Pastors’ Profiles

Alistair Purss

Alistair and Sharon have three boys, Ryan (18), Kieran (15) and Aidan (12). All three boys attend St Joseph’s College in Dumfries and despite being three Englishmen they don’t seem to mind living North of the border! Although they are actually living further South than they did when they lived in the North East of England…work that one out!

Alistair’s interests include ball sports (particularly golf…played badly!) and reading. He also has some addictions which include tray bakes, walkers baked salt ‘n’ vinegar crisps, Somerset brie and chocolate biscuits straight from the fridge!  Sharon’s interests include gardening, flower arranging and reading. Unlike Alistair… Sharon suffers from none of the above addictions apart from the Somerset brie! They enjoy days out together (without the children!), coffee’s, lunches and meals out at their favourite coffee shops and restaurants and quality time spent with good friends over a meal at home!

 

Marcus became the Associate Pastor (Youth) at Dumfries Baptist Church in October 2007. Marcus grew up in Portishead, in Somerset and moved to Leicester after his A levels, where he completed a HND in Sport Science, and then spent 6 years working with young autistic adults with challenging behaviour and learning disabilities, he then spent 2 years instructing outdoor activities and team development training.  In 2003 Marcus and his wife Liz moved up to Dumfries and Galloway to instruct Outdoor Activities at Barcaple Christian Outdoor Centre and Liz started working for Public Health in Dumfries. Marcus returned to team development training in 2004 before working full-time for the council’s Outdoor Activities Service in the region.

Marcus became a follower of Jesus in Feb 1997 and has been involved in children’s and youth ministry since then, running and organising many different programmes and outreach with his involvement at Quorn and Mountsorrel Baptist Churches in Leicestershire and previously at Galloway Christian Centre in Dalbeattie.

Marcus and Liz have two children - Aaron and Grace. Marcus enjoys running, white water kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing and anything where he can play outside in God’s brilliant creation when he finds the time.

Marcus Scotney

For more information on any of the Youth events please email marcus@dbcyouth.org.uk or check out the youth website www.dbcyouth.org.uk

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From 1988-91 Alistair studied at the Bible Training Institute in Glasgow (now the International Christian College). It was during his time at BTI that he met Sharon. Sharon spent a year of study at ‘Capernwray Hall’ and a year on staff at the Compass Christian Centre in Perthshire before coming to study at BTI in 1989. Alistair and Sharon were married on 23^rd June 1990. They graduated together from the BTI in June 1991 and shortly afterwards moved to Enfield in North London.

Since 1991 Alistair has served as the Pastor of Brigadier Free Church, Enfield (1991-1995); Sawyers Church, Brentwood (1995-2005) and Senior Pastor of Bethany Christian Centre, Houghton-le-Spring (2005-2010). In November 2010 Alistair was ordained as a Baptist Minister and inducted as Senior Pastor of Dumfries Baptist Church.

Alistair was born and brought up in Irvine, Ayrshire.  After leaving School he studied at the GLO (Gospel Literature Outreach) Centre in Motherwell. The one year ‘Training for Service’ Course at the GLO Centre led on to spending a year working alongside the Youth Pastor at his home church in Ayr (Riverside Evangelical Church) and also spending time serving in a number of churches throughout the UK, gaining experience in Christian Service.

Alistair and Sharon love serving God in the local church and are committed to seeing Dumfries Baptist Church follow the pattern of the first church recorded in Acts 2:42-47.

All dressed up for a family wedding - they scrub up quite well really!