By B.C. Manion
David West resigned his post as executive director of the Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce on Friday.
West said he left the job because he plans to launch a new church called the Wesley Chapel Church of Christ that will begin meeting on Jan. 23. The congregation will meet at Lil Campers Academy at 30126 SR 56 near Curley Road.
“I had a great experience at the chamber,” West said, noting it increased membership by 200 during his year at the helm.
However, he added, that he and the chamber mutually decided “that it was better if I were going to the church that I probably shouldn’t do the chamber.”
West said he expects the church to begin with about 35 to 40 members and will likely grow quickly to around 50 to 60.
In addition to his role at the chamber, he also was at the Dade City Church of Christ for 15 years before he resigned from that post on Jan. 1, West said.
Laura Miller, president of the Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce said the chamber appreciates the great work that West did. “He’s a great guy. There are no bad feelings.”
The demands of the chamber and launching a new church would be too much for anyone, Miller said. She said she has put a team together to work on selecting a new executive director, but said the chamber is operating smoothly and will take its time in choosing West’s replacement.
Before becoming the chamber’s executive director, West was on the board of directors at the Dade City, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills chambers of commerce.
His work in the ministry began when he was quite young. He said he delivered his first sermon when he was 19.
He received his bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies at Florida College in Temple Terrace. His previous jobs include working for the Pasco News, The Tampa Tribune and as a contract employee for the Pasco County health department.
Those wishing to find out more about the new church should go to Church of Christ at Wesley Chapel on facebook, West said.
