The 35-year-old made the unusual transition from hairdressing into religion when he was 25 but it was a dream he held much earlier.

Mr Bovis explained that he first dreamt of a life in the church when he was a teenager but going straight from school into the role of Deacon was not going to happen.

“I really became a Christian when I was 14 and went to a youth group so that’s when it really clicked. It has been a 20 year thing for me but the timing is right,” he said.

“It was always what I was aiming to do but while I was young and needed more experiences I decided to become a hairdresser.”

For many it may seem like there is a great divide in the two professions but Mr Bovis said in some ways it was the total opposite.

“A lot of people ask how I could go from one to the other but they are quite similar,” he said.

“Most people go into the hairdressers wanting a chat as well as a hair cut. Often when you are a Deacon it is the same thing and people just need someone to talk to.”

The past 20 years were spent gaining the life experience needed to take on the role and none has been more influential than meeting his wife Mel and becoming a father to Jordan, 9, Natalie, 8, Sanara, 6 and Hannah, 3.

Over the time he has coordinated prayer groups, bible studies and as a couple, he and his wife prepared couples for marriage with a pre-wedding course.

His formal education came at the Sydney Missionary and Bible College (SMBC) where he completed a three year bachelor of theology.

The Bovis family are a relatively new addition to the Muswellbrook community having only moved to town a month ago but they have already made their

presence felt.

Mr Bovis conducts afternoon and evening service at the Muswellbrook Anglican Church and will continue to be heavily involved now he has been ordained.

An additional part of his role as Deacon is being the chaplain at Scone Grammar School. This is a position he is very passionate about valuing the interaction with youth.

“I have always loved working with teenagers and because I became more involved in religion as a teenager I can understand where they are at,” he said.

He said very little will change in day to day life now he has been ordained but was happy that the time had finally arrived.

“I have been full time for years but it is different now because I have more people to speak to,” he said.

“It’s more of a vocation than a career but you have got to mean it to be able to be in the role.”