Azalea Hills Christian Church welcomes the Rev. Gary West as its new senior minister, serving in a part-time capacity. Retiring from full-time pastoral ministry in late November of 2020 that spanned forty years, Rev. West and his wife, Linda, moved from central Florida to Atmore, Alabama to be closer to Linda’s family.
Rev. West has held pastorates in Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, and now Alabama. While serving First Christian Church in Haines City, Florida, he was elected to serve a term as regional Moderator for the Florida Disciples Regional Church. He had previously served a term as regional Moderator for the Alabama-Northwest Florida region when he served as senior minister at First Christian Church in Pensacola, Florida.
Rev. West earned his Master of Divinity degree from Lexington Theological Seminary. He has extensive training in grief studies and bereavement counseling through the Center for Loss and Life Transition in Fort Collins, Colorado. He is also a graduate of Advanced Church Leadership sponsored by Beeson Institute.
Moving to Alabama brings Gary and Linda closer to their three children and six grandchildren who live in Tennessee and Kentucky.