Pastor Graham West was born and raised in a Christian family in Toowoomba, Queensland and was saved as a young child. After having completed his schooling through the state education system, he studied music at the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education (now the University of South Queensland). It was here that he met his wife Cathie. He graduated with a Diploma of Arts in Music in 1981 and obtained his Associate of Music on piano with the Australian Music Education Board in the same year.

After several years of piano teaching and working in the music industry, he believed the Lord was calling him to full-time ministry. For this reason, in 1989 he moved with his family to Sydney, where he studied first with New Tribes Mission, before transferring to Sydney Bible Baptist College, where he gained his Bachelor of Theology in 1993.

Pastor West has a heart for soul-winning, a desire both to “preach the word” “in season” and “out of season”, and to emphasise personal holiness in his preaching and teaching. His previous experience in music has also given him a special burden to warn against the ungodly influence of rock music, including Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). Pastor West regularly conducts seminars, both in Australia and overseas on this subject.

Pastor West and his wife have two adult children, James and Sally. The whole family is very much involved in both ministry and music at Tamworth Bible Baptist Church. James, along with his wife Gabby, directs the young people’s Friday night program, “Arrows”. Sally helps her father as part-time secretary and is also an Arrows leader, teaching Bible and helping with childrens’ music.

The West family began ministry at Tamworth Bible Baptist Church in its 12th year, 1995.