Rick Hagans has been preaching since age 9 when he felt the Lord call
him to go preach to some homeless hippies he saw on the evening news.
He ran away from home to go preach, but was caught by the police as he
tried to hop a freight train he thought would take him to the "city".
The police, his parents, a pastor and even a psychologist called in on
the case convinced Rick not to leave home at only 9 years of age. He
did however begin to preach around his community earning him the
nickname of "Preacher Boy". Many elderly people in the Auburn-Opelika
Alabama area call him that to this day (even though he is now 48 years
old). Rick recently proclaimed from the pulpit of the Times Square
Church in the heart of New York City, that "God is true to His call,
and finally, after 30 years...I finished my trip. I am preaching in the
city, just like He called me!" Today Rick continues to preach at Times
Square Church several times a year. God didn't just "call him to the city"
but also continues to use him there.
Preaching for all these years has brought Rick a lot of experience. He has preached in over 300 different churches, in 27 states and in 10 different countries. Even as a "charismatic Christian" much of Rick's work remains in main-line denominational churches. Rick believes one of God's purposes in his work is to let the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian etc... ministers he works with know not all Spirit-filled ministers are the stereotypical "weird, decisive, rebellious" type so many traditional pastors fear. It must work as Rick's preaching calendar stays filled with revivals in 15-20 mainline churches every year, many of them are repeat engagements where the pastor says "We must have you back." Rick also preaches in Pentecostal churches across America, including the famous Times Square Church in New York City where he is a regular guest pastor. Pastor David Wilkerson introduced Rick with this statement; "God has placed His own heart of love for people within Rick Hagans. He is a man of vision." Rick continues to do much of his ministry work outside the 4 walls of the church. He has helped found several churches and an orphanage in Reynosa, Mexico where he takes 800-1000 people on short term mission trips every year. He also tries to go to India yearly, where he ministers to hundreds of native missionaries and was recently the guest evangelist at the largest church in Southern India, Madras' Apostolic Pentecostal Fellowship. Perhaps Rick is best known outside the church world for his yearly walks (every year since 1992) that have taken him across 28 states and the entire length of the infamous Cherokee Trail of Tears. Rick does these walks to raise shoes for needy people in Mexico (with over 250,000 pair raised to this date). He also feels that by walking all those miles and miles he keeps in touch with what the American people are thinking and feeling. His walks have been covered by ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN , Paul Harvey News, American Armed Forces Radio, NPR, and James Dobson Family News and Focus. He was chosen by WSFA TV in Montgomery, AL (a NBC affiliate) to run with the Olympic Torch in 1996 based on his first barefoot walk across Alabama. Rick ran for Alabama's 3rd Congressional District seat in 1996. Although he did not win, he raised a lot of interest running unashamedly as a spirit-filled street minister. One of his opponents, Don Sledge actually served, along with his wife Yvonne, as directors of His Place the Christian re-hab men's home Rick founded. Bob Riley, (Alabama's current Governor) the gentleman who won the seat has said, "I've never in my life met a Christian like Rick Hagans." Mr. Riley had Rick up to his Washington D.C. office (while he was the U.S. congressman for our Alabama District) to hold Bible Studies and prayer on numerous occasions. In fact, Rick still has an open invitation to hold Bible Study and Prayer there on Capital Hill every month. Rick has diplomas from Kenneth Hagin's Rhema Bible Training Center and David Wilkerson's Institute of Christian Training. He also graduated with honors from Auburn University with a degree in Social Work and Psychology. He finished a Master's Degree with highest honors from Auburn University at Montgomery and is currently working towards a Doctorate of Missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Rick says he agrees that education alone doesn't make anyone a "man of God", but then he says, "neither does ignorance". The ministry Rick founded and is President of, Harvest Evangelism Inc., includes a men's discipleship home and ministry school (former addicts) called His Place. His Place houses 20-30 men who find Biblical solutions to life's problems. Harvest Evangelism also has a similar home for ladies called the Hosanna Home. It was founded to reach out to women with one thing in common, those who are hopeless. We give them hope, Jesus. Then we teach them to live their lives according to His will for their lives. Most recently, Harvest Evangelism added two more facets to this ministry; Hope's Inn, a crisis shelter for women and their chidren in need, which houses up to 45 women and children, usually at full capacity; and Harvest Thrift Store, a thrift store which allows us to help our community by offering quality merchandise at discount prices and to help us then fund the minsitries of Harvest Evangelism. Harvest Thrift Store also provides jobs for many or the men and women who come through our homes. Rick is involved with various types of street ministry through the efforts of Harvest Evangelism from national outreaches such as the one to Mardi Gras and regular state and local outreaches. Rick's work has received official commendations from the Governor of his state and the Mayor of his city. Another interesting side-light to Rick's ministry has been acclaimed by other ministers including world-renown ministers such as David Wilkerson and David Jeremiah, both of whom have included testimonies involving Rick in recent books they've written. Rick is married (for 27 years now), to Kimberly Bryan Hagans, herself a Rhema graduate and minister in her own right. She is gifted and called to teach and disciple women to follow Christ. They have 4 children. R.C., 21 years of age, who attends the local college here in town. He is a gifted photographer and artist. He hopes to one day attend a College specializing in Photography and also to be able to focus on his artwork. Chester is now 18 and is going to Intern at Times Square Church before entering college. Elliot, 14, is now officially a "Teen'ager" and keeps us on our toes (or as they all do, on our knees!). He too is on the wrestling team and most recently joined the swim team. Rikki-Dreamer, 10 years old and was miraculously adopted off the very streets Rick works on in Mexico. As her name implies she is a dream come true, whom we hope sees all her dreams fulfilled in Christ. Rick and Kim were house parents at a State run girls home for two years and have also cared for dozens of other foster-children. They continue to keep their home and lives open for all type of needy (and interesting) people. Rick and Kim believe in and base their life's work on the scripture, Matthew 25:34-45: Then the King will say to those on his right, "Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why: |
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