A former Glasgow nightclub bouncer has been elected new President of the Boys’ Brigade UK and RoI.

Dez Johnston, an ordained Baptist minister and the Director of Alpha Scotland, said he was ‘excited about being part of the BB’s work to advance Christ’s kingdom and of supporting their vision of young people experiencing life to the full’.

Before becoming a Christian, Dez worked as a bouncer in Glasgow – the city where the Boys’ Brigade began in 1883. He experienced drug and alcohol problems before meeting his future wife Fiona, who challenged his ideas of faith. This led to him reading the Bible and going along to church and subsequently an Alpha Course. After becoming an ordained minister, he went on to join Alpha Scotland as their youth co-ordinator, before becoming director in 2018. He was also recently appointed as Europe, Middle East and North Africa Youth Director for Alpha.

Dez, who succeeds Lord Leslie Griffiths as President, said: “It’s amazing to be joining the BB family as President. I’ve been working together with the BB over the last three years and have loved being involved and seeing for myself the work that is going on. I know I might not look like a President, but then again what does a President look like?”