A faithful servant
We are very sad to announce that on Sunday 2nd April Warwick Goulding, our Shop Manager, was suddenly called home to be with his Lord.
As you can imagine, it has been a great shock to everyone connected with BCM, as Warwick had not been seriously ill with anything, and he was only sixty-three years of age.
Warwick had been a staff member at BCM for thirty-six years, spending most of his time managing our bookshop. Warwick completed BCM’s student course in 1984 and then went on to do some theological studies. He returned to join our staff in 1986 and initially worked as a City Missionary. He eventually relocated to our bookshop and did an excellent job of serving the city’s churches, in recent years being the main Christian bookshop in the city.
He will be missed by people far and wide as he spoke at churches across Birmingham and beyond. His ability to preach the Word of God in an engaging, clear manner and his gift of telling children’s stories, often skilfully taking on different Bible characters from the front, made him people’s favourite visiting speaker. His dramatic gifting came to the fore in our recent European City Missions’ Conference, where he performed a wonderful monologue of David Nasmith, the founder of City Missions world-wide.
Above all else, Warwick was a genuine, kind, loving and caring individual. He always had time for people and was interested in their lives. He became an ‘adopted’ uncle to many children and would often bring chocolate or leave a few pennies for the children of our staff when visiting them over the years.
It is an accolade to him as an individual and to his professionalism, that so many customers who frequented our shop in Kingstanding have been so upset when they heard the news. These are just a few of the many messages written about Warwick on our Facebook page:
He reached so many people and prayed for the community. Such a great man of God. You have run your race right into the arms of our Lord and Saviour.
I have fond memories of visiting the BCM bookshop and being served by Warwick. He always took time to talk to me, and was such a helpful and caring man.
Such a gentle gentleman. Will miss his Bible texts and words of encouragement.
He was a wonderful man, a really inspirational man of God.
Warwick was the loveliest man. Always loved his children’s talks as much as the children did. Very gifted. Well done, good and faithful servant.
