During a presentation at Old City Hall on January 9, Mayor Paul Becker honored longtime Jacksonville resident and Presbyterian Church Pastor Larry Jung with the first-ever “Lifetime Achievment Award.” During the brief but emotional presentation, Mayor Becker noted, “Tonight, we have reason to do so, for the individual we honor here exemplifies all the qualities of character with charity and understanding, together with selfless service to others over a period of many years… over a lifetime.”
Becker explained that Larry, who recently retired after 33 years at the helm of the church, is eminently deserving of such recognition. The mayor reminded the audience that it was Jung who guided the church through one of the worst political and legal disputes during construction of the church and that the “storm of criticism and opposition reached unprecedented heights within our little community, making headlines even in the national media.”
It was the pastor, Becker said, who applied his “Christian ethic of avoiding hatred but loving one’s enemy instead…who weathered the storm” and today leads a church that is a welcome addition throughout the community, serving at events like the Victorian Christmas celebration, manning the food lines at the City’s July 4th celebration and others.
“When Jacksonville embarked upon creating an Emergency Operation Plan for community disaster events such as earthquakes or widespread fires,” the mayor expressed, “Pastor Jung opened the doors of his church for use by emergency services personnel…and locating them where food and shelter would be available.”
The mayor continued, “In his tenure, Pastor Jung married our young people, buried our deceased people, comforted those who are suffering, assisted those seeking assistance, and provided counseling for those in need.”
Mayor Becker concluded his remarks by noting, “Therefore, it is our great pleasure tonight to recognize Pastor Jung’s extraordinary accomplishments and to honor him with our first Lifetime Achievement Award.”