THEY say that God works in mysterious ways, well they certainly have done for one newly ordained Dunfermline minister.

Former London nightclub owner Rev Mike Weaver has swapped his previous life of late nights and loud music to lead the congregation of the Gillespie Memorial Church.

The 49-year-old, who used to co-own Los Locos, a venue which prides itself on being Covent Garden’s longest happy hour bar, said he was following his true calling at last.

He's not the first person to have left a job in the music world for God, former Communards singer Richard Coles followed a similar path and became a Church of England minister.

Mr Weaver started on his own journey in 2000 when he became a Christian but resisted his call to ministry for 10 years.

After leaving the nightclub business in 2008, the minister – who is married to Emma and has three children, Alex, Max and Abi – ran a hotel in East Lothian for six months and worked for a courier company before enrolling at New College in Edinburgh to study divinity in 2012.

Since graduating in 2015, Mr Weaver has completed placements at Abbey Church in North Berwick linked with Direlton, Belhaven Church in Dunbar linked with Spott, all in East Lothian, and St. John’s and King’s Park Church in Dalkeith, Midlothian.

“I love being able to share the Good News and proclaiming Christ as Lord and Saviour," he said. “I know through personal experience that life without a personal relationship through Christ is a life less fulfilled.

“Ministering in the city centre of Dunfermline brings many opportunities to share faith not only with our congregation, but with the many organisations that use our buildings and the wide range of folk who come into town.”

Asked what led him to swap the world of nightclubs and hospitality for the pulpit, Mr Weaver said: “My twenties saw me with little time for church, instead concentrating on the world of work, sport, motorbikes and life in general.

“Over time, I fell out of love with the nightclub business.

“The late nights, the drunks and all that goes with it made me realise that the industry was not one I felt comfortable working in so I left.

“God had been working in my life since an Alpha course in 2000, after which I slowly sensed a calling into ministry. I strenuously sought to resist the call, and managed to do so for almost about a decade but the lightning bolt or realisation that God was calling me into full-time ministry struck one Sunday service at Dunbar Parish Church, only 10-months after moving to Scotland.

“My family, who live in Shropshire where I grew up, were a little surprised but very supportive and it was great to have my parents and sister come up for my ordination in September.”

Mr Weaver, who has a passion for music, travel and has carried out hospital chaplaincy work at the Western Infirmary in Edinburgh, said all of his life experiences had equipped him for ministry in one way or another.

"I am sure my business background will be useful in vision, change and development of our ministry in Dunfermline,” he added.

“Also coping with personal loss, as well as betrayal which personally led to a long period of anger before forgiveness came in, have all given me a perspective that life is never easy.

“But I know that with Christ all things are possible – a new life each and every day.”

Mr Weaver, who was raised in the Methodist Church and has lived in the south of France and Australia, said his ambition was to lead a congregation in “faithful obedience” to the Gospel and making Jesus known to more people.

“We already do that in practical mission through a number of projects but we will seek to expand these, while utilising our buildings to their maximum for the community,” he added.