Sam grew up in Ohio and South Carolina. He became a believer as a child. After graduating from college, Sam worked in the computer field as a software developer, and later attended seminary. During his time at seminary Sam felt the call to cross-cultural ministry, and after earning his M.Div. at Columbia International University (CIU) he was ordained in the PCA.

Elizabeth grew up in Germany, the daughter of church-planting missionaries, and is a native, fluent German speaker. She attended CIU for her undergraduate studies and later obtained her master’s degree in Germanistics from the University of South Carolina.

Sam and Elizabeth married in 2004 and began pursuing missions as a couple. In 2012 they arrived in Munich and have been partnering with a German church planter, establishing and growing churches in southern Munich. They and their three daughters engage in active lifestyle evangelism and outreach, using their home and family as their ministry base. Other ministries include teaching, counseling/discipleship, youth and children’s work, and translation.