Association of Gospel Rescue Missions Rescuer Award for Outstanding Volunteerism
Recipients: Jack Larson and Bob Wassam
Jack Larson and Bob Wassam both serve the homeless tirelessly through the gift of their time and talents.
On September 19, 2007, they each received The Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM) Rescuer Award for Outstanding Volunteerism at an awards’ luncheon hosted by Jack Stack Barbeque at the Freight House in Downtown Kansas CIty, Missouri.
Tammie Sharp from the AGRM made the presentation saying, “This year City Union Mission simply couldn’t choose just one individual. Both of these men exemplify the finest qualities of volunteerism.”
Bob Wassam
Bob became a High Impact Volunteer for City Union Mission in February of 2005. In the two and a half years since Bob started volunteering, he has volunteered the equivalent of 30 forty-hour weeks. His commitment and dedication are seen in his willingness to use whatever skills and talents he has, whether large or small, seen or unseen, to help further the mission of Jesus Christ at City Union Mission ... that of sharing the Good News and meeting the needs of the poor and homeless.
Bob serves wherever the need is:
- During the Christmas season, you’ll find him helping deliver Christmas gifts and providing security at the Christmas Store.
- He’s been a Volunteer Coordinator for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive and an Event Decorations Coordinator.
- He has helped as an Academic Assistant in the Learning Center and as a Job Coach Assistant in Career Development.
- At Camp CUMCITO, he has served as a Camp Assistant Intern and Bus Monitor.
- Administratively, he has filled in as the Front Desk Receptionist in the Administrative Building, as a Clerical Assistant for Donor Relations, and as a tour guide for Community Relations.
- He has also assisted with Easter meals in the Men’s Center.
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Synergy is defined as the working together of two things to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual efforts. Synergy in the New Testament is a Greek word used by the Apostle Paul to describe those people whose service was invaluable to the furtherance of the Gospel. It is translated “fellow laborer, co-laborer, co-worker ... partner”. |
Jack Larson
Jack has been offering his truck driving skills to God and City Union Mission since 1993. For years, Jack has:
- Assisted with the delivery and pick up of barrels for Christmas and School Supply Drives held by various radio stations.
- Hauled donations for the Stuff-a-Truck Food Drive.
- Helped with the delivery of large donations
- Provided the trailing “shag” truck for the bikers at their annual Bikers With A Mission Benefit Run for the Homeless for the last 14 years.
Jack has procured the use of his own Roadway truck, enlisted the aid of other Roadway drivers and their trucks, and if necessary, used his own pickup truck to make things happen.
Jack has often gone out of his way to help the Mission, sometimes staying late to see tasks through to completion. Whereas some might say they could not help on a particular date or time, Jack has the mindset of “Somehow, I’ll make this work.” He will often call the Mission staff to see if they need assistance, making himself available to help and serve. That friendly spirit always comes out in his congenial, courteous manner and his always praising the Lord.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus speaks to those who have served the needy:
... Come, you who are blessed by my Father ... for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me ... whatever you did for the least of these my brothers, you did for me.
The staff at City Union Mission honor two of God’s children ... Bob Wassam and Jack Larson ... both powerful examples and role models of what it means to be servants in the Kingdom of God and Rescuers of the lost.
To find out more about how you can impact lives like these two men, please click here.
