'A gifted and completely dedicated young man'

A church and college community is mourning the loss of youth worker and staff member Rick Cole, who died on 31 January.

Rick, 24, was a part-time Children, Youth and Family Worker at Rosebery Park Baptist Church, Bournemouth and part-time staff member at Moorlands College.

In a statement the church said: 'On Saturday 31 January 2015 Rick Cole was suddenly called to glory by the Lord, after a short illness.

'Please pray for his widow, Helen, parents David and Kathy and sister Anna from Macclesfield, and her parents Mike and Anne Crick and her brother Stuart from Tamworth, and for his many friends as well.

'Both Moorlands College staff and students, and the church and community at Boscombe are mourning the loss of a gifted, well-loved and completely dedicated young man.

'To quote from the sermon on Sunday morning, "Rick had also made relationships with the local youth service providers, seeking to develop a drop in youth work for the young people of Pokesdown.

"He had made relationships with the local schools, Pokesdown CPS especially where he took regular assemblies, and also Kings Park.  He had become a firm favourite in many local families for his desire to provide holiday clubs in every half term and school break possible, not to mention his work with Tweens and Sunday’s Cool, and as cook and host for the Fellowship Group meeting at their home in Burton, as well as the men’s breakfast. 
 

Tragically, Rick Cole, a graduate & valued member of staff died suddenly this morning. Please pray for his wife Helen, his family & friends.

— Moorlands (@MoorlandsCTT) January 31, 2015

"Rick was first and foremost a child of God and a follower of Jesus Christ, one who took his faith seriously, who heard and obeyed God’s call to train for full-time Christian work, so that others might know the Saviour he loved!"