Alumnus Story: Katie Hoagland

Welcome to another week of CoMission's blog everyone! This week, I figured it would be appropriate to wrap up my series from the 2020 CROSS CON sessions with a story from one of our alumni who's life was impacted, not only by CoMission but by the CROSS conference so many years ago. Now, over five years later, Katie and her husband Ryan are preparing to be sent out to build churches through college ministry overseas. Here's her story.

When I think back on my time in CoMission, I reflect on what a kind, faithful, patient, and compassionate God we serve. He taught me so much about myself and how immeasurable a blessing it is to have a community of believers to run this race with. Mostly, he taught me about Himself, the limitless of His goodness, the perfection of His instruction, and the profound sweetness of the news that there is now no condemnation for me in Christ Jesus.

The community of CoMission planted a seed in me and discipled me until I could disciple others. They patiently taught me the gospel through their words, deeds, and sacrifices. They inspired, encouraged, and convicted me with how they obey Christ with reckless abandon. They cried with me and fought sin with me when the enemy’s temptation was so evident in one of the darkest times of my life. They celebrated with me when my husband and I got married and when my parents and sister became Christians and got baptized. We’ve prayed together for health and God’s mercy, provision and discernment, and He’s given us grace to see countless answers to these prayers. This community glorified God in how they served me over the years and I tried to do the same for them.

CoMission taught me about mission and to see USFSP as my mission field. Along the way. I also learned how important peoples of all nations are to God. I was able to go to conferences and be exposed to remarkable teachers and leaders that taught us of the devastating reality of unreached people groups. Countries and cities and tribes of people who do not know Jesus. I was able to serve with CoMission in Costa Rica and East Asia, which altered my and my husband’s life plans. We are now serving locally until we can serve overseas for His glory.

I didn’t know what Christ’s death on the cross meant before joining CoMission my freshman year. I knew I wasn’t perfect but I didn’t understand my necessity for God. He was gracious in revealing to me how much we needed Jesus to live the life we couldn’t live and to die the death we deserved to pay for our sin and create a way for us to have a relationship with Him. My identity is hidden in Him and now I am a co-heir to eternal life with Christ. He has given me His Spirit and He is always at my right hand. I will not be controlled by the power of sin because He has defeated it by defeating death!

“The boundary lines have fallen 
      for me in pleasant places.
Indeed, I have a beautiful
      inheritance.”

​Psalm 16:6

What a magnificent God we serve.