Meet Our Pastor
Reverend Dr. James A. Hogan, Sr., was born in the Summerhill community of Atlanta, Georgia. He was baptized, at a young age, at the Salem Baptist Church, now named the Salem Bible Church, where Reverend Jasper Williams, Jr. serves as Senior Pastor.
Under the leadership of the late Elder John Cooper, Reverend Hogan preached his initial sermon as a teenager at Hapeville Church of God in Christ in 1962. He served there as a youth pastor for 14 years. The denomination ordained him in 1966.
After completing the eleventh grade, he was awarded and accepted a scholarship to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he majored in Physics. He was also a student instructor in his junior year. In subsequent years, Dr. Hogan matriculated at various colleges and universities, including Georgia State University, Atlanta University, Augusta State University, and Trinity Seminary. He has earned a Doctor of Ministry and a Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Education.
In 1984, he joined New Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church after attending for three years and serving as a guest speaker at several functions. He also taught Bible study and served as Minister of Christian Education. Reverend Hogan was ordained by the Baptist Church in 1986, and the church elected him as Assistant Pastor.
In March 1987, Reverend Hogan was installed as Pastor of New Zion Hill. Under his leadership, the mortgage was paid off, the building now used for the Head Start Program was purchased, the parking lot was paved and central air conditioning units were installed.
In the community, Dr. Hogan has served as a board member of non-profit organizations and as a guest lecturer for academic institutions. In January 1996, he retired from BellSouth Corporation after 28 years. While there, he served in various line and staff positions, including senior engineer and managerial positions.
New Zion Hill has experienced much growth and improvement under Reverend Dr. Hogan. In 1998, the church purchased ten adjacent acres of land needed to enlarge the parking facilities and for future development. Plans were then developed to remodel and expand the existing facility with the construction of a fellowship hall, additional offices, and expansion of the sanctuary. Under his guidance, most of the project construction was completed by August 2004, and the remodeled facility was dedicated in February 2005. In that same year, he was elected as President of the Congress of Christian Education for the 10th District of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia and continues to serve in that capacity. Currently, plans are underway for another expansion of the facility that would provide much-needed classroom space, new administrative offices, and a larger fellowship hall.
During Dr. Hogan’s pastorate, 26 ministries, 5 committees, and 2 conferences have been added; 14 deacons have been ordained; 14 ministers have been licensed; and 7 ministers have been ordained. Six of the ministers are now serving as pastors.
Dr. Hogan began to broadcast a review of the Sunday School Lesson every Sunday morning on The Parade of Quartets and broadcast the New Zion Hill worship services twice daily and twice every Sunday morning on WBEK-TV, and every Sunday morning on WRDW-TV and WTHB-FM radio. A 30-second broadcast, “Anointed Words from Zion,” was also aired every Sunday morning on WJBF-TV. Today, he can be heard on radio, in the Augusta, Georgia area, on WFAM Radio 1050 every Saturday at 5:15 p.m. and every Sunday at 7:45 a.m. He can also be heard on WTHB Radio every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The worship services can be viewed on WBEK Channel 103 (Comcast) and Knology Channel 96 every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and “Anointed Words from Zion” can still be heard on WJBF Channel 6 at 9:30 a.m.
In 2012, Dr. Hogan celebrated an uncommon and cherished milestone in ministry with the observance of his Silver and Gold Anniversary, commemorating 25 years as Pastor of New Zion Hill and 50 years of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The celebration included two special services with Bishop Dreyfus C. Smith, Senior Pastor of Wings of Faith Worldwide Ministries, Conley, GA, and Bishop J. E. Hogan, Sr. of New Life Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, Atlanta, GA, preaching the kick-off and finale messages, respectively.
Dr. Hogan is married to First Lady Carrie Bell Hogan. They have two sons and two daughters, as well as four grandsons and three granddaughters. We pray that God will continue to lead and strengthen our Pastor and First Lady as they lead and inspire us in the name of the Lord.
Ready to receive the word? Contact us at (706) 793-2329 or visit us to hear Pastor Hogan’s next service.
