getting to know you- sue hogan

Tell us a little bit about your spiritual journey.
My spiritual journey began at the age of five when our family began attending church.  That church laid a solid spiritual foundation for my life.  In spite of this I found myself, inconceivably, rebelling against God in high school and college. It was no wonder, then, that I found myself in a personal crisis in my mid-twenties. It was then that I finally surrendered my life to Christ.  Throughout the decades that have passed since then, I have found that it is during times of tribulation that I grow the most spiritually.

How does Cold Springs Church fit into that spiritual journey?
In this church I feel connected to a wonderful family.  My pastors and fellow members inspire me, challenge me, teach me, encourage me, and pray for me.  I am truly blessed!

What have been one or two significant life experiences that God has used to draw you closer to Him?
There have been several, but I will share just one for now.  In 1984, I began to suffer with severe depression.  It went undiagnosed for seven years and therefore untreated.  It was shortly after this began that I invited Jesus into my heart, as I mentioned above.  The depression took me on quite a profound journey and eventually I was successfully treated.

What are you passionate about these days?
I am passionate about sharing God’s love and His Word with the inmates at our county jail and at Growlersburg Conservation Camp in Georgetown.  I have had the incredible privilege of doing so for twenty-one years.  All of the hardship I have been through over the course of my life has enabled me to relate to these inmates.  God has called me to be compassionate and genuine with them, and I have had the privilege of leading many of them to surrender their lives into His hands.

Please share a story of how you have seen God at work through the prison ministry.
One inmate at Growlersburg immediately comes to mind.  In 2004 we were doing a study on finding God’s purpose for our lives, and this quiet, disgruntled, closed-off man just came alive and immersed himself in the study, and in God’s Word.  Over the course of seven weeks we watched an incredible transformation take place.  He was released with the determination to seek a new way of life, and got involved in a wonderful church in his hometown, finding a ministry in which to serve.  When I last spoke with him he was still doing quite well.

There might be other people in the congregation who would be interested in learning more about the prison ministry.  What would be a next step for them to learn more?
I would encourage those who are interested to contact me!  We are looking for people to join our team in sharing the Bible with the inmates, and in praying for them.  Thank you! 
To contact me, simply call or email the church office expressing your interest in the prison ministry.