History

The history of SAM Ministries is simply the history of individuals who responded to the call to take the good news of God’s love to destitute and needy people in countries and places far from the comforts and safety of North America. This includes not only those who were willing to leave their friends and family and move, but also those who were involved to support, pray for, and send them.

Although SAM Ministries started as a mission outreach under the direction of Edmonton Gospel Temple, now known as Richfield Christian Fellowship, it was registered in 2001 as an independent Christian charitable organization with Charities Canada and a board of directors was installed to serve this new mission.

Initially, SAM Ministries designated the mission work of Dwight and Lynn Lagore who were serving in Southern Africa. As a result, SAM Ministries stood for Southern Africa Mission Ministries. When the charity was registered however, the work of Earl and Ruth Trekofski in Brazil was included. This was due primarily to two factors. The first factor being that the work in Brazil was also a mission outreach under the same local church. The second was that Brazil is an old Portuguese colony as is Mozambique, and as a result they share the same official language.

The result was the registration of S.A.M. Ministries Inc. to include both South America and Southern Africa. It is important to note that Arthur and Gladys Lagore (Dwight’s parents) who served as missionaries in South Africa for 38 years, were the first to join the new organization as founder members and Arthur faithfully and capably led the new organization as president and chairman of the board for its first 10 years! Following this Arthur humbly served as an advisor to the board until his death in 2024.

“The work in both Brazil and Mozambique has focused on practically serving the needs of people in a holistic way with a fundamental conviction that the physical, economic and social needs of people are ultimately and inseparably tied to the spiritual need and condition of people.”

The work in both Brazil and Mozambique has focused on practically serving the needs of people in a holistic way with a fundamental conviction that the physical, economic and social needs of people are ultimately and inseparably tied to the spiritual need and condition of people. In Brazil, the work was established because Earl and Ruth Trekofski remained in Brazil through many difficult experiences and continued to selflessly serve abandoned street children. They faced house arrest, lost their 17-year-old son Luke to appendicitis, and in 1999 endured the hardship of losing the mission buildings to corruption. Today the mission owns a new beautiful 3-building complex along with other properties and infrastructure, and more importantly is instrumental in the ongoing transformational development of thousands in Itaperuçu, Brazil.

Dwight and Lynn Lagore started the work in Mozambique in 1993. This immediately followed the signing of a peace accord ending 26 years of civil war in that country. Although life was harsh and difficult with malaria as a constant threat, Dwight and Lynn survived a year living in tents in the central Mozambican bush, raised and educated their two children and established what is now called Amor (Love) Moçambique. Amor Moçambique is SAM Ministries’ agent in Mozambique and through this effort a grade school, two clinics, orphan care, leadership training, church planting, agricultural training and a women’s literacy program have been developed. Throughout the mission’s development other important missionary team members joined Dwight and Lynn and the team of faithful Mozambican staff, making the work what it is today. Among these were Francois and Alta Rauch, Joao Benjamim, Rick and Heather Neufeld, Janette Stone, Ron and Barbara Wayner, Tony and Leila Frank, Shannon Weiss, Andy and Lumi Kuret, and Josh and Chelsea McManus.

Although SAM Ministries has always been blessed by the financial support and prayer of many individuals and churches in the United States, this has now been enhanced by the registration of SAM Ministries in the U.S. as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. This registration was approved by the Internal Revenue Service in 2024 and is now led by a very capable board of directors in the U.S.

SAM Ministries now designates Strategic Action Mission which focuses attention on what SAM Ministries is doing rather than on the where it is done. We believe the most strategic act on the planet was one of unconditional love, and in this act redemption, the forgiveness of sins and eternal hope is possible through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.