First United Methodist Welcomes New Associate Pastor

First United Methodist Church of Brandon is welcoming a new associate pastor in charge of Hispanic ministries. 

The Rev. Roberto Chaple has joined the church leadership, coming from Sun City Center United Methodist Church. 

Chaple has a bachelor of arts and master's degree in English with a concentration in English education.  

He was a school teacher and served as a lay leader of the Cuban Methodist Church until he felt the call to ministry and attended the seminary.  

Chaple helped to create the Methodist Evangelical Seminary in Cuba, an institution that has continued to thrive, graduating pastors and lay leaders in spite of the adverse Cuban political environment. 

In 2010, Chaple and his family moved to Mexico where he served at a Methodist school in Chihuahua and did ministry in several congregations in the area. 

In the fall of 2011, he and his family came to the United States and began serving in the Florida Conference in February 2012 at a Hispanic Congregation in West Palm Beach.  Four months later, the bishop appointed him to Sun City Center UMC where he served as associate pastor until his current assignment at First UMC Brandon.  

“We are grateful for all that God will accomplish for His Kingdom through this new partnership with our Hispanic congregation," said the Rev. Jamie Westlake, senior pastor, adding that he will lead the church in becoming "one church in two languages."

Chaple is married to Yamiley, and the couple has twin 17-year-old sons, David and Daniel.

First United Methodist Church of Brandon is located at 121 N. Knights Ave. Call the church office at 813-689-4161 for more details or visit www.fumcbrandon.org.