User:Wallace Hickey/sandbox

Wallace "Wally" Ramond Hickey (May 7, 1925 - October 20, 2012) was an American Christian minister and evangelist who taught the Bible and preached the Word of God. Early Life In 1925, Wallace Hickey was born to Albert and Mamie Hickey in Genoa, Nebraska. Young Wallace was one of seven children and was raised in the Methodist Church. When Vivian, a young part-time helper in the Hickey household, asked 13-year-old Wallace’s mother for permission to take the boy to a revival meeting, Mamie responded, “Of course.” Wallace didn’t commit his life to Christ that day at West Hill Methodist Church, but his spiritual quest had begun. Soon, he would attend a gospel rally in an abandoned Swedish Methodist Church where an evangelist, Reverend Swaback, was preaching. As Pastor Wally tells the story: “I don’t know what was different for me on that particular Sunday afternoon service in the fall of 1938. It was as if Christ’s atoning work on the Cross became extremely personal to me. I realized, with awe and wonder, that if I had been the only person alive on earth, Jesus would have done His work at Calvary for me! When the weight of His sacrifice hit me, I was overcome with tears. As I was praying and crying at the communion rail, Reverend Swaback asked me, “What do you want?” Choked with tears, I answered, “I want to be saved.” Wallace Hickey’s born-again experience came years after his parents encountered Christ during a fourteen-week revival held in the early days of their marriage. Living outside of town, they drove their farm wagon along the bumpy road four miles into town and back each night. They never missed a service. Later, their faith in Christ would help them to cope with the tragic loss of their four-year-old daughter whose dress caught fire. This would be an unforgettable day in the life of young Wally Hickey, whose baby sister died despite his valiant efforts to put out the flames. After attending college, Wallace was inducted into the Army and stationed at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver at age 23. A lover of music and singing, he was a member of a male chorus through which he was later introduced to a music teacher, Bob Ashton. Bob and his wife, Cleo, took Wallace under their spiritual wing and nurtured him in the things of God. By that time, Wallace was working as a buyer in the record department at the Denver Dry Goods store and had begun attending the Ashton’s Conservative Baptist Church. Soon, he was baptized by immersion and began tithing. Later Life Through Myra, his co-worker at the store, and her husband Elmer, Wallace was introduced to a group of Spirit-filled believers who exposed him to the Scriptures and their own experiences concerning speaking in tongues. He sought the Lord for confirmation, and in January 1954, he received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. A week later, Wallace met his future bride Marilyn Sweitzer. Born again at 16, Marilyn was a schoolteacher with big dreams, and at that time, had reservations about Wallace’s spiritual zeal. However, by the time they were married in December 1954, she, too, was baptized in the Holy Spirit and open to God’s plan for her life. The couple began attending Calvary Temple, where they were active volunteers. Wallace also volunteered as co-pastor of a summer church in the Rocky Mountains. Soon, he accepted a job with Sacred Records, a Christian music organization, and began doing evangelistic work. In 1959, ordained under the Assemblies of God, Wallace started to serve as a Visitation Pastor at a church in Amarillo, Texas. Soon after that, he returned to Denver to pastor a fledgling church. Evangelism In 1960, Wallace Hickey founded The Happy Church, later renamed to Orchard Road Christian Center and continues to this day under the name Encounter Church. Wallace Hickey was an early leader of Denver's charismatics. Published Works "Life Lessons for a generation that needs to hear" was published January 1, 2005. This book is about priceless, practical Life Lessons that can only come through years of walking in the Word and following the leading of the Holy Spirit through every challenge and change in life. Death In 2006 Wally's health began to decline with what was eventually diagnosed as Alzheimer's. On October 20, 2012, with [|Marilyn], his loving wife of almost 58 years by his side, Wallace Hickey passed away. Wallace Hickey's death was featured in the Denver Post Memorials and legacy The congregation celebrated Hickey’s life at 6 p.m. Nov. 11, 2012, with a reception that followed at the Orchard Christian Center, 8081 E. Orchard Road in Greenwood Village. Instead of flowers, Pastor Hickey requested any memorials be sent to Saving Moses, savingmoses.org, a humanitarian relief organization founded by his daughter Sarah Bowling. https://www.marilynandsarah.org/about/ See also Marilyn Hickey Ministries