From Drug Dealer to Motorcycle Club Violence
Sam Childers' life was once a whirlwind of chaos and darkness. Born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1963, he was swept into a life of drugs and violence early on. His teenage years were marked by frequent moves, aligning him with a turbulent lifestyle that included drug dealing and membership in the Highwaymen Motorcycle Club, where he served as an armed guard for notorious activities. A bar fight turned shootout in Orlando, Florida, became a pivotal moment. Faced with his mortality, Sam realized he didn't want to die for a "stupid reason."
Drug Dealer Found Jesus at Revival
In mid-1992, everything changed. Encouraged by his first wife, Sam attended a revival meeting at an Assembly of God church. That evening, he encountered a transformative faith experience, leading him to surrender his life to Jesus. As Sam later reflected, "As much wrong as I did in life and as many people as I hurt, I can say that God never stopped talking to me. I just stopped listening." This newfound faith propelled him to move over a thousand miles away to start anew.
Called to Rescue Sudan's Children
By 1997, Sam felt a clear calling to Africa, specifically Sudan. In 1998, amidst the devastation of civil war, he witnessed a child's tragic death from a landmine. This heart-wrenching moment became his divine calling. Sam vowed to do whatever he could to help the children of Sudan. He and his wife Lynn founded Angels of East Africa, establishing the Children's Village in Southern Sudan, which cared for around 185 children.
God Transformed Violent Past Completely
Sam's commitment extended beyond providing shelter; he led armed missions to rescue children from the Lord's Resistance Army. Though controversial, his actions aimed to protect the innocent. "I didn't rescue the children of Africa; they rescued me," Sam confessed, highlighting the profound impact these children had on his life. His work expanded to Uganda and Ethiopia, serving almost 14,000 meals daily, building orphanages, schools, and wells.
Despite criticism and challenges, including a raid by the FBI and IRS in 2014 from which he was later exonerated, Sam's resolve remained unshaken. His testimony stands as a testament to Jesus' transformative power, as Sam himself stated, "I might be the most messed up preacher you'll ever meet, but I love Jesus Christ." Jesus took a man marked by violence and transformed him into a beacon of hope for thousands, proving that no life is too far gone for redemption.
