Serving the Next Generation: Samuel Baker Opiyo’s Story

Uncle Sam’s life is a remarkable story of perseverance, faith, and dedication to service. Currently serving as the assistant site manager at our Koro site, Samuel has been a vital part of the Hope Alive! staff since 2014, but he first began serving as a mentor in 2007. In January 2026, he will take on a new role as site manager for our soon-to-launch site in Koch Lii—a responsibility he embraces with humility and hope.

Samuel was raised in a large extended family by his mother and grandmother; his father passed away when he was young. His childhood home was often full, with more than a dozen family members living under one roof. Everyone shared what little they had, and Sam learned the values of hard work, generosity, and community from an early age. “We didn’t have much,” he recalls, “but we had each other.”

His grandmother, now 92, was a constant presence, gathering the children around the fire each evening to share wisdom, stories, and lessons on discipline and integrity. These daily moments shaped Sam’s character and fueled his desire to live a life of purpose.

Though his mother had only a primary-level education and his family struggled financially, Sam pressed on—farming in the mornings and evenings to support his schooling. During secondary school, he lived alone in a grass-thatched hut in Gulu City, determined to stay in school despite the hardships. “The journey to education was a miracle!” he says. “But God was with me.”

Farming has remained a central part of Sam’s life. He and his family live on 8 acres of land and grow maize (corn), groundnuts (peanuts), beans, and vegetables. “Farming is part of me,” he says. “It’s how I was raised, and it’s how I continue to provide.” Even with unpredictable weather and difficult seasons, Sam sees farming as a gift from God. It sustains his family, supplements his income, and offers an opportunity to teach his children resilience and stewardship. “I’ve faced challenges in the field,” he says, “but God has given me the grace and courage to keep going.”

Sam became a Christian in 1998 through his school’s Scripture Union (a club promoting Bible study and Christian values), and that decision changed the trajectory of his life. “When I was almost losing hope, I went to church and heard the Word of God,” he says. “It gave me the strength to persevere. It was a good reminder that I’m not the only one going through challenges, and some people were going through challenges worse than mine.”

Before joining Hope Alive!, Sam worked with several NGOs and always found himself drawn to children’s ministry. Whether mentoring teens, supporting child sponsorship programs, or using art to fund clean water projects, his work has always centered on giving children a better future. “When I serve children,” he says, “I’m serving the nation. I’m serving the future generation.”

Sam met his wife while he was teaching and she was working as a tailor. Today, they are raising five children together. Kica (Mercy) Jonathan, Ogenrwot Amos, who joined their family after the passing of his father (Sam’s cousin), and Omorwot Joshua Brgs are in secondary school, Gen Jordan is in 4th grade, and their youngest and only daughter, Laker Ruth Catharine, is just three months old.

His household also includes his grandmother and mother, continuing the tradition of multigenerational care and support. Extended family is not just part of Sam’s story; it’s at the heart of who he is.

He is intentional in raising his children to be grounded, responsible, and hardworking. “Everyone has a role,” he says. “We share the load according to age and ability.” Whether it’s tending the garden, doing house chores, or welcoming guests, every child is involved. Sam also wants his children to develop their own sense of purpose and contribution. “Planning everything for them can be a disability,” he says. “We let them choose how they want to help so they can become who God has created them to be.” At the core of it all is a desire to shape children of character—those who know the value of work, the strength of community, and the hope found in Christ.

As he prepares to lead the new site in Koch Lii, Sam reflects on the challenges he’s overcome and the calling he feels to serve. Years ago, the community at Koch Lii was skeptical of outsiders, but through prayer and persistence, relationships have grown. Today, when they hear about Hope Alive!, people come running. As he steps into this next chapter, Sam does so not in his own strength, but with deep dependence on the Lord.

“I don’t feel highly qualified,” Sam admits. “But I know God wants to use me. I am ready to go and do the work—together with others, trusting in God’s grace.” 

We are so grateful to get to work alongside Uncle Sam and learn from his wisdom and humility.