How I Got Here: Reverend Dez Johnston

Life before Christ

I have always been a hard worker and for most of my adult life held down two jobs. Largely to fund my cocaine addiction. I worked in retail management by day and as a bouncer by night.

I was a store manager of a multi-million pound surf and skate store by the time I was 23 on one of the busiest shopping streets in the world. While also being the head doorman of Glasgow’s newest VIP club.

My life was a strange mix of folding tee-shirts and fighting. This violence drove me to take more drink and drugs to feel okay again.

It was a vicious circle and I lost my way. One night, when it had all become too much, I found myself alone and I overdosed.

I shouted out a prayer. I did not want to die.

Finding religion

I woke up the next day and never touched cocaine again. In my self-obsessed nature I just put this down to my own strength. But something was different.

I kept meeting Christians, which in my line of work was quite weird in itself. There was one woman, Fiona, who was on the staff at the store I worked in during the day. She mentioned that she was a Christian and it really interested me. I mercilessly tortured her with questions.

Instead of getting annoyed, she bought me a Bible and suggested I tried reading it. I started to like her and asked her on a few dates which she persistently said no to.

Fiona lived out her faith according to this book, and I figured that somewhere inside it I could find an argument for us to date. As I read it, I began to realise that God had been moving in my life: through overcoming my cocaine habit, the people I had met and the Bible.

Faith in young people

I started to volunteer for the church. While volunteering I was asked to help at a youth drop-in centre in an area of mass deprivation. It was here I got my first taste of youth work and realised that I could help some of these guys not make the same mistakes I had. Many had very difficult backgrounds and needed to be loved and I could do that.

I began to work across Glasgow and further afield and ended up going on to study theology after marrying Fiona.

After becoming an ordained Baptist minister, I went on to join Alpha Scotland as their youth co-ordinator, before becoming director in 2018 where today I serve and support churches across the country.

I was recently appointed as Europe, Middle East and North Africa youth director for Alpha.

Becoming president

In September, I was announced as president of the Boys Brigade UK and Republic of Ireland.

More importantly, I’m excited about being part of the Brigade’s work to advance Christ’s kingdom and of supporting their vision of young people experiencing life to the full.

In my role as president, I am excited about driving forward our mission, vision and values for a new generation while always remembering what has come before. I am also passionate to share the stories of some of the amazing young people that are part of our family and see them take over from us.

The last 13 years have been a rollercoaster that I wouldn’t have changed for the world. Every experience that I have had is testament to the transforming power of God in people’s lives today.

TOP THREE CAREER TIPS

1. Always be yourself – there is only one of you and that is who God wants

2. Play to your strengths – building a team that compliments your weak areas will let you flourish in your strengths

3. Make failure a friend – everything we do is a chance to learn a lesson for another time