Campus Pastor Gary Hogan. Photo by Gary Hogan.
By LICIA SUMMERHILL Staff Reporter
Many believe faith in God offers hope.
For staff members and graduate students attending California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), their faith continues on campus partly because of Gary Hogans, also known as the campus pastor. Hogans is the pastor of the local InterVarsity group, a Christian outreach that believes in “reaching every corner of every campus.”
By combining faith and prayer, Hogans has made a support group that unites many students. He holds prayer calls weekly via Zoom; Prayer calls for faculty members are held every Monday at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. for graduate students.
During the zoom sessions, Hogans shares insight and hope. Callers are split into groups that allow for prayer requests and connection. These calls act as more than just a prayer. For graduate students facing finals on top of life situations, a prayer is a release of the negative, as well as hope for the future.
Even when faculty cannot attend, he offers the option to send in your prayers. “The point is just to be there for when people need you,” said Hogans.
Their faith turns into a stronger community without trying to fit within a tight schedule.
In addition to InterVarsity for graduate students and staff, there are many other opportunities to bond through faith. CSUDH offers groups within culture and faith such as the campus ministry for Blacks, Latine, Asians, athletes and Greek InterVarsity. Hogans says, “It’s whichever one you feel a little bit more comfortable with and we don’t try and make all the pegs fit.”
Most days, Hogans can be seen on Instagram posting encouraging memes along with group chats for prayer. His goal is to reach everyone on campus and thus, is usually available through social media and text messaging.
Campus pastor Gary Hogans can be reached on Instagram at @toroivgfm and linktr.ee/toroivgfm.
