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2017 Economic Impact Awards Community Involvement Champion: Robert Roberts

Man on a Mission

Posted online

It would be easier to list the community and volunteer organizations Robert Roberts hasn’t served on.

“A wise man once told me, ‘Every day, if you can add value to someone else, you will always have a friend for life,’” Roberts says.

From the United Way of the Ozarks to the Every Child Promise Committee and the Salvation Army, Roberts’ reach across the Springfield community is far and wide.

But serving the community isn’t just Roberts’ personal passion – it’s also his job.

As minister of missions for Second Baptist Church, Roberts oversees 15 local partners that interact with the church to impact children, compassion or poverty within the community.

That work includes events such as mobilizing more than 300 volunteers to assisting at a Convey of Hope city wide event and helping coordinate the 5-acre Victory Garden with produce given to community agencies such as Camp Barnabas, Grand Oak Mission and Ozarks Food Harvest.

Roberts keeps track of the church’s volunteer hours and they add up quickly: 3,660 hours at Victory Mission serving three meals a month at Cook’s Kettle on Commercial Street; 2,184 hours at Grand Oak Mission volunteering on a weekly basis, in addition to providing 2,000 articles of clothing and 10,000 pounds of food; 7,018 hours in the Victory Garden cultivating 30,000 pounds of produce; and 140 hours of staff volunteering for One Sole Purpose to provide shoes for children – just to name a few.

“My role has always been one of a cheerleader, opening additional doors to serve our community,” Roberts says. “I believe that those who are involved in the community will believe in the community and support what the community needs to function for all.”

While the Springfield area is a large part of his focus – serving as the church’s minister to Springfield previously – his work does not end in the Ozarks or even the Missouri border. Roberts lends his unique talents internationally.

“We travel throughout the world and minister, but the process begins right here at home,” he says, just days before leaving on a 10-day trip deep into the rural Chinese mountains. “We want to teach people to serve before they go on mission. We provide the opportunities for families and if their hearts want to do more we’re here, too.”

With 16 years under his belt at Second Baptist Church, Roberts has become a pillar of the local nonsecular community, but many might recognize him from another local role:  Springfield postmaster.

Roberts spent 40 years with the U.S. Postal Service, retiring in 2001 as Springfield postmaster. During that time, he managed a $48 million operation with 1,150 local employees serving 242 communities. He also served directly with the postmaster general providing guidance to Fortune 500 companies worldwide.

Second Baptist pastor John Marshall recalls meeting the new postmaster at a time when the local post office was in turmoil over a labor dispute.

“Almost immediately, the unrest ended. There was not a whimper of trouble during his whole tenure,” Marshall says, noting when Roberts retired, he immediately asked if he would be a church liaison. “I have never worked with anyone who wielded more influence and compassion in his hometown.”

So why does Roberts do it all? He says the answer is simple.

“The more volunteers we have serving, the more they will come to love Springfield,” says the husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

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