Staff Highlight: Samson Tang

By: Sydney Morgan, Office Manager

Samson is the most recent addition to the pastoral staff here at Grace Community Church. He has come on staff as the Associate Cornerstone Pastor, working alongside Jeff Joens, who is the Associate College Pastor.

Samson was born in Malaysia, to his parents and overseas workers, Tom and Karen Tang. When he was six years old, he, his brother, and parents moved from Malaysia to Arlington so his dad could attend Dallas Theological Seminary. Their plans to move back to Malaysia to continue their ministry changed upon the arrival of a baby sister!

While their family grew, Samson’s dad pastored a Chinese Bible Church in Arlington, where Samson was the pastor’s kid. Samson says, “when you’re a pastor’s kid, it feels like home, there is a sense of ownership of that place.” This feeling is one that he imagines his three children may experience now that he is a pastor!

Arlington High School was where Samson met his future wife, Jodi, who was his friend’s sister. “He used to introduce me to people as “my future brother-in-law”, so that’s how I knew it was a done deal.” After graduating from Arlington High, Samson attended the University of Texas at Arlington, and on his first day, met Caleb Beacham. They became fast friends, and quickly became like family to the Beachams, regularly eating meals and hanging out at the Beacham house.

Later down the line, Samson and Jodi married and continued to serve at GCC until they were called to serve in China as overseas workers. With their three sweet kids in tow, they battled the COVID-19 pandemic in China, where the restrictions were unbearable.

The Lord brought them back to the States to replant in a healthier environment. Their family, having arrived near Christmas, was showered with gifts by the GCC Middle School and High School ministries. They were not just welcomed home, they were welcome home—we were happy to have them back.

As we looked ahead at the Cornerstone/College ministry, Samson shared his heart and vision for what the future holds. He wants to see the college-aged students really take ownership of their lives, their callings, their gifts, and use them for the Kingdom. He wants to see more relationships between younger and older people to bridge the gap of wisdom and experience that young people often face, more outreach on the UTA campus, meals shared together, more diversity in the community, and ultimately more of the Holy Spirit’s work in the lives of our young people.

With his life experience and faith in the Lord, Samson brings a fresh perspective to our College ministry. We are excited to see how the Lord will work in and through his ministry.