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Stories & Blog
“Just a Kid from Brooklyn” to “Bravest Man in Africa”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former Crossworld general director Al Larson passed into glory on Nov. 5, 2014, at a retirement center in Florida. Al led UFM North America (now Crossworld) as general director (president) for 25 years from 1966-1991 at the mission’s previous headquarters in Bala Cynwyd, Pa. In the early 1960s, Al served as the mission’s field team leader during the Simba uprising in the Congo ― an event chronicled in Out of the Jaws of the Lion by Homer Dowdy, who described Al as “the bravest man in Africa.” Accolades such as this didn’t change Al, who grew up in an orphanage in New York and often described himself as “just a kid from Brooklyn.”
“Many refer to Al and the band of leaders who guided Crossworld for nearly three decades as ‘the dream team,’” said current Crossworld President Dale Losch. “They were indeed great leaders. And part of what made them great was the giant of a man who walked before them: Al Larson. From Al’s humble beginnings as a tough kid from Brooklyn, God made him into a man who, like King David of old, shepherded God’s people ‘with integrity of heart, and guided them with his skillful hands’ (Psalm 78:72). Through Al, God touched thousands of lives around the world.”
Al is survived by his wife, Jean; daughter, Carol and granddaughter, Glenna; nephew Mark and his daughter, Regina. Read Al’s obituary.
Tributes to Al
“The first time I heard Al speak was … the first time I was challenged to consider the plight of the unreached of our world.” — John
“Just imagine his reunion with those who gave their lives in Congo 50 years ago.” — Phyllis
“I was always impressed by Al’s humility. No name plate on his office door. He and all the associate directors had offices of the same size and the only distinction was that Al had a picture of [his wife] Jean on his desk. What a godly man.” — Rich
“Many refer to Al and the band of leaders who guided Crossworld for nearly three decades as ‘the dream team,’” said current Crossworld President Dale Losch. “They were indeed great leaders. And part of what made them great was the giant of a man who walked before them: Al Larson. From Al’s humble beginnings as a tough kid from Brooklyn, God made him into a man who, like King David of old, shepherded God’s people ‘with integrity of heart, and guided them with his skillful hands’ (Psalm 78:72). Through Al, God touched thousands of lives around the world.”
Al is survived by his wife, Jean; daughter, Carol and granddaughter, Glenna; nephew Mark and his daughter, Regina. Read Al’s obituary.
Tributes to Al
“The first time I heard Al speak was … the first time I was challenged to consider the plight of the unreached of our world.” — John
“Just imagine his reunion with those who gave their lives in Congo 50 years ago.” — Phyllis
“I was always impressed by Al’s humility. No name plate on his office door. He and all the associate directors had offices of the same size and the only distinction was that Al had a picture of [his wife] Jean on his desk. What a godly man.” — Rich
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