The Renaissance Missionary

This is the story of the reality-based dreamer, Dr Glenn Hickey, a "renaissance" missionary to Brazil from Mt Ida, Arkansas. He was the upside down version of what might be expected of a Southern Baptist missionary. Progressive in spiritual leadership, nerdy in using technology to serve his mission, and innovative in his leisure; his life was a pioneering journey of how to reach your human-spirit potential by accessing the inner child's creativity, energy and joy.

His dream was focused on Recife, Brazil between 1964 and 1978. He became a "native" in Portuguese fluency and cultural habits, deeply influencing both Brazilian nationals and his missionary colleagues with a gentle spirit and mastery of the greek new testament.

A lifelong road cyclist, He covered thousands of miles in Europe, Brazil, and the U.S., always stopping to visit significantly with locals and connect meaningfully with folks from other cultures and faiths. A talented barbershop baritone, he moved audiences frequently with the original Ouachita Baptist University Quartet and later with his soprano life partner Dorothy Hickey.

He gelled his Ham Radio communication passion with the Partners of the Americas, setting up many citizen exchanges between the states of Pernambuco and Georgia, and culminating with an invitation to bring a delegation to the White House by President Jimmy and First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

He was not afraid to be a progressive force and funder for women in ministry, children in the process of poverty, hunger relief in Arkansas, and the Partners of the Americas. Calling diverse churches to be inspired for missions they could accomplish together, he was a inspirational diplomat in a time of deep division among Southern Baptists in Arkansas.

A brave preacher and teacher who could blend academic mastery of the biblical greek texts with captivating storytelling, he was not afraid to think and speak out of the box on how to interpret the Bible, human relationships, christian mission, and church life. Specializing in the parables of Jesus, he could apply biblical texts to modern life with humor, insight and disarming gentleness. Dr Glenn Hickey's life was a long "shout out" to all whose heart's desire is for meaningful adventure that transforms people into servants of God and the common good.