Bill Akers, 39, brings a compassionate perspective to his new pastorate at Wauhatchie United Methodist Church.
Akers said he was diagnosed with a stage three malignant brain tumor the size of a fist in 1999. After traveling to Houston, Texas, for an eight-hour surgery and coming back to Knoxville, Tenn., for radiation treatments, his angioplastic astrocytoma was on the mend.
“I only missed two weekends of preaching,” said Akers. “The following week I started preaching again and never stopped by the grace of God. Your brain has one location on the left for your speech, but my brain created other parts for me to continue speaking.”
The Rev. Bill Akers sits at his new post at Wauhatchie United Methodist Church.
Akers said he met the love of his life in 1987 at Hiwassee College, his wife Angela Duncan Akers. The pair has a black Labrador retriever named Dakota.
Now serving at Wauhatchie UMC, Akers said they are happy to be in their new home.
Wauhatchie UMC members welcomed them by painting the rooms in the parsonage vibrant, happy colors. Members also welcomed the Akers with a meal and fellowship.
According to Akers, in the Holston Conference newly appointed pastors begin their new terms the last week of June as a rule.
“Methodist pastors are appointed for one year,” Akers said. “Our bishop, James E. Swanson Jr., likes longer stays so I will be here for awhile and I’m loving it.”
Akers said that Wauhatchie UMC requested a young, energetic, exciting pastor.
“I’m well-known for being an evangelical pastor, teacher and leader,” said Akers. “I very much believe in lay ministry. It is about serving the almighty.”
Akers said his first sermon at Wauhatchie titled “We Were, We Are,” talks about who someone is before and after they meet Christ. It is taken from Ephesians chapter 2:11-14.
“Next I will talk about going after the last, the least and the lost,” said Akers. “It is truly what the church is about. We will go into the community.”
Wauhatchie UMC, at 3401 Cummings Highway, hosts Sunday contemporary service at 9 a.m., Sunday school at 10 a.m. and traditional worship at 11 a.m. The church can be reached at 423-825-5766.
