Brian Leslie Bounds

Brian Leslie Bounds of Concord, NC, entered Heaven’s gates on Thursday, February 25th, 2016 at Tucker Hospice House after a brief illness.
A Celebration of Life for Mr. Bounds will be held Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at 11:00 am at Plaza Baptist Church, 3321 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC. Officiating will be Pastor David A. Gales. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 1st from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Wilkinson Funeral Home, 100 Branchview Dr, NE, Concord, NC 28025. Burial will be at 1:30 pm at Carolina Memorial Park.
Brian was born in Birmingham, England on February 19th 1934, son of Leslie and Violet Skipton Bounds. At the age of sixteen, he began his working career as a Dental Technician Apprentice. He became qualified with a “City of Guilds” diploma five years later and was able to continue his profession in The Royal Army Dental Corps. where he served for two years. After completion of his military duty, he returned to civilian life and continued his dental profession.
In October 1961, Brian received the call from the Lord to begin a new life and service in evangelistic work in Great Britain. He co-founded “The Pioneers”, an Anglo-American team that pioneered a coffee bar ministry among young people in Great Britain. In 1962, he began an evangelism ministry in the former Yugoslavia, which is now Croatia. Over the years, he developed a ministry of encouraging, equipping and evangelizing the peoples and the churches in Eastern Europe. Brian worked and ministered in Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. Twenty eight years of his ministry was during the oppressive years of Communism working behind what was known as “The Iron Curtain”. He became known by the code name, “Padre”. For thirty three years his ministry was headquartered near Salzburg, Austria, near the German border, where he also ran a Mission Home and trained teams going into the Eastern Bloc.
In 1978, “The Pioneers” became known and incorporated in Great Britain as “The Pioneers Ministry”, a Christian Charity Organization. Brian became Director of this ministry. For many years he also ministered extensively in the States from coast to coast in evangelistic meetings and missions conferences.
In 1999, he married the former Linda Taylor Eury, and they resided in Concord. She became a vital part of his ministry and together they took 35 mission trips. His ministry was incorporated in the States as a non-profit organization with the new name of Eastern European Evangelistic Ministries (EEEM) and Brian served as its Director.
Brian loved music and in addition to his gift of preaching the Gospel, he was also a gifted singer. He served on the staff of The International Church Music Festival for a number of years and his ministry was involved in bringing choirs from Eastern Europe to England and Switzerland to perform in Summer festivals and concert tours.
Over the years, Brian became a very well-known and respected missionary to the peoples of Eastern Europe. He had a great love for his Lord, mission work and family. He was proud of his children and especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
He is survived by his dearly beloved wife, Linda Taylor Eury Bounds; daughter, Wendy Ebner (Andreas) of Salzburg, Austria; and son, Stephen Bounds (Julianne) of Quincy, Illinois; step-sons, Todd Eury (Sonya) and Keith Eury (Randa). He is also survived by grandchildren, Veronika (Etienne) Chabin, Sarah Ebner, Selah, Seanna, Semachiah, Sofe, Shamarah, and Seth Bounds.
Brian was an active member of Plaza Baptist Church having served as its Senior Missionary, Music Director and Deacon.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.