Sam and Emma

Biography

Sam grew up in on the American east coast in a Christian home. He heard the Gospel preached both by his parents and in church until one day, at a young age, he felt the Holy Spirit convicting him of his sin and need of a Savior. So he prayed with his mom and professed faith in Christ’s sacrifice as his only hope. Then at 12 years old he was baptized and joined the local church where his parents were attending. While growing up, his parents were faithful to encourage him to read good books and while reading biographies about overseas workers he began to learn more of God’s heart for the nations. After graduating high-school, God led Sam to a Bible school focused on working among the unreached, where he continued to be more equipped in the Word. While there he also learned more about the unreached languages and God’s revealed plan to save a people for His name from every nation, and that one day they would be gathered around His throne worshipping Him. (See Rev. 7:9)

Emma grew up in California in a non-Christian home when at about the age of 5 God was pleased to save both her and her mom. God was gracious to continue growing her in her understanding of the Gospel and helping her to mature in the faith. In college, she was part of a college ministry that emphasized God’s heart for the nations and the need that there is for workers to go to the ends of the earth. In this way, the Holy Spirit convicted her, through the Word of God, that she should go to the nations. Seeking to follow the Lord in this way, she was led to a Bible school focused on reaching the unreached.

It was there that Sam and Emma met and got to know each other. After graduating they were married and worked for several years in a support role. While working in that role, they felt the Lord leading them to be more directly involved in seeing the nations (unreached languages) reached with the Truth. However, they realized that they weren’t yet properly equipped, so they spent 9 months training down in Mexico learning among other things: how to live cross-culturally in a relevant manner, how to learn a new language and culture, what it takes to cross-culturally share the Truth in a way that is clear, as well as learning more about what makes up a biblical church. After training, they moved to Southeast Asia where they and their 3 children have been for the past 3 years. They lived in the capital city while learning the national language, and now are working in a northern province where by the grace of God they hope to one day see a church planted among the Niang people, to His glory.