Brogan coaches, ministers students
Thomas Currey
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: News
Sitting quietly with his books stacked beside him, Denny Brogan does not match the typical clientele of idling Facebook-checkers, animated study groups and laughing friends in A.J.'s Café.
Old enough to send children to Hillsdale College - his daughter Jamie Brogan graduated in 2008 - Brogan comes to A.J.'s every Thursday not to study, but to provide spiritual guidance and support through his ministry with Hillsdale Christian Fellowship.
Brogan, who serves as the unofficial coordinator for HCF, hopes his work helps unify all believers on campus to further their message of salvation in Christ.
Brogan said the college's student-led ministry has grown from 20-25 people in the 1970s and '80s to about 250-300 today.
"I'm just a vessel [for God's work]," Brogan said. "I feel privileged to be a part of what's going on here, and I'm working with some of the finest student leaders I've worked with in 25 years. This is definitely a student-led ministry."
Brogan commutes from his home in Lansing at least once a week to meet with as many as 12 students, providing spiritual support for many students and guidance for the Bible study leaders.
Her father must have touched the lives of hundreds of students during her time at Hillsdale, said Jamie Brogan in an e-mail to the Collegian.
"He lives a virtuous life and is not afraid to stand up for the truth even when it comes at a personal cost to him," she said. "He genuinely loves others and does not seek fame or acknowledgement."
Junior and co-coordinator of Unite Shannon McCleary said Brogan's spiritual wisdom benefitted her own faith life when she attended his Bible study on Nehemiah.
"In HCF, there's a ministry for everyone, and Denny is like a mentor," McCleary said. "He kind of looks out for HCF and sees when we need new leaders when people graduate."
McCleary said campus ministries Brogan indirectly "mentors" under the umbrella of HCF include the Well, Unite, Athletes in Action, Greek ministries and numerous Bible studies.
Old enough to send children to Hillsdale College - his daughter Jamie Brogan graduated in 2008 - Brogan comes to A.J.'s every Thursday not to study, but to provide spiritual guidance and support through his ministry with Hillsdale Christian Fellowship.
Brogan, who serves as the unofficial coordinator for HCF, hopes his work helps unify all believers on campus to further their message of salvation in Christ.
Brogan said the college's student-led ministry has grown from 20-25 people in the 1970s and '80s to about 250-300 today.
"I'm just a vessel [for God's work]," Brogan said. "I feel privileged to be a part of what's going on here, and I'm working with some of the finest student leaders I've worked with in 25 years. This is definitely a student-led ministry."
Brogan commutes from his home in Lansing at least once a week to meet with as many as 12 students, providing spiritual support for many students and guidance for the Bible study leaders.
Her father must have touched the lives of hundreds of students during her time at Hillsdale, said Jamie Brogan in an e-mail to the Collegian.
"He lives a virtuous life and is not afraid to stand up for the truth even when it comes at a personal cost to him," she said. "He genuinely loves others and does not seek fame or acknowledgement."
Junior and co-coordinator of Unite Shannon McCleary said Brogan's spiritual wisdom benefitted her own faith life when she attended his Bible study on Nehemiah.
"In HCF, there's a ministry for everyone, and Denny is like a mentor," McCleary said. "He kind of looks out for HCF and sees when we need new leaders when people graduate."
McCleary said campus ministries Brogan indirectly "mentors" under the umbrella of HCF include the Well, Unite, Athletes in Action, Greek ministries and numerous Bible studies.
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