Sam came on staff at BUMC in March of 2023. An elder in the UMC since 1988, Sam has served as a staff youth minister in local churches for more than 40 years. His appointments have been in three conferences (North Georgia, North Texas, and West Ohio) in small and large churches. Here in the North Georgia Conference, Sam has served appointments at Northbrook UMC (Roswell), Mt. Bethel UMC (Marietta), Hickory Flat UMC (near Canton), and as pastor at Hopewell UMC (Milledgeville). Sam also served for nine years on the North Georgia Conference staff as Associate Director for the Center for Congregational Excellence where he resourced and supported youth and young adult ministries for churches all over North Georgia. During these years he and his family chose to attend BUMC as members since he was not under appointment to a local church.

Sam has also been writing curriculum and books on youth ministry since his college days. His most recent book is One Body: Integrating Youth Into the Life of the Church (published by The Youth Cartel). He not only likes to write but also enjoys cooking, playing guitar, singing, and traveling with his wife, Kathy.

Sam and Kathy have two adult children – Jesse, a graduate of Kennesaw State University (architecture) and Megan, a soon to be graduate of the nursing school, at Emory University. Kathy is a math teacher at Creekview High School in Cherokee County.