Bob Akin

Barb and I were both raised in the Placerville area where we also raised our daughter, two sons and now enjoy our eight grandchildren.  I was privileged to grow up on the family ranch established by my great-great grandfather in the 1850s and continue to reside and run the ranch.  After graduating from CSU Sacramento with an Engineering degree, I was commissioned an Officer in the Marine Corps and married my sweet Barb.  After five years in the military, we were called to serve in Papua New Guinea with Wycliffe Bible Translators for six years where I flew as a pilot flying bible translators into remote parts of the country. 
I was raised in a Catholic church and knew about God but it always seemed something was missing.  At thirteen, I turned away from God entirely and went my own way.  During college, outwardly it seemed that I had everything a young man could want but there was still something missing.  It was during Officer Candidate School where I heard the Word of God for the first time.
On a Sunday morning, the Chaplain spoke from Matthew 18 on forgiveness and the unlimited forgiveness offered to us through Christ.  This was my first glimpse of the gospel and of the power of Christ's atoning work on the cross.  On the way out the door, the Chaplain handed me a Gideon New Testament.  I began to read it every chance I got.  I began to see that the Word of God wasn't just some ancient book that only the Priest could read but that it was alive and active and applied to me today!  God soon gave me an eternal perspective and a new heart that desired to serve Him. Over the years I have been active in a number of areas of ministry including Awana, Junior and Senior High school, and Men’s ministries.  Barb and I believe that it was God’s kindness that led to us to Cool Community Church where we are loving the people God has connected us with here.  I believe that God has wonderful plans for Cool Community Church as he continues to conform us more and more into the image of Christ.