After 43 years of devoted service, street evangelist Paul Olise has retired from Birmingham City Mission (BCM), which said he will be greatly missed by colleagues – and many across the city who have been impacted by his ministry.
Paul joined BCM in 1982 as an In-Service Trainee after Bible college. At a service marking his retirement, he wryly observed that he had originally intended only to stay for the year’s training but decided to remain longer to gain further experience in evangelism for future ministry!
From the outset, Paul demonstrated a strong passion for sharing the gospel through open-air evangelism and door-to-door visitation. He was subsequently appointed Evangelism Co-ordinator, serving with steadfast dedication to prayer, preaching, teaching and outreach.
Throughout his ministry, Paul encouraged staff and students to deepen their relationship with God, modelling a life grounded in prayer. His love for God and compassion for those who do not know Jesus have left a lasting impression on many. In retirement, he intends to continue preaching and teaching. Through his work, tens of thousands across Birmingham have heard the Christian message. Only eternity will reveal the full impact of his ministry: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
