Pastor Warren L. Haggray was born on December 7, 1955. He is one of nine children, born to Deacon Gabe and Esther (Shavers) Haggray of Bloomingdale, Georgia. This family consisted of four boys and five girls. One of the four boys is Pastor Haggray’s twin brother, Deacon Wilbert Haggray, who now lives with his family in the Washington D.C. area. Both he and his twin, along with an older brother, Calvin, are retired Army Officers.
“The twins,” as they were frequently called, grew up in the Savannah, Georgia area where they attended Secondary and High School. They were very good athletes, excelling in football; baseball; and track and field.
After graduating from Tompkins High School, the twins separated for the very first time. Wilbert enrolled at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and Warren headed West to attend Porterville Junior College in Porterville, California. After two successful football seasons at Porterville, Warren was offered a full athletic scholarship (Football) to attend The University of the Pacific (UOP) in Stockton, California. While there, he met and befriended many young people from around the world. During his tenure at UOP, Pastor Haggray served as the first president of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Nu Chi Chapter.
After a successful football career at UOP, Pastor Haggray graduated with a B.A. degree in Pre-Law. In the Spring of 1979, he relocated to Houston, Texas, where he planned to work, save money and apply to Law School. Shortly after he arrived in Houston, a friend (Judy Brown) invited him to Liberty Baptist Church. Little did he know that this invitation would set the course for the rest of his life.
Pastor Haggray was amazed at the insights and understanding he was able to glean from the dynamic teaching of Reverend Samuel C. Ammons. While he had been told from childhood that he would be a preacher, it was not until he met Reverend Ammons that he started to consider the potential for that to become a reality in his life. Pastor Haggray had always had a desire to help others, especially those who were less fortunate. Over time, his passion for the Law diminished and his appetite for the Word of God blossomed.
Pastor Haggray made one final attempt to discover God’s will, a “put out the fleece” test, by traveling to the East Coast to sell Bibles and books door to door for one final Summer. This was a job he and his twin had done for several previous summers. The Lord confirmed for Pastor Haggray that summer that he was to begin preparation for full time ministry. After coming back to Houston, Pastor Haggray informed Reverend Ammons about his call. To this Pastor Ammon replied, “I knew it all the time, I was just waiting on you” (with a grin). Those were comforting and encouraging words to Pastor Haggray’s soul. Their relationship grew intensely from that very moment. Rev. Ammons faithfully mentored and embraced Pastor Haggray along with his ministry brothers at Liberty.
In 1987, Pastor Haggray decided to enlist in the Army for a three-year tour in order to secure funding for seminary. After serving his tour of duty, he enrolled in Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS). After completing his first year of seminary, Pastor Haggray came back to Houston briefly and married his wife, Sandra Kay (Dobbins) Haggray. The couple moved to Dallas, Texas where they both continued in Graduate School, Sandra at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and Pastor at (DTS). They both earned their Master’s Degrees in the Spring of 1995.
In his final year of seminary, Pastor Haggray was called to a church plant, Brazos Valley Bible Church in College Station, Texas. Every Sunday morning for a year, he would drive from Dallas to Bryan-College Station, Texas to hold 2 services each Sunday. After graduation, the Haggrays moved to Bryan-College Station, Texas. Esther Alice, their daughter, was born while they served in College Station-Bryan, Texas. The Haggrays have maintained a loving relationship with the supportive families in the Bryan-College Station area.
In 1998, Pastor Haggray felt God’s leading him back to the Army to serve as an Army Chaplain. He spent 20 more years as an Army Chaplain. He served at Fort Bliss in El Paso; Fort Hood, Iraq, South Korea, Afghanistan and Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Pastor Haggray is a trained Hospital Chaplain who retired as Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) and Deputy to the Chief Department of Ministry and Pastoral Care at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
After the death of Founder and Pastor, Samuel Ammons, Rev Haggray was selected to become to second pastor of Liberty Baptist Church where he and his family have served for the past three years.