Samuel Sarpiya
Dr. Samuel Sarpiya currently serves as Development Director of Pathar Productions PTY Ltd., and is based in Cape Town. Samuel has over 20-years experience as a businessman, educator, social worker, community developer, and Christian leader on several continents, and his entrepreneurial endeavors have ranged from real estate investment to information technology to film and television production. Samuel has additionally served in senior leader positions within large intergovernmental, non-governmental, and charitable organizations, and has also launched several successful training centers, community centers, and non-profits within both Africa and the United States.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Samuel moved to South Africa in 2001, where he worked several years with the global mission organization Youth With A Mission (YWAM). Samuel then served several years as Development Director for Cape Town based production company Destine Nation Productions, where his many duties included serving as line producer for South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) contracted television shows. In 2006, Samuel moved to the United States to take on an information technology leadership role at the University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii. Samuel also served as a delegate to the United Nations 46th General Assembly from 2006-2008 and represented YWAM on the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII).
In 2009, Samuel moved to Rockford, Illinois, where he became involved in local community and real estate investment and also pastored a local church. In 2013 he co-founded the Center for Nonviolence and Conflict Transformation, which educates and trains organizations including police departments and schools in non-violent conflict resolution and reconciliation. As Executive Director, Samuel launched a Mobile Lab Initiative in 2016 to provide at-risk youth with an alternative to violence and crime through training in computer literacy and creative software applications, coding and app development, graphic and web design, music recording and production, and video production, camera operation, and video and special-effects editing.
In addition to his work at the center, Samuel served with the Rockford Police Department, where he was both a department conflict reduction trainer and chaplain. For his efforts and support to the Rockford community, Samuel has been awarded the 2016 Rockford “Group Innovative Award”, the 2015 “Jane Adams Peace Award” in recognition of his peacemaking efforts in Rockford, and the 2010 City of Rockford’s “Never Give up Award” presented by the mayor of Rockford.
From 2016 to 2018, Samuel served as a senior officer on the Leadership team of the 122,000 member Church of the Brethren. As 2017-2018 Moderator of the denomination, Samuel was its visionary leader and served on both its Mission and Ministry boards. Samuel also presided over the denomination’s Standing Committee and Annual Conference, advised its Executive Committee, and represented the denomination at strategic interchurch conferences. He also served member on the boards of six (6) U.S. universities affiliated with the denomination, and continues to advise the denomination as immediate past-moderator.
Samuel holds an earned doctorate degree in Semiotics and Future Studies from George Fox University, a Master of Divinity in Conflict Transformation from Bethany Theological Seminary, and an undergraduate in social work. He also holds the University of Rhode Island’s Level 2 Kingian Nonviolence Trainer Certification. Samuel, his wife and three daughters are proud to call Cape Town, South Africa home.