Meet Minister Warren Hawkins III of “Shaped For Greater Works”

Today we’d like to introduce you to Minister Warren Hawkins III.

Minister Warren, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a young child, the sky and the clouds became a reflection of my imagination. I often gazed at the sky and felt something higher and beyond the clouds was watching over me and pulling my life in a direction beyond my comprehension. I knew then, at the early ages of four, five, and six that I was called and destined for greater works that far exceeded my understanding.

I felt that I was meant to represent something far greater than myself. I knew that my life wasn’t just about me because as a child I knew that I was here on borrowed time and that my life was would be destined for something that was far greater than myself. At the time, I did not understand who or what it was that I felt pulling me. However, at the age of 16, it was revealed to me that this higher and greater force that was pulling me was God. At the age of 16, is when God began to pull on my life. I then accepted my calling and became a licensed minister at the age of 18.

And that’s why I wrote Shaped for Greater Works because it is much more than a book, it is a journey. Fourteen chapters of tears, trials, fear, hurt, let downs, lessons, yet also 14 chapters of hope, inspiration, courage and most importantly God. My transition to being committed to a life for Christ did not happen overnight, nor was I spoon-fed the Gospel. In my case, it was a process that first broke, then shaped, and finally molded me into the young man I am today. There is a reason why the first words out of my mouth are “Praise God” when I speak on public platforms. There is a reason why my clothing has God the Answer emblazoned across my chest. My story is the reason I have the passion of a night owl and early bird all in one. This walk is not something I just decided to wake up and do; it is now something I embody, live, and influence others to do. I was not told to be this way by anyone.

Instead, I was shaped this way because I am a product of God’s hands. I have been shaped for greater works for the Kingdom of God. From being the author of my own destruction to now being the author of my first book. That is why I know this journey can be for anyone regardless of where they are in their walk and regardless of where they are in life. This journey is for both the unchurched and the churched. It is meant to touch those who have a relationship with God and those who do not. Regardless of who you are, what you have been through, what you have done, or what has been done to you, this journey can be for you. Even if you do not know God, you can know Him a bit more after following me on my journey. If you are frustrated with God, you can learn to understand His ways. If you gave up on God at some point in your life, somewhere on this journey, you can come to understand that He did not give up on you.

That’s why I wrote “Shaped for Greater Works”, because so many people are giving up on God, giving up on life, and giving up on their future simply because of the hardships of life. But I want them to know that everything we go through is meant for a greater purpose. I want people to understand that God has put them on this earth to maximize their full potential and to walk in their purpose. I want people to know that they do not have to live with hurt, pain, or regret that the answer to their lives is God. I want people to know that they are destined and meant to do something great for the Kingdom of God. I want people to read my book and be able to know that they are special and that they are here for a divine reason and that they are shaped for the greater works for the Kingdom of God.

In everything we do and every experience we have, we are being shaped by the hand of God. Isaiah 64:8 (NLT) “Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” This journey is a testament of how God has to first shape us so that we can fulfill the greater works that He calls us to. In some way or form, we are being shaped for greater works. The good and the bad shape us for greater works. We are clay being molded by the Potter. I pray that my story helps people as much as experiencing it has helped me. I pray that my footprints will leave traces and trails of inspiration for others in their life. I pray that my tears will be the nourishment to water the harvest of other people, that my scars become stars of hope for people to look up to, and that all of my challenges will strengthen people with the courage to testify. Understand, that if anyone opens my book, it is us starting on a journey together. I am inviting them to walk with me as I follow God. As God shaped me in this journey, people will learn how He is shaping them as well.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. It has been a challenging in many ways. However, hardship can propel us to our destiny & our trials can transform into our testimony and that’s why I am telling my story. It was a process, that wasn’t too pretty. Being shaped by the Lord can be challenging, uncomfortable, and humiliating. However, my book can help you understand that being shaped by God can be a rewarding privilege. For me, it took much, prayer, stillness, faith, trust in God and much more. There were many times I was ready to quit, give up, and stop living for God. However, I knew that I couldn’t because I had to remind myself that the mission was so much more bigger than myself. I had to remind myself that my life did not belong to me & that it belongs to God. So I had to remain obedient even through the tears, even though the pain, and even through the challenges that God put me through. I knew that obedience was greater than sacrifice and me sacrificing the plan I had for my life was me being obedient to the will of God. It wasn’t easy but it was worth it and it still is not easy but it continues to be worth it because I strive to get that “Job well done” from the Lord.

John 13:7 “You may not see what I am doing now, but later you will” Sometimes God has to take us on a transformative journey. Just as a butterfly goes through a metamorphosis in order to grow its wings and reach its full beauty and potential, God will take us through a changing process. The only difference is that a butterfly’s change occurs externally while ours happens internally. Sometimes the Lord will have to stop us from becoming the person we were becoming, in order for us to become who He intended us to be. And once again, when our later becomes our now, we can look back on the skin we shed and sprout our wings as a beautiful butterfly and soar into the future God planned for us. If it had not of been for the shaping process, I would not be where I am today.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am 22 years old, and I am from St. Louis Missouri. I am an attendee of Clark Atlanta University, graduating class of 2019. As a licensed minister, author, activist, writer, motivational speaker, and spoken word artist, what sets me apart is my boldness and confidence to unapologetically and boldly proclaim God’s word. God is my life, he is not a trend for me but a lifestyle. Everyday I strive to inspire others to live for him. This is my job and my life. I pride myself in being a seed planter for the Kingdom of God. In the various forms of ministry that God uses me in, every platform that I allowed my focus is always for when people see me, to see God. I want God to be reflected through every form of ministry that he has called me to rather that is the church, activism, politics and more. God is the center of my life and he is at the forefront of everything that I do.

I have been featured on national television, radio stations, and in news articles for activism, ministry, leadership and his involvement in serving the community. I appeared on News 11 Alive, Fox 5 Atlanta, MTV Wild N’ Out, TV One, Rolling Out, Midnight Breakfast on Vision Radio 105.1 (FM), The Atlanta Voice, and BET’s one hour special When We All Vote. I’ve shared speaking platforms with Angela Rye, Janelle Monae, Stacey Abrams, Keisha Lance Bottoms, John Lewis, Lucy McBath, and the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. I’ve interacted with public figures and icons such as Bernice King, Michael B. Jordan, Chance the Rapper, Deitrick Haddon, Devon Franklin, Megan Good, Roland Martin, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Andrew Young, Cedric the Entertainer, Kel Mitchell, Anna Maria Horsford, Da Brat, Jermaine Dupri, Pastor Troy, Emmanuel Lewis, and more.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The fact that I am all about the mission is what has been the most important part of my success. Because my success is not for me, my success is for the kingdom. I’m all about souls being saved. My obsession, thirst, and hunger to learn God’s word and teach his word is simply what I live for. Encouraging others to live for the Lord, and proclaiming God’s truth to this world is my fun, it is my joy, it is my turn up, my safe space, it is my peace and it is what I’ve been put here to do. Being a young man of God and an advocate for Jesus Christ is not easy in this generation is not easy. Neither is it popular or glorified. Living for God is not a trend for me; it is a lifestyle and a way of life. I unapologetically pride myself in letting God’s light shine through me everywhere I go and in everything I do. This walk is not something I just decided to wake up and do; it is now something I embody, live, and influence others to do.

Contact Info:

• Email: warrenmhawkinsiii@gmail.com
• Instagram: @tattheanswer
• Twitter: @tattheanswerr
• Other: Warren Hawkins III

Image Credit:
Photograph by Ghost Hallmon, NEITH@ghosthallmon ghost@neith.

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