel Rodriguez , president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. “Marilyn Hickey didn’t care about politics. She cared about souls. She would go anywhere, speak to anyone, and she never backed down from the truth of Scripture. That kind of courage is rare.”

In addition to her overseas crusades, Hickey was a prolific author, writing more than 100 books, including her best-known work, “The Power of the Whole Word” , as well as numerous Bible study guides and devotional materials. Her teachings emphasized the importance of reading the Bible in its entirety — not just favorite passages — and she often said, “If you want to know God’s will for your life, open your Bible and start reading.”

Television Ministry and Partnership with Her Daughter

Hickey’s television program, “Marilyn Hickey Today” (later retitled “Truth for a New Generation” ), aired for decades on Christian networks including TBN, Daystar, and CTVN. In her later years, she co-hosted the show with her daughter, Sarah Bowling , who has since taken on a leadership role within the ministry.

The mother-daughter partnership became a hallmark of the ministry’s later years, symbolizing not only familial love but also the intentional passing of the torch to a new generation. Bowling, who is also an ordained minister and author, described her mother as both a mentor and a friend.

“My mother never retired,” Bowling said in an emotional video tribute posted Sunday. “She taught her last Bible study just a few weeks ago. Her mind was sharp, her faith was stronger than ever, and her love for Jesus was as passionate at 94 as it was at 34. I am who I am because of her. And this ministry will continue — for her, and for the Kingdom.”

In the same video, Bowling thanked supporters for their prayers and announced that the ministry would launch a year-long “Marilyn Hickey Legacy Campaign” focused on training female pastors and evangelists in developing nations — a cause deeply important to Hickey.

A Trailblazer for Women in Ministry

Long before the phrase “women in leadership” became common in evangelical circles, Marilyn Hickey was doing the work. She pastored, preached, and taught alongside men in an era when many denominations forbade women from holding authority over men in church settings.

Hickey navigated these challenges with a mix of grace and tenacity. She would often point to biblical figures like Deborah, Priscilla, and Phoebe as evidence that God calls women to lead. Yet she also avoided strident confrontation, preferring to let her fruit speak for itself.

“She didn’t spend time fighting for her place at the table,” said Dr. Jennifer LeClaire , a charismatic author and fellow minister. “She just built the table. And then she invited everyone to eat.”

Many women in ministry today — including prominent pastors and televangelists — cite Marilyn Hickey as a direct inspiration. Joyce Meyer , Paula White-Cain , and Christine Caine have all publicly acknowledged Hickey’s influence on their own callings.

Humanitarian Outreach and Healing Ministry

In addition to her preaching and teaching, Hickey’s ministry was known for its practical compassion. The ministry funded orphanages, drilled water wells, supported medical missions, and provided disaster relief in countries around the world — often in partnership with other organizations.

Hickey’s teaching on divine healing was central to her message. She believed that physical healing was part of the atonement — that is, made available to believers through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Countless testimonies emerged from her crusades of people claiming miraculous healings from cancer, blindness, paralysis, and other conditions.

While some critics dismissed these claims as unverifiable, Hickey was unfazed. “I know what I’ve seen,” she once said. “I know what the Bible says. And I know that God is still in the miracle business.”

Tributes Pour In from Around the World

Following news of her death, tributes flooded social media and Christian news outlets. Prominent leaders from every major stream of Christianity — Pentecostal, evangelical, mainline Protestant, and even some Catholic figures — offered condolences and remembrances.

Franklin Graham , president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Marilyn Hickey was a faithful servant of the Lord. She preached the Gospel without apology for over 60 years. She will be greatly missed. My prayers are with her family and her ministry team.”

Pope Francis , through the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, sent a message of condolence, noting Hickey’s “profound love for Scripture and her tireless efforts to bring comfort to the suffering.”

Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter’s House in Dallas called Hickey “a spiritual mother to millions” and said, “She broke the glass ceiling in Christian broadcasting and never lost her warmth, her humor, or her holy grit.”

Even secular media outlets acknowledged her cultural significance. The Denver Post noted that Hickey had been a fixture in the city for more than half a century, and that her ministry’s headquarters in Englewood, Colorado, had become a landmark for Christian pilgrims.

A Life Well Lived: Remembering Her Humor and Humanity

Those who knew Hickey personally often speak of her sharp wit, her love for dark chocolate, her habit of singing hymns while doing dishes, and her notorious disdain for lukewarm coffee. Despite her global fame, she remained approachable, often answering letters personally or inviting strangers to sit with her at church.

“She was the same person off-camera as she was on-camera,” said Linda Shepherd , a longtime ministry volunteer. “No pretense. No ego. She genuinely loved people. She would hug you like she’d known you forever.”

Hickey was also known for her love of Israel. She led dozens of tours to the Holy Land and was a vocal supporter of Jewish-Christian relations. In 2018, she received the Jerusalem Prayer Team’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” for her work in building bridges between Christians and Jews.

Family and Survivors

Marilyn Hickey is survived by her daughter, Sarah Bowling , and her son, Wally Hickey Jr. (who serves as a pastor in Texas). She also leaves behind six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Her husband of more than 60 years, Wally Hickey Sr. , died in 2018. One daughter, Christy , predeceased her in 1995.

In a statement released Monday, the family wrote: “Our mother was a gift — not just to us, but to the world. She lived every day with purpose, joy, and an unshakable faith in God’s goodness. We will miss her beyond words. But we know she is now with Jesus, and we will see her again.”

Funeral Arrangements and Celebration of Life

The family has announced that a private funeral will be held first for immediate family members. A public Celebration of Life is being planned and will take place at New Life Church in Colorado Springs (pastored by Brady Boyd) or at a large venue in Denver. Details will be released in the coming days on the Marilyn Hickey Ministries website.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Marilyn Hickey Ministries for the purpose of training female pastors and evangelists in restricted nations — a cause Hickey personally championed.

Marilyn Hickey’s Legacy: What Endures

Marilyn Hickey once wrote, “The only thing we take to heaven is people — and the only thing we leave behind that lasts is what we have invested in others.” By that measure, her legacy is vast beyond measure.

Her television programs still air in dozens of countries. Her books are still read. The ministers she trained still preach. The orphans she helped feed are now adults. The sick she prayed for, she believed, were healed.

In an era of cynicism and declining religious affiliation in the West, Hickey remained an unapologetic optimist about the power of faith. “God is not done with this world,” she said in her final public message, recorded just days before her death. “Neither are you. Get up. Read your Bible. Say a prayer. And then go love somebody. That’s the whole Gospel, right there.”

A Final Word

As the sun set over Denver on the evening of April 25, 2026, one of the great voices of modern Christianity fell silent. But the echoes of that voice — in stadiums, in living rooms, in prison cells, in hospital beds — will not fade quickly.

Marilyn Hickey lived long, loved fiercely, and preached boldly. She was 94 years old. She had no regrets.

“I’d do it all again,” she once said. “Every plane ride. Every hotel room. Every late night. Because Jesus is worth it. And people are worth it.”

And so, the Christian community — indeed, the world — bids farewell to a trailblazer, a teacher, and a faithful servant.

Rest in peace, Marilyn Hickey. Your race is run. Your crown is sure.

Marilyn Hickey Ministries will livestream the Celebration of Life service. Details will be posted at www.mhmin.org. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the “Legacy of Hope” fund, supporting women in ministry worldwide.