April 10, 1961 – August 2, 2026
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” — Psalm 116:15 (NIV)
Sam Coleman was one such faithful servant. With his infectious smile and a joy for life, he continually pointed those around him to Jesus. He knew his Savior well, and deeply desired for others to know him too. His influence could not be contained to just his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, however. No, his leadership permeated throughout the United States, touching numerous Young Life staff and volunteers under his care.
Sam came on staff in 2003 and for the next 14 years served in direct ministry in Jacksonville. From 2017 until the time of his passing, he served the broader Young Life mission by expanding our multiethnic ministry across the U.S. His final role as the NextGen Leader (NGL) national director saw him faithfully training up men and women who will guide the future of the work. Under his leadership, 293 participants have graduated from the NGL program since 2023, and over 200 more are scheduled to graduate by 2028.
Not surprisingly, tributes poured in to honor the man who honored the Lord. These words from friends paint a beautiful picture of a beautiful soul. Here are but a few.
“As my direct supervisor for the last four years, and what stood out to me was Sam’s intentionality with others, intensity in life, and intimacy with Jesus. For those under his leadership, there was no doubt Sam cared deeply for us. Never just employees to supervise, we were always people to shepherd. From the beginning of NextGen, Sam invited us to refer to ourselves as “Team/Fam” because we would care for one another like brothers and sisters.
“He cared about our families, took the time to get to know our spouses when he visited, and prayed for us. It’s beyond fitting that the last text message he sent to us read, ‘I’ll be praying for you.’ Like the apostle Paul to the churches he planted, I’m confident Sam constantly mentioned us in his prayers.
“Sam’s intensity in life was characterized by his relentless energy. He loved being around people younger than him. I’m convinced Sam found people his age couldn’t keep up with him, so he wanted to be around people who could. He had a relentless motor.
“All this was only possible because of Sam’s intimacy with Jesus. Sam was a man of prayer, worship, and the Word; not out of religious duty or pride but because he loved being in God’s presence. I know he is smiling, dancing, and singing in the presence of the Lord now and that’s what gives me hope even though his passing doesn’t make sense.
“One thing we all knew and desired to emulate was Sam’s love for his family. He loved his wife, Valerie, his daughters, and his grandkids with a fierce love. One would think that with all he gave to Young Life, the church, and his community, his family might have been sacrificed. That was never the case. At the funeral, one of his daughters said the love Sam gave to the family was 10 times what everyone outside of the house received. Knowing how Sam talked about them, I believe it’s true!”
— Andrew Jenkins, NGL Divisional Coordinator
“Sam brought together all the staff of color pipeline programs. Prior to his national position, each division had their own program. With mission leadership’s direction, he unified the different initiatives under one umbrella, creating new processes that improved alignment, efficiency, and collaboration.
“You always felt like Sam’s favorite, but he made everyone feel that way. Sam made you feel seen, heard, loved, and valued. He’ll be remembered for his smile, infectious joy, dancing, and ability to ‘walk and talk’ quickly.”
— Amy Heater, Executive Admin, Multiethnic, Church, and Ministry Collaboration
“Sam was my ‘little brother.’ I was his ‘big brother.’ That’s what we called each other. He joined our search team for a new urban leader in Jacksonville 24 years ago, and by the time we got to the finalists, he called to say he and Valerie felt like he was called to the position. The rest is Young Life history. What a ride! What an incredible godly man. I already miss my ‘little brother.’”
— Skip Allcorn, Young Life supporter who served on Sam’s advisory council
“Sam was my boss, but he was so much more. He was the first person I called when my older brother Carlo died and from that day on he called me ‘Little bro.’ He was a mentor, a friend, a co-laborer, an advocate, a spiritual father, a prophetic voice in my life. He challenged and changed me. He equipped, encouraged, and empowered me. We laughed, cried, dreamed, and schemed together.”
— Cesar Castillejos, Servant Leadership Project Director
“Once, when Sam was asked why he was still working for Young Life when he faced many challenging obstacles over his career, his answer was quick and decisive. ‘The Lord hasn’t released me from the calling he has placed on my life.’ He was one of my wisest ministry partners but more importantly my friend and brother in Christ. I will miss him dearly.”
— James Rockwell, Field Senior Vice President, Southeastern Division
“We grieve while celebrating that Sam is now in the presence of the Jesus he loved and served so faithfully. May we honor his legacy by continuing to walk closely with Jesus, invest deeply in people, and help raise the next generation of leaders in this mission.”
— Wiley Scott III, Group Senior Vice President
Please join us in praying for Sam’s wife of 45 years, Valerie, his family, and friends.
