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The Legacy of Christian Sampson What did Christian mean to me? How about what did Christian mean to this school and this entire community? You would either see him in the café sharing the Word of the day or buried in the scripture on a bench. Christian had a love for God like no one I have ever met. From his relationship with God he would share that love with every individual he would come in contact with, no matter what. You could be in the middle of a taking a bite of your sandwich and he would say, “Excuse me, I have a Word of the day.” We were truly blessed by the best. - Nathan Chau
Christian Sampson was and, in a way, remains one of the most impactful people I’ve met at PBA. The way that his face would light up when he saw a big group of students come into the caf. The fact that he quietly and diligently cleaned the caf showed not only his character but how much he cared for us. Christian was living proof that you can preach the Gospel through something like the word of the day or something as simple as cleaning a table with a smile. I consider him a true friend and can’t wait to see him again with his hero. – Daniel Judge
I will never forget this man - he truly was one of the most influential people in my life. Every conversation we had, I experienced the love and grace that Jesus has for me through Christian. In his life here, Christian was consumed with what truly matters - living to know Jesus. This was his passion and it poured out of him like a floodgate. Not once did I talk to him without hearing the Scriptures at some point in the conversation. Above all, Christian was a colossal demonstration of the grace of God. I know if Christian was sitting beside me helping me write this, he would look at me with his big eyes and a huge smile and say, “Just talk about God! Just talk about Him!” Christian lived for giving God all the glory, as the Apostle Paul said, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor. 15:10). In light of this, Christian would want us to rightly give all the glory and exaltation to God alone so that we would see God through his life, know God more, treasure Him more, and be satisfied in God more than anything else in this life. -Rob Andrassy
Belle Glade team, small group family and cafeteria friend are some of the things Christian and I did together on a weekly basis, but who he was displays Christ to me rather than what he did. Christian’s example of life means so much to me: his sharing of the Word without fear of man, his smile and laughter in awkward moments, his heart for prayer and sharing the Gospel. I don’t think we will realize the amazing things Christian did until we start to share the Word each day with strangers ourselves. I wasn’t supposed to be in the car that morning with him when he passed. I had made many decisions last semester that left me without a car and in search of a ride. After texting about 10 people to find a ride to Grace Fellowship Church, one friend responded. It was my first time riding with them and within only a few minutes of getting in the car, I found myself on the phone with 911. At the point of distress, I had confidence that one of two things would happen: that Christian would either stay here and proclaim Jesus, or he would go home to be with Jesus. Even in fate of his passing, the confidence that sprang from knowing that he rests in Heaven. That knowledge, paired with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, led to the sharing of the Gospel with those around that morning. Even in Christian’s death, the Gospel was shared with the police, paramedics, a stranger who thought we had car trouble and two people in the emergency room. Christian meant a lot to me, and I rejoice first that he is in Heaven now, and secondly because the fire for God that has been ignited in all those who knew Christian and desire to carry on his legacy. Christ has truly been glorified in Christian’s life and death, and there is no greater of a testimony someone could ask for. – Mary Roberts
I constantly think about Christian by how he lived his life, and what I can learn from that. He was a faithful man, always there to serve and pray. He loved praying--with people, for people, for everything that mattered. Every time I asked him how he’s doing he’d answer, “blessed.” He was always dependent on God, always ready to give what he could. Let’s not forget that he was also a man of struggle too. He didn’t have the best childhood, nor was his life perfect while he lived at PBA. He was lonely at times when students left for breaks, and he asked me one time to pray for him to have more faith. Still, he was content with life’s circumstances, and always trusted God to provide when needed. Christian is the most heaven ready person I know. – Ben Hsu Christian Sampson has made an abnormal impact on my life in several ways. Through Christian, my faith has matured and strengthened. Christian Sampson lived a life that focused on the cross and focused on prayer. The Holy Spirit has taken all the beautiful seeds that Christian has sowed into my life, by giving me a heart to memorize Scripture and to not care what other people may think about me when I speak about Christ. Christian did not have any fear of man within him - he told about 500 PBA students, and others as well, several scripture verses a day. That was the calling and race for Christian Sampson, and by the strength and grace of our Father, he finished it well. -Steve Efkarpidis
“Please join me in giving thanks for this spirit- filled ambassador for Christ. May God welcome Christian into His loving arms.” - President Bill Fleming