SENIOR PASTOR Rev. Dave Wickins Dave became the Senior Pastor of Akron First United Methodist Church in October of 2011. He was ordained Elder of the former Western New York, now Upper New York Conference, in 2008. He received his Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Early Child Development from the University of Buffalo in 1991 and his Master of Divinity degree from United Theological Seminary in 2000. He and his wife, Lisa, were married June 29, 1991 in Williamsville, NY. Their daughter, Nicole, is 17 and a senior in high school. Their son, Joshua, is almost 15 and is a freshman. In 1994, Dave began ministry by serving the County Line and Quaker Road United Methodist churches for seven years. He also briefly served as an Associate at St. Paul's UMC in Niagara Falls where he worked with the youth. In 2001, he continued to pastor the County Line church while also serving as an associate working with youth for the Emmanuel UMC in Lockport, NY. From 2002 until 2007, he became the pastor for the Fillmore and Hume United Methodist churches, where the two churches became one, becoming Friends in Christ UMC. In 2007, he became the pastor of the Clymer and North Clymer United Methodist churches where he watched the churches thrive until the Lord would bring him to Akron First United Methodist Church. Before Dave went into ministry, he served as District Executive and later, Senior District Executive, for the Greater Niagara Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America; serving both Niagara and Erie Counties. Dave enjoys spending time with family, fishing, golfing, camping, canoeing, and music; playing the trumpet and baritone horn. His passion in life is to share the love of Jesus with others; building relationships with others and the Lord. He is excited and eager to see what God has done, is doing, and will do in the Akron community and Akron First United Methodist Church as he joins them in their journey of life and faith. E-mail Pastor Dave here.   PASTORAL CARE COORDINATOR Rev. Dave Weidman Dave joined the staff in July of 2008 as the Coordinator of Pastoral Care. Having been a graduate of Houghton College in 1971, he received his Master of Divinity degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School in 1979 and has served as an American Baptist pastor for the past 31 years. Currently he is serving the First Baptist Church of LeRoy, NY as its half-time appointed pastor. Dave’s duties at Akron FUMC are a quarter-time position with the goal of assisting Pastor Keith and the Ministry Care Team in providing pastoral care for those who are home-bound and/or in the hospital. Before coming on board at the Akron First United Methodist Church, Pastor Dave served the yoked pastorate of the First Christian/Lewiston Baptist Churches in Niagara Falls for seven and a half years, the Gaines-Carlton Community Baptist Church of Albion for thirteen and a half years, and the First Baptist Church of Akron for seven years, as well as the supply pastor of the Jeddo Community Baptist Chapel north of Middleport for nine years. For those who might be wondering what his connection to the United Methodist Church might be, Dave is married to Carol L. Weidman, the Lay Leader at Akron FUMC, and was the husband of the late Rev. Linda S. Weidman, a United Methodist pastor for twelve years before her death in 1991. Having been born and raised in Akron, he has also been a lifelong friend of many folks at the Akron First United Methodist Church, where he became a member in July, 2007. Dave enjoys collecting (and winding!!!!) Antique clocks, Pepsi, Oreos, yard keeping, and visiting Amish friends in Holmes County, Ohio whenever the schedule allows. He is very excited about being able to serve Christ and his church family at Akron FUMC in this way. E-mail Pastor Dave here.   MINISTRY COORDINATOR Michael Kinsey Michael joined the staff in December of 2010. He has been married to his wife Jennifer since July 2003 and they have two young children together, James and Brian. He attended Roberts Wesleyan College and graduated in December 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Religion-Philosophy, and Humanities. He was raised in the United Methodist tradition, and his wife in the Church of God. They have attended several different churches while married but came back to the United Methodist Church out of love for its people, and its sense of tradition. Michael specifically appreciates the liturgy contained in the Book of Worship. This is Michael’s first staff position in a church. He is excited to help bring the exciting news of God’s love to people young, and old, and relishes each and every opportunity to show the love that God has first shown to him. He wants his ministry to reflect Isaiah 58. Look it up! Michael enjoys the outdoors, and fabricating his own hunting and fishing equipment. He loves languages and speaks English and Spanish, though his Spanish is not as well-oiled as he would prefer. Email Michael here.   OFFICE MANAGER Anita Giles Anita began serving with us in October of 1994. She is also the Office Manager at the Oakfield United Methodist Church on Wednesday. Anita lives in Oakfield, New York with her husband, Dennis and their son, David. E-mail Anita here. CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP LEADER COMING SOON!   ORGANIST Jean Wilson Jean has been serving as our organist since September of 2009. She and her husband Don live in Akron. Email Jean here.   NURSERY ATTENDANT Judy Gilbert Judy joined the staff in December of 2010. She and her husband Keith live in Alabama, NY. She has been caring for children for many years and brings a warm loving presence to the nursery.   CUSTODIANS Barb Cummings Barb’s been keeping the church building clean since 2008. She lives here in Akron and if you’re lucky you may hear her beautiful voice singing praises as she goes about her work. Hazel Kellner Hazel began cleaning in the summer of 2010 and lives here in Akron.