Joy is Possible Even in the Hard Things
The Unseen Work: Creating A Life That Can Handle The Hard Stuff
Meet Will
AUTHOR OF "NO ELEVATOR TO EVEREST"
Will Acuff is the co-founder of Corner to Corner, a nonprofit based in Nashville that equips underestimated entrepreneurs with the tools and support they need to launch and grow their own businesses. What began as a small neighborhood effort has grown into a movement, creating real economic impact by putting $37 million back into the neighborhood economy in 2024 alone.
He’s also the author of No Elevator to Everest, a book that is a story of Will’s spiritual awakening that has led to a daily life of tremendous joy. In it, Will brings a message of hope grounded in discipline, practical wisdom, and deep community connection that allowed him to walk through extremely difficult circumstances while growing his innovative nonprofit and raising a son with multiple disabilities. His practical steps guide people on a journey toward self-awareness and deep connection with God to have a more authentic and joyful faith.
Real change doesn’t come from quick fixes.
It comes from daily faithfulness, long-term vision, and a deep belief in people’s potential. That’s the work Will Acuff has been doing since 2007.
Topics & Themes
As a speaker, Will is equally at home amongst business leaders, in church sanctuaries and nonprofit gatherings. He speaks with clarity and conviction, weaving stories, strategy, and soul. His talks leave people with more than just inspiration, they walk away with perspective, next steps, and a renewed sense of purpose.
If your audience is made up of leaders, servants, or everyday people longing to make a difference, Will will meet them right where they are and gently point them toward what’s possible.
Is Joy Possible In The Midst of Suffering?
Will speaks to weary leaders and high-capacity believers who are still showing up—but secretly running on empty. In his talk, No Elevator to Everest, he offers a practical and Spirit-led roadmap for building daily rhythms that restore joy, renew purpose, and carry us through even the hardest climbs.
Equity, entrepreneurship, and the future of nonprofit work
What if poverty isn’t just about income—but about agency, dignity, and ownership? In this talk, Will Acuff maps a new pathway from survival to flourishing by unlocking entrepreneurship and equity as core strategies for community transformation.
How to Truly Welcome Every Family
Every family is made in the image of God—and churches have a beautiful opportunity to reflect that more fully. In How to Truly Welcome Every Family, Will Acuff offers an inspiring and practical roadmap for embracing neurodiverse families with love, creativity, and lasting support—so that church becomes not just accessible, but life-giving for every member of the Body.
Faith and Economic Opportunity: How the Church Can End Poverty
The Church isn’t just called to meet needs—it’s called to unlock potential. In Faith and Economic Opportunity, Will Acuff casts a compelling vision for how churches can end poverty in their communities by activating business leaders, building ownership-driven programs, and extending love through the dignity of opportunity.
Gentleness In An Age of Outrage
In an age of outrage, Jesus invites us to a different way — where gentleness isn’t weakness, but Spirit-filled strength. This message explores how gentleness, far from being passive, is the radical posture of love that heals hearts, confronts injustice, and changes the world one relationship at a time.
Every time I hear Will speak, I walk away energized and inspired. Will sparks my imagination for what a better world looks like and offers hope that we can get there. His message is big and bold—I love it.
Jason Locy
There are inspiring Christian speakers, there are amazing ministry leaders, and there are visionary thinkers on how to address the problem of poverty. Will Acuff is that rarest of leaders who embodies all three and speaks with eloquence, compassion, and brilliance. He offers a clear vision of what needs to be done and how to do it, plus stories that show us the impact our lives can have if we choose to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Todd Lake
Will brings an inspiring blend of humor, energy, and heart to our stage, truly moving our congregation and sparking remarkable life changes.
Chip Measells
I’ve heard Will Acuff speak three times, and each time the audience was completely locked in. Will has that rare ability to tell compelling stories with authority — stories that are not only relatable but deeply practical. He connects instantly, inspires authentically, and most importantly, equips people to take action. In a world overwhelmed with information but starving for application, Will cuts through the noise. If you bring him in to speak, people will remember what he says — and they’ll walk away with real steps they can take. He’s a powerful communicator for any audience looking to grow, get better, and make a deeper impact.
Cal Walters
If the church in her local expression is to be a small-working-model of the New Creation, having Will Acuff speak and teach your people will not only help them catch a vision of that New Creation, but learn how to embody it in their life and their city as well.
Elliott Cherry
God has blessed Will with the unique ability to teach others both the practical and profound…Will’s thoughtful frameworks and spiritual exercises bring to life a model of engaging with the spirit that is deeply rooted in God’s word.
Greg Baumer
Will has profound discernment in how to find hope and develop perseverance, and he is a sage guide in creating healthy rhythms and implementing them in an anxious and overwhelming society. I believe his voice is a steady source of wisdom and encouragement that is desperately needed in our world today.
Hillary Scott
Will Acuff is a deep-water soul, a wisdom well, who draws daily from the riches of Christ to pour out life giving water to all his neighbors and friends. His lived out faith has been a deep source of encouragement to me and to our entire city.
Ellie Holcomb
My brother has that kind of faith that stays joyful even in the midst of pain. Will takes what he has learned, blends it with contemplative Christianity, and makes it practical.
Jon Acuff
Will is a deep and winsome guide on the journey toward a renewed faith in the midst of time and tears.
Katherine & Jay Wolf
PARTNERS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Stories & Perspectives
