Pastor Sam felt God's calling on his life as a teenager to enter the pastoral ministry. He received his undergraduate degree in Pastoral Theology, and his postgraduate degree in Bible from West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster, CA, USA. It was there that he met his wife, Juliana, who also received degrees in Elementary Education. Together, they served on the staff of West Coast Baptist College and Lancaster Baptist Church for four years, before moving to Christchurch to serve as pastor at Lighthouse.