Meet Chriss Mogaka | Community Evangelist & Event Coordinator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chriss Mogaka and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chriss, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It’s not really a business, but I like to have social events for the community that is Christ-centered using my social media page on Instagram as the main platform. Despite it being Christ-centered, it doesn’t limit it to other people from various religious backgrounds. We welcome everyone and the key thing we try to bread is a strong and uplifting community during these hard times.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
So since the Summer of 2019, I’ve been hosting various & continuous social events for the community that is centered on Christ. What really got me passionate in doing this was prior to me putting on these events, I was just a sophomore in college who thought he knew what he wanted in life, but eventually felt clueless and less passionate about life in general. On top of that, I was feeling alone, unwanted, and I thought there was no purpose for my life or my existence whatsoever. I honestly also started to get fed up with what I saw on social media constantly. It seemed everyone was so self-observed and know one was really trying to connect with one another or uplight or promote each other. I remember one night as I was interning in New Jersey, I deleted most of my IG photos and only kept the ones that had people in it. I told myself I don’t want to center my life or social media on myself, but others. Since then, I’ve started to post more and more pictures with me and others and I started to use the hashtags #community #love to show what I stood for. That summer as well, I remember praying to God about a few things, and an idea popped up in my mind. I told myself that I should have a cookout/bbq and invite some old friends and a few family members. That event was so refreshing , and I remember my Mom telling me I should have more events too and honestly that’s how things started to roll. Later that year, I had my first basketball event at my school Georgia State and decided to advertise on my social media. By the grace of God, we had a really good turnout of about 45-50 people coming to play. Long story short, after so many countless moments of asking God what is my purpose in this world, I figured it was only to bring people together.

Despite the triumph and awe felt a moment of finding my purpose in this world from God, I still had to face challenges and obstalces even till this day. Truth be told, at times I definitely felt people unhappy for me and some of them were close to me. I also lacked a lot of support in terms of people reposting the event and what not especially in the beginning, and I also faced a lot of inner doubt thinking what others thought of me and I was a bit self-conciosus especially in the realm of social media. God really had to work those issues out of me, and the lessons I learned is that if God gives you a purpose, don’t keep your eyes on the obstacles or the negative response people have keep your eyes and motives on the maker and he will provide everything you need to fulfill your role and purpose. So I started to focus a lot of my path and not anyone else’s and I’ve been seeing God do some really great stuff in my life. Like the last 2-3 events have had really great turnouts and positive feedback.

At the end of the day, I don’t do this for myself or to please others, but I want people to have a avenue that they come together as one people and just build community and each other in these hard times. I want the world and more importantly the city of Atlanta is that if you attend any of my events, just know that the presence of God will be there and you’ll feel motivated to nagivate life and your walk with the Lord.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ll definitely say Ponce City Market especially the rooftop area! Literally, you can go up there and strike a conversation with literally anyone, and just have a relaxing evening of food, entertainment, and fun. It’s definitely one of my new favorite spots, but another good place I love in the city is Piedmont Park. That park is so exhilarating and you can always find all types of nice things going on there and also a great way to connect and meet with people too.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All glory to God, but I really want to shoutout my mother. She has always been there for me especially when I first started college back in the Fall 0f 2016. I remember those times as feeling very alone, clueless about life, and really no sense of direction but she really helped me to persevere despite those obstacles and uplifted me when times were really tough. As of now, she inspired me to have more and more social events because she tells me of the many challenges here young patients go through in terms of loneliness, isolation, and social anxiety. She helps me with event ideas and a lot of the harder parts! I’m so thankful to God for her and I want to make her and my father who is also such an amazing supporter in my life happy.

Instagram: chrissmogaka

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cmogaka