Background
Samantha (Levy) Bani grew up in Spokane, Washington on a dairy goat farm. As a teenager her interest turned to helping in the church. She would rather spend time helping at the church than hanging out with friends. This is when she knew her calling was to be in ministry one day.
When she finished high school, Sam got a degree in medical billing and spent the next few years working in that field until God called her to attend Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, OK, USA. She continued working as a medical billing specialist from home during her years at Rhema.
Rhema Years
Sam completed 3 years (’10, ’11, ’12) at Rhema Bible Training Center where she studied Pastoral ministry and World Missions. During these 3 years she volunteered at Rhema Bible Church and worked on staff for a year. During her first year at Rhema, Sam first learned about Uttermost Ministries and the country of Samoa.
Then during the final part her third year at Rhema she was required to go on a 5 week internsthip to a foreign country. It was there that she got her first glimpse of what God wanted her to do after Rhema.
Ministry Years
In January 2013 Sam moved to Apia, Western Samoa, where she completed a 1 year internship and then became part of the staff for Uttermost Ministries and Rhema South Pacific. The focus of her duties include helping run the stateside accounting office (remotely from Samoa), increase partners, and assist Pattie Duininck.
In 2014 she married her husband, Jim and traveled to Vanuatu for the first time. In 2015, they were asked to assist in starting an outpost school for Rhema South Pacific in Port Vila, Vanuatu. They spent much of 2015 getting everything ready and in 2016 they relocated to Vanuatu, along with their infant son, Elijah, to be the campus coordinators for Rhema Bible Training Center Vanuatu. Sam currently teaches full time and helps oversee the school in the mornings and takes care of their 2 children (Elijah and Elizabeth) in the afternoons.
Ministry Experience
~ Ordained minister with RMAI
~ Trained in Administrative/Accounting for large ministries
~ Instructor
~ Campus Coordinator
