Top 15 Fascinating Facts about Raphael Warnock

Top 15 Fascinating Facts about Raphael Warnock

Originally published by Shelmith Njeru on November 28, 2022, and updated by Benji M on January 25, 2024

Raphael Gamaliel Warnock is the current junior Senator of the State of Georgia in the United States. He is the first African American to serve in the Senate of Georgia, taking the seat on January 20^th, 2021.

Raphael’s victory was the first time in seven years that a member of the Democratic party took the seat. Before he and senior Senator Thomas Jonathan Ossoff were elected, Zell Miller was the last Democrat to serve Georgia’s Senate in 2000.  

Warnock was born on July 23rd, 1969, in Savannah, Georgia. He was the second last born of his 12 siblings. He grew up in a religious household with both his parents, Jonathan and Verlene Warnock, pastors of the Pentecostal church.

Raphael attributed his work ethic to his parents, who often told him that one should work hard, keeping in mind the outcome depended on them while remembering to pray like it ultimately relied on God.

Warnock is also one of America’s most influential Black ministers. He is the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta.

The 2022 United States Senate election saw him win with 49.44% of the votes cast, beating Herschel Walker by 37,000 votes. The Senator is a supporter of LGBTQIA+ rights, abortion being pro-choice, and abolishment of the death penalty. His primary goal once in office was to support federal voting reforms by opposing the voting restrictions.

Warnock is the author of two books, The Divided Mind of The Black Church: Theology, Piety, and Public Witness (2013) and A Way Out Of No Way (2022). The Raphael Warnock Way, once known as Cape Street, was renamed by the city government of Savannah in his honor.

1. Warnock’s Father Was An Army Officer During The Second World War

Soldiers during a Millitary Operation. Photo By Defence-Imagery –Pixabay

Raphael speaks highly of his father. As an officer in the army, he fought for his country between 1939 and 1945. During his time in the force, he acquired the skills of welding and mechanics, which he used later in his retirement.

Warnock’s father became his first mentor, saying he admired his stamina and strength. After leaving the army, Warnock’s father used his knowledge of scrap metal to flip old junk cars. On Sundays, his father would lead service in a small holiness church in Savannah.

2. Raphael Gave His First Sermon At The Age Of Eleven

Growing up, Raphael saw his father prepare for his Sunday Summons. He enjoyed serving as a minister and giving messages of hope and renewal to the people of Savannah.

Warnock recalls a morning when he was six; his father had trouble composing his sermon. Confident enough, he asked his father to allow him to preach that day, making this his first attempt to stand on the pulpit.

It was not until age 11 that Raphael got to fulfill this.

3. He Is A Doctor In Philosophy

In 1991, Warnock graduated from Morehouse College with a degree in Psychology. He attended the college emulating the footsteps of Martin Luther King, who, similarly, had studied in the school.

Raphael proceeded to take his Master of Divinity and Master in Philosophy at Union Theological Seminary. His passion for learning did not stop there with two M. Under his belt, he proceeded to pursue a Ph.D. in philosophy.

4. Raphael Was The Youngest Serving Pastor Of His Church

Christain Holy Book. Photo By stempow- Pixabay

Warnock had been a youth pastor from the onset of his thirties. He became an assistant pastor at Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York and, in the 2000s, a senior pastor at Douglas Community Church in Baltimore, Maryland.

In 2005, he was named senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. The church in Atlanta, Georgia, was founded in 1886 and is popularly known for its association with Martin Luther King. Warnock, who still serves as its minister, was its youngest pastor since its creation.

5. Raphael Is An Unconventional Politician

The ability to juggle religion and politics is one that Raphael executes effortlessly. His decision to continue preaching while he ran for office was forecasted to be beneficial because it gave him a distinct way to reach more voters.

As much as it was to his advantage, it had its cons. Any openly political sermons were prohibited. In addition to this, church resources were out of bounds. Failure to do the two put him at risk of penalties from the Internal Revenue Service

6. He Hosted The 45^th Vice President On Their First Sitdown In Atlanta

In 2019, Warnock and other environmental justice thinkers came together to partake in climate change training in Atlanta. He was the event host with influential state members, including Al Gore, the 45^th vice president of the United States.

Warnock and a fellow minister William J Barber II led the interfaith meeting in Ebenezer Baptist Church on March 14^th. The former Vice President is a recognized environmentalist working in climate change activism. It was the first occasion the three influential men sat together in The South.

Learn interesting facts about the 45th Vice President Al Gore here.

7. Warnock Delivered The Benediction At The Second Inauguration Of Barack Obama

President Barack Obama takes the oath of office from Supreme Court Chief Justice. Photo By White House/Sonya Hebert – Wikimedia Commons

Barack Obama was re-elected as the 44^th president, and on January 2013, he was sworn in. The public event occurred in the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. At the 57^th inauguration, the benediction was delivered by Raphael Warnock.

As fate would have it, Warnock and Barack met in 2020 at a funeral he presided over. The deceased, John Louis, was an activist who led 600 Americans in the 1965 Selma protest. His burial was attended by other former U.S. presidents, namely Bill Clinton and George Bush.

8. His Admiration For Martin Luther King Drove Him To Serve The People Of Georgia

1964: Martin Luther King. Photo By
Trikosko, Marion S – Wikimedia Commons

Aside from his father, Warnock was enamored by Martin Luther King. Luther’s strong belief in the Christian faith and his time as co-pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church contributed to his journey into ministry.

 Like King, he followed in his footsteps serving the people of Georgia both at the pulpit and in office. King’s drive for change in America sparked Raphael’s vision of a just Georgia. His patriotism was also influenced by his father’s service to his country during his time in the military.

Read about Raphael Warnock, Martin Luther King, and other famous black people who change the world here. 

9. Warnock Was To First Ran For Senate In 2015

In 2015, Raphael announced his political aspirations of becoming Georgie’s next Senate. He was to represent the Democratic Party in the 2016 general elections going against incumbent Johnny Isakson. The party was ecstatic to have him as a candidate believing the African American voter turnout would increase.

Warnock stepped down as a candidate months before the due date. Unfortunately, his personal and pastoral commitments at the time did not favor his candidacy. He ran for Senate 5 years later and won against Herschel Walker.

10. Two Former Presidents Endorsed His 2020 Candidacy

DeltaNewsHub, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In 2020, Warnock decided to run for Senate in Georgia’s special elections. He was up against Kelly Loeffler, a Republican who the governor had appointed after the resignation of Johnny Isakson. Johnny had served as Senator for six years before resigning due to health complications.  

Warnock had the backing of several democrats, including Chris Murphy, Bernie Sanders, Stacey Adams, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign. Former presidents Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama also endorsed him.

Learn about the best tours in Warnock’s hometown, Savannah here.

  11. Warnock has been a vocal advocate for social justice issues

Raphael Warnock is a fervent supporter of equity for all. He stands up for those who are subjected to unfair treatment because to their color, socioeconomic status, or other factors. He puts a lot of effort into ensuring that everyone is afforded the same chances and rights.

He desires that everyone be accorded decency and civility. Warnock advocates for issues such as facilitating voting and guaranteeing universal access to quality healthcare. In addition, he wants to alter how the criminal justice system and the police handle their interactions with the public. 

Warnock is concerned about improving the lives of those in need and supporting those who are struggling. Regardless of identity or background, he thinks everyone should have the opportunity to achieve.

12. Warnock has authored several books            

Senate Democrats, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Raphael Warnock has written books that many people read. He writes about important things like how religion and society work together. One of his books talks about the history of black churches and how they help people. Another book he wrote is about a movement to make things fairer for everyone in society.

Warnock’s books teach people about how they can make the world a better place. He wants to share his ideas with as many people as possible so they can understand important issues. Writing books is one way Warnock spreads his message of fairness and equality. He hopes that by sharing his thoughts, he can inspire others to work towards positive change in their communities.

13. He co-founded the Georgia Alliance for Progress, an organization focused on promoting progressive policies in Georgia

Before becoming a senator, Raphael Warnock helped start an organization called the Georgia Alliance for Progress. This group wanted to make life better for people in Georgia. They worked on important things like helping families who didn’t have much money and making sure everyone had the same chances to do well in life.

Warnock also helped lead efforts to improve schools and make sure they had enough money to help all students learn. He cared a lot about his community and wanted to make sure everyone had what they needed to succeed. Warnock worked with others to make positive changes in Georgia, showing that by working together, people can make their communities stronger and better for everyone.

14. Warnock has consistently advocated for affordable healthcare options for all Americans

Phil Mistry / PHIL FOTO, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Raphael Warnock believes that everyone should be able to go to the doctor when they need to, even if they don’t have a lot of money. He thinks it’s important for people to have access to healthcare that they can afford. Warnock wants to make sure that medicines and treatments aren’t too expensive for families.

He works to help people get the healthcare they need without worrying about how much it costs. Warnock believes that when people are healthy, they can do better in school and at work. He wants to make sure that everyone has the chance to be healthy and live a good life, no matter how much money they have. That’s why he fights for affordable healthcare for all Americans.

15. Warnock has been a leading voice in the fight against voter suppression

Raphael Warnock believes that everyone should have the right to vote and have their voice heard in elections. He thinks it’s very important for people to be able to choose who they want to represent them in government. Warnock works hard to make sure that everyone, no matter their background, can vote easily and without any obstacles.

He fights against any rules or laws that make it harder for people to vote. Warnock believes that when more people vote, it makes democracy stronger and fairer for everyone. He wants to make sure that everyone has an equal chance to participate in the decisions that affect their lives. That’s why he’s a strong supporter of voting rights and works to protect them for all Americans.