The Rev. David Hicks Speaks to Solid Seniors at Sandhills Assembly of God

The Rev. David Hicks speaks to Solid Seniors.  

The Rev. Hicks plays and sings for the group.

The Rev. Hicks leads in worship.

“There are a lot of memories in this room,” said the Rev. David Hicks, of Pinehurst, N.C., as he spoke at the Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, noon meeting of Solid Seniors at Sandhills Assembly of God in Southern Pines, N.C. “I like to come up here.”

David Hicks served as the church’s first pastor. Here is a summary of the church’s origin:

In October 1976, the group that was to become Sandhills Assembly of God was recognized as a North Carolina Assemblies of God (AG) district-affiliated church. On September 25, 1977, David Hicks accepted the invitation to become the church’s first pastor.

The church selected the name “Sandhills Assembly…Church of the Pines.” Eleven months later, on Sunday, Sept. 10, 1978, the group became a self-governing Assemblies of God church. The church purchased over 6.5 acres of property along U.S. Highway 1, north of Southern Pines. Construction began on the first sanctuary in November 1978, and the first worship service took place in that building on January 28, 1979, under Pastor David Hicks. He served around 12 years as the church’s senior pastor. The Rev. Ty Van-Thomas now serves as senior pastor of the church.

Hicks, now graying, set up his electronic keyboard before fellowshipping with senior citizen attendees during a catered luncheon. After the meal, Pastor Gloria Latham (Solid Seniors leader), introduced Hicks, who accompanied himself on keyboard.  

“Jesus, we crown you with praise,” he sang, moving his hands sensitively across the keyboard. “We love you; we adore you; we bow down before you; Jesus, we crown you with praise.”

He then sang “Hallelujah to the Lamb” and “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.”

Hick’s wife, Joan, addressed the group.

“It’s great to be here, today,” she said. “Ministry is still going on. There’s no limit to what you guys can do here in this community.”

Hicks resumed singing, “Change my heart, Oh God. Make it ever true . . . Thou art the Potter; I am the clay.”

Hicks said he wrote a song “a few years ago” and had good response to it. He sang that song called “Give My Heart a Voice of Praise” and noted that printed copies (words and music) were available to attendees.

He sang a chorus containing these words: “I worship you, Almighty God; there is none like you. I worship you, O Prince of Peace; this is what I want to do . . .  .”

“That's an important phrase,” Hicks said, alluding to the “human will” involved in the words “This is what I want to do.”     

Hicks rose from his keyboard and delivered a message entitled “Old but Not Obsolete.”

“I come across young people who need motivation for their lives,” he said, adding that he “started music” at age 63. “God’s not through with us, yet. God’s the God of awesome inspiration . . . at any stage, at any age.”

Hicks presented two examples of “incredible older people who inspired us to remain faithful, useful, and motivated.”

1)  The grand old man of Judah, Caleb (Joshua 14):

“The 85-year-old outspoken minority leader of the 12 spies was a man who had a ‘different spirit,’” Hicks said. “The old man [Caleb] said, ‘Give me this mountain.’ Earlier he said, ‘We can do this. Let’s go at once and take the land.’”

Hicks commented on how seniors should think: 

“Inside the box? Outside the box? Box? What box?”   

2) The grand old Swedish lady of Aberdeen (N.C.), Hilda:

At age 85 and as a member of Sandhills Assembly – and largely during the years Hicks served as pastor of Sandhills Assembly – the late Hilda Gerald said, “I’m going to start a world wide ministry,” and she did. 

Then, at age 88, Hilda said, “I’m going to start another world-wide ministry,” and she did.

She wrote letters – 200 each month – of encouragement and prayer for AG missionaries all over the world, Hicks said.

“She made afghans and pillows,” he said. “She wanted my blessings. At age 88, she received letters, coming back to her, asking for prayers. She started a prayer group. About once a year she’d go into the hospital.”

He said he felt Hilda’s going into the hospital was a “ruse” for leading people on the hospital staff to Christ.

The audience laughed.

Hicks recalled observing Hilda at a restaurant in Aberdeen while she was witnessing to two businessmen. One of the men was saying, “Well, well . . . ” Hilda responded, “We ain’t discussing no ‘wells.’ We’re talking about Jesus!”

“When the Holy Spirit motivation comes on you, you can do incredible things,” Hicks said. “Hilda didn’t have much of this world’s goods, but she was rich – the Donald Trump of Aberdeen.”

Hicks commented on “growing old.”   

He said he recently advised someone that he should resign from being “superintendent of the universe.”

“Teach me that I could be mistaken,” Hicks said.

He had this prayer printed on notes he gave to attendees:

“O, Lord, don’t let me live in the past on stale manna. You know me better than I know myself. Keep me from getting too talkative. Release me from trying to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Teach me the lesson that I could be mistaken. Make me thoughtful but not moody, helpful but not bossy. For you know, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.”    

God is able to use you, even it you’re flat on your back, he said.

“He can use you to do unbelievable things,” Hicks said, adding that seniors don’t need to be in a rush to enter eternity. “It’s OK to go to heaven, but you’re going to be there a long time. Get your mind off yourself, and get it on the Lord.”

He talked about his desire to play the keyboard.

“I always knew how to play three chords,” he said.

He said that the Lord indicated to him, “If you’ll put your hands on the keyboard . . . ”

The idea was that Hicks could play anything he wanted to play if he would “put his hands on the keyboard.” He progressed in proficiency and learned to accompany himself while singing.   

“I’ve played in churches of 5,000,” he said. “In my old age, I am not obsolete, but I am rocking and rolling for Jesus Christ!”

He offered this prayer for the group:

“God, you are awesome. Anoint us all with your Holy Spirit . . . that we may bring glory and honor and praise to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.” 

 The Rev. David Hicks of Pinehurst, N.C.