An Interview with Jennifer Hogan
Jennifer is a licensed massage therapist. Prior to establishing her own business, she was a teacher’s apprentice and a supervisor at the Red Mountain Institute for the Healing Arts. Jennifer and her husband John are members of Mountain Top Community Church in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.

Janine: Jennifer, I’ve known you for several years, even from when you had first started your own practice. I have personally experienced the powerful healing of massage therapy. Will you please tell us how you discovered this gift and how it became your calling/vocation?

Jennifer: I was “sold” on massage therapy after receiving my first one. I remember thinking at that very moment that “this is how I want to make people feel.” That first massage opened up a new world for me. Before that, I think that I had forgotten what relaxation felt like. I began to do a little research and got some information from local massage schools. The programs seemed too expensive, so I really didn’t think I was going to be able to go that route. After talking to my family and with a little of God’s handi-work, I enrolled in the evening/weekend program at Red Mountain Institute for the Healing Arts. I finished school and received my state license and certification in May of 1999.

Janine: We have often talked about how you consider this work to be a ministry. Can you share that understanding with us? How does your faith relate to your work, and how do you translate that into your practice or work with clients?

Jennifer: I have been amazed at how God has guided me and my business. As I have grown over the past 6 years, I can really see how God can use me through my work. It’s not hard to see how massage therapy can help someone physically, but God has allowed me to see how it can be a powerful tool for healing on an emotional and spiritual level. I really first began to understand this when a counselor sent someone to me for therapy. This person had a history of sexual abuse.

I was so honored to be able to offer that client a safe, therapeutic touch. How incredible to be a part of that healing experience. Since then, I have come to realize that God sends people to me with all kinds of needs and hurts. It amazes me to have people come to me and put their trust in me and know that I am going to use whatever skills I have to help them leave a little better than when they came.

A big part of my job is to figure out what a person needs and what is the pattern of their pain. Some people are very disconnected to what their body is telling them. Some people don’t realize the mind-body connection. If I can just help someone tune into themselves, then that can lead to all kinds of healing. I try to remember to say a little prayer in my heart before each massage session, asking God to guide me and keep me focused on what is best for each client. I am never “preachy” to any of my clients. I definitely respect client/therapist boundaries, but I really hope that they can somehow benefit through the internal peace and faith that I have within myself. I want it to be reflected through my work.

Janine: What other ministries interest or involve you? Why are you drawn to these?

Jennifer: I enjoy being a volunteer at First Light Women’s Shelter. I want to get more involved with them. I have been trying to think of some way to teach the women there how to do self massage and how to work on each other. We are such a touch-deprived society. The women at the shelter are another good example of where a safe, kind, and caring touch could be great. Recently I have been looking into the YWAM’s program that builds homes in Mexico. I would love to be able to do that next year.

Janine: Tell us something about your faith history and what you do to keep your faith as a priority in your life.

Jennifer: Well, I was raised in a Christian home and accepted Christ when I was a kid. It wasn’t until my early 20’s that I really developed a relationship with Jesus. My faith is a huge part of who I am now. I have found that the more I rely on the Lord and let Him guide my life, the easier it is. Maybe “easy” isn’t the right word. I will just say that it’s much better than trying to handle it all by myself.

When I look back at the really tough things that I have been through or am even currently going through, I can see now where those experiences have softened me to be more sensitive and sympathetic to what my clients might be going through. I just never know what burdens people are carrying. I never know what someone might walk in the door with on any particular day. Maybe it’s just a stiff neck. But maybe they are really depressed because they have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and their body just doesn’t work the way that it should.

Janine: I know that you were married several years ago. Will you tell us about something about your personal life?

Jennifer: Yes, I was married in October of 2003. My husband’s name is John Ward. He is a carpenter and stays busy building concrete counter tops and sinks. We live in an old house in Southside, so we find ourselves dreaming of all the home improvements we would love to do if we had more time and money. John and I try to spend a lot of time with our families and get together with friends when possible. Our three cats keep us well entertained, and when the cats are too “cool” to be around us, we like to go to the movies. John and I attend the Mountain Top Community Church in Vestavia Hills, Alabama….a suburb of Birmingham.

Janine: Jennifer, our conversations have included faith, literature, dreams, animals, healing, and every topic that relates to life. But the primary topic that sustains us both is wisdom. In thinking about our theme of “Gathering and Gifts,” (a) what can you say about those thoughts that relates to wisdom? (b) How do you understand God’s gift of wisdom and how does that fit in with “gathering”?

Jennifer: I have struggled with this question, so here are some of my thoughts on wisdom. Janine, a lot of times I feel so far from wisdom. I am very aware that I have so much to learn. I find myself getting frustrated sometimes because I want the wisdom that only comes with age. I try not to be afraid to ask questions and I really enjoy learning from other people’s experiences that have brought them wisdom. I was very fortunate to have been raised by a wise mother, and God has blessed me by always sending strong women of faith into my life that I can learn from. So I guess that you will always find me chasing after wisdom. Isn’t that God’s design?

Janine: What words of wisdom would you wish to share with people who are seeking to gather meaning into their lives?

Jennifer: Janine, thank you so much for this opportunity to share. I hope that people will be encouraged to take good care of themselves and know that massage therapy is not just a luxury, but a tool that can promote good health and healing in so very many ways.

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