Bishop Troy Sawyers graduated from Lee University (Cleveland, TN) and is an ordained Bishop through the Church of God.  He has been the lead pastor at the Porterville Church of God for since 2021 and in ministry for over 20 years.  He is married to Dawn Renee Sawyers and together they have raised four amazing children!

Bishop Troy loves seeing people saved and giving their heart to Jesus and making him Lord of their lives.  He feels the best part about being a pastor is watching his congregation develop into Godly men and women.

Bishop Troy’s favorite scripture is James 1:27.

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

James 1:27 (KJV)

Bishop Sawyers answered God’s call on his life to begin his pastorate in 2015 when the family moved to Maricopa, Arizona. Again, the Lord called him to lead a congregation Payson, Arizona.  In 2021, the Lord made a way for the family to move to Porterville, California. As lead pastor, Bishop Troy has been able to lead the congregation to fulfill Jesus’ call of the great commission. He has a passion for reaching the lost within our city, our nation, and the world!

Sis. Dawn and Bishop Troy have been married for over 20 years and they have 4 children.  She currently serves alongside Pastor in fulfilling the vision God has given him for the church. In addition to that ministry, she serves as Children’s Director at Porterville Church of God. 

She has a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Christian Education. She also has her Chaplaincy license. Dawn was born and raised in the small town of Calhoun, GA.  In her free time she enjoys hiking and loves being in the outdoors. You may also find her crafting with their daughters or refurbishing furniture! 

As Children’s Director, Dawn enjoys reaching the younger generation by inspiring them to become the best version of whom God created them to be.

Her favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.”

Sis. Dawn encourages: “Trust is believing for the impossible; that God can move mightily even if we can’t physically see with our own natural eyes. Trusting is relying on God’s path and way instead of clinging to the pathway of our own decisions which could ultimately lead to destruction.”

Bishop Jeff Akin is a third generation Church of God minister.  He received his associate degree from West Coast Christian College in Fresno, California.  He earned a Bachelors of Art in Bible & Theology from Lee University (Cleveland, TN).  In 2000, he left Cleveland to join his father in ministry, Bishop Phil Akin, at PCOG. He became a member of the congregation that year.  Bishop Jeff started playing guitar at age 5 and playing in church services at 13.  He played with the New Vision Traveling Ensemble at West Coast Christian College while studying.  He also played with the Lee University Singers and traveled with the group around the world.  He has recorded 2 albums and is a published songwriter.

He was saved at age 4, filled with the Holy Ghost at 17 and has been preaching, teaching, playing and singing ever since.

The Word of God is his passion and he loves teaching and sharing the amazing truth of God’s Word.  He has been teaching our Wednesday night Bible study for over 12 consecutive years.  He also enjoys guest speaking at neighboring churches. Bishop Jeff loves the book of John; especially Chapter 1:1-14 and Chapter 14:1-3.  He is a student of Bible prophecy and loves teaching about Old Testament “types and shadows” that point to Christ. 

Two years after Bishop Jeff moved from Tennessee back to California, he married Shelbie and together they have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. Shelbie began attending the Porterville Church of God with her grandmother from a young age and has a plethora of memories of the history of the congregation, including the transition from the “Orange & E” location to the current campus. She now serves in a variety of ways including Administration, Women’s Ministry, and leads the Emergency and Safety Protocols Team.

“There are so many scriptures to turn to as a ‘favorite’ but I always go back to James 1:2-4,” Shelbie said. “Consider it pure joy when you face the various trials of life because the testing of your faith will produce perseverance…but let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Caine Sawyers is the Youth Leader for Transformed Youth along with his wife Rebecca. He is the son of Bishop Troy and Dawn Sawyers.  He was born and raised in Georgia. He also plays and sings on the PCOG worship team.  He has completed CAMS (Calling and Ministry Studies). 

Caine loves to worship through song and praise.  He loves to lead worship for the Youth Group and to teach them and break down the Word so that they can be strong in faith. 

His favorite scripture is Romans 12:2

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Together, Caine and Becca are answering God’s call on their lives to help build up a generation of young leaders within the city of Porterville!

Congregational Leaders