Sam Stemple
Pastor of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Sam Stemple
What is your role at FAC?
I serve as the Pastor of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. As I was entering my senior year of HS, I told God … “Whatever you want me to do I am willing to do”. From that moment in my life I really felt like God was calling me to impact the lives of young people and I still believe that He is calling me to do that here in this area. As Youth Pastor, I love that I get to work with a team of adult leaders to impact our students in 7th-12th grade. I count it a privilege to intentionally work towards building meaningful relationships, discipling our students, and then challenging and equipping them to live out their faith. We have a purposeful youth ministry that meets on Wednesdays from 6-8pm. In the area of Young Adults, my role is to serve as a pastor/mentor and to help guide the young adults into meaningful interactions so that they can “Do Life Together”
How long have you been at FAC?
I started working at FAC in the summer of 2024.
What do you love about being a part of the FAC family of faith?
It is an honor to be part of a team, and I have come to see that this team is a strong one. I also love being part of a body and a community that is really tracking in such a positive direction. The heart that this body has for Jesus, as well as their heart for the people in this community, is such an attractive aspect of this family.
Tell us about your family and your interests outside of ministry.
I have been married to my beautiful wife, Jen, since 1991. We have 4 children who have all flown the coop, so we are empty nesters. Jen and I have always loved watching our kids do sports, so one of my favorite things to do is head out to watch our students when they have games or competitions. It is always fun to see people doing the things they love doing. Jen and I love to hike or just get outside, well when the temperatures aren’t in the arctic freeze zones, like we have found them to be here in Ohio during parts of the winter. We also love hosting people in our home and find such joy in sharing a meal and life with people.
What is your previous training, ministry, and mission experience?
The summer I graduated from Nyack College with a Youth Ministry degree I got married and moved to Plymouth Wisconsin (Go Packers!) to serve as Youth Pastor at the Plymouth Alliance Church. I served there for 11 years before the CMA asked us if we would be willing to move to Germany and serve as International Workers at a school for Missionary Kids (Black Forest Academy). We served at BFA for 21 years in a few different roles, but all the time still in areas where our main focus and impact was on students. As we began to sense God was moving us on from BFA, we began to ask, “What do you have next for us, God” God, in His faithfulness, opened up a door for us to step into the ministry here at Faith Alliance and we have seen His hand at work in so many ways. I love that God still chooses to use me in all my imperfections. He uses us when we are simply faithful to follow Him.
Psalm 78:4 … “We will tell the Next Generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.”