Dakoda Whaley

My name is Dakoda Whaley, and it is the greatest honor of my life to serve the students of Samples Memorial Baptist Church. I have a deep passion for God’s Word and for people. I believe the Bible is living and active, and it has the power to transform lives when it’s taught clearly and faithfully. I love teaching Scripture to every generation, but I feel especially called to invest in middle and high school students during such a formative season of their lives.

My heart is to create an atmosphere where students don’t just hear about God, but truly encounter Him. Through Scripture and discipleship, I want them to move beyond surface-level faith and step into a real, personal relationship with Jesus. My desire is to help students grow deeper in their understanding of God’s Word and stronger in their walk with Christ as they learn to follow Him in everyday life.

In my spare time, I enjoy things like reading, golfing, finding any excuse to jump off something into a large body of water, and making late-night Taco Bell runs. I love building real relationships and creating spaces where students feel known, challenged, and encouraged to follow Jesus with their whole lives.