‘Loaves and Fishes’ Miracle Reported at Marilyn Hickey Event in Egypt
Bible teacher and evangelist Marilyn Hickey’s recent 10-day trip to Cairo, Egypt—described by organizers afterward as the largest gathering of Christians to ever assemble in the ancient city— included a report of something more astounding than the several hundred who claimed healing and salvation: 2,400 meals from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) apparently appeared out of thin air.
The reported incident, which if true is a miracle nearly unheard of in modern times, occurred during Hickey’s citywide leaders conference in May, attended by nearly 10,000 pastors and local leaders—from curious Muslims to orthodox Coptic Christians.
According to Hickey, 77, whose ministry organized the meetings in conjunction with the Egyptian Evangelical Association, 3,500 boxed-lunches from KFC were ordered and accounted for. “There were tickets distributed for the lunches,” she said. “The boxes were given out, leaving none in the room.”
After the food was completely distributed, and after the crowd swelled to about 5,000, she said volunteers were astonished to return to what should’ve been a room of empty tables to discover 1,200 more lunches. She said after they handed out the mysterious extras, another 1,200 appeared, leaving a surplus of food and dumbfounded witnesses. Hickey’s staff called it a “loaves and fishes” miracle.
“I am fully convinced that this was a supernatural occurrence,” Hickey told Charisma.
“It is something I have believed to see on my ministry and am overjoyed that it happened.”
She said she feels confident in promoting the miracle because independent Egyptian and non-Christians sources verified the mysterious incident, which apparently occurred sans the hype and exaggeration normally associated with wild miracle claims. “It happened in such a way that [my ministry] was not at all associated with it, which left local volunteers and non-Christians marveling at what had happened.”
Though the unusual miracle was one of the main highlights of her trip, Hickey said her favorite memory was of Father Samaan, a Coptic Christian who ministers to the outcasts of Cairo’s slum settlement called Garbage City. Because of his work, Hickey said more than 90 percent of the poor inhabitants of Garbage City are born-again.
“What Father Samaan has done there is nothing short of a miracle itself,” she said. “It was humbling and inspiring to witness such an unusual place and unusual work of God.”
Hickey has spread the gospel in more than 100 nations during her four decades of ministry. She often travels overseas with her daughter, Sarah Bowling, who just returned last week from ministering in Ethiopia. The two also have a TV program together—Today with Marilyn & Sarah—and they are planning a trip for India this fall.
