West was born and raised in Houston and attended college at the University of Texas at Austin. Almost immediately after becoming a Christian in his freshman year, West started volunteering in youth ministry and worked with youth for the remainder of his time in Austin. During his senior year, he met Mary Lowry and they married a year after graduation. West and Mary moved to Colorado shortly thereafter to attend Denver Theological Seminary. They made the move back to Texas after West received a call to be the Youth Pastor at First Evangelical Free Church in Austin. He worked for 4 ½ years at First Evangelical Free as the Youth Pastor and then moved to Mammoth Lakes, California, to be the Senior Pastor of Grace Community Church. West and Mary have three precious children: Will, Rebekah, and Annie Kate.