Rev. Haugabook readily admits that he did not always live for God. Before Christ, he was living life to the fullest and doing whatever he was big and bad enough to do. But that all changed for him over the course of time. He started attending church with a woman that would later become his wife. And although he started out sitting in very rear, he now sits at the forefront as the Assistant Pastor of Union Tabernacle Church in Americus. Rev. Haugabook did not attend church. He says he was the average guy that had no relationship with God. He spent his free time drinking and partying. Everything was about having a good time. However, that all began to change in 1996 when he met Sharon Monts. At her invitation, he began attending Union Tabernacle. Over time, the Word that was ministered began to penetrate his heart.

He realized that he was getting older and had not been living life as he should have. Knowing it was time for a change, he submitted his life to Christ. He grew in the Lord for eight years. Then, in 2004, he heard the voice of God beckoning him to preach. The catalyst was a sermon preached by his pastor's nephew entitled "Can You Hear Me Now." The text was taken from the account of Samuel in I Samuel 3. He heard the same words. He knew that God had more for him to do. However, it did not happen overnight. He says that God kept ministering to him through His Word. In fact, Rev. Haugabook mentioned sleepless nights and a lack of peace until he answered the call. He was apprehensive for a number of reasons. First, it was the fear of venturing into the unknown. He also considered his past and whether others would receive him. But the greatest concern was the tremendous responsibilityof being a man of God.

But with the support of Sharon, now his wife, he made the decision to become a minister.

The process was not without a price. Rev. Haugabook realized that his life would now be lived under a microscope 24 hours, 7 days a week. Not only would his life be on display at church, but the world would be watching. He determined that he would obey God to the utmost and let Him have complete control over his life. He makes sure that his life lines up with the Word in every area. For him, it all seemed to come at once. He was relatively young, newly married, and also a new minister of the gospel. But he has successfully managed the transitions and transformations- including working with kids. In his summation, he would have never worked with youngsters so closes. However, God uses him as a youth minister and he is an employee of the Youth Detention Center. But, for him, it has been a blessing. He wholehearted feels that they have helped him grow and mature just as he has helped them to do so.