Do you know how it feels to be captivated by breath taking mountains? It makes you feel pretty small, right? As I write these articles each month for Common Ground on heroes of the faith, I sometimes feel pretty small compared to these mighty mountains of men and women of God. If I’m not careful, I find myself measuring my life and ministry to them…and how disappointed I feel when I try to do that. My pastor taught me that mountains do not exists for us to compare ourselves to them. Mountains exist for the glory of God and for our joy!
I do not write these articles each month so that you and I can compare ourselves to these people whom God has used or even so that we can boast about them. These articles are written so that we can joy in the grace and glory of God that was upon their lives and that we may see His grace and glory in our own life.
This month’s mountain is about a couple that was both born in 1829. They faithfully lived out the calling of God on their lives. They married on June 17, 1855 and went on to have eight children that had a phenomenal impact on the Kingdom of God. Our subject is William and Catherine Booth, the founders of the Salvation Army.
In our area, nearly everyone is familiar with the Salvation Army. We see them, especially at this time of year, as they set up around town at retail stores as people do their Christmas shopping. They are known for ringing bells in hopes that we may not forget about the poor and needy during the holiday season. It is my aim that by the end of this article, you may come to understand the purpose behind the founding of the Salvation Army and see the great passion both William and Catherine carried for people to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
William and Catherine met at a friend’s house where William passionately talked about the effects alcoholism had on families. They recognized how they shared the same passions and interests. Both had a great burden for the poor and needy since they were teenagers. They were later married in 1855 and Catherine was always a big part of his ministry.
William was an ordained Methodist pastor in London and while he loved the Methodist Church, he felt his ministry was that of an evangelist more than a pastor. He requested to be released from his pastorate to do full time evangelism but his request was denied. He had no other choice than to break away and begin his own ministry. He and Catherine settled into East London and in 1865 began the Christian Revival Society, or also called the East London Christian Mission and as it later became known as the “Salvation Army.” William would say, “Work as if everything depended on work and pray as if everything depended on prayer.”
God placed a remarkable vision within their hearts that is still making a global impact to this day. Their newspaper was called, “The War Cry,” leaders were known as “officers,” and Christians were “captives.” When they expanded outreach into new cities or even new countries, it was known as an “invasion.” People respectfully called William “General.” Catherine was affectionately known as the “Mother” of the Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army was so serious about the spreading of the Gospel that they would take to the streets as an “army.” People would fall under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the effects were felt so strongly that bars and taverns would have to close due to the lack of business. So angry were the owners of the bars that they began rioting against the Salvation Army. In 1882, 669 Salvationists were attacked and over 60 of the Salvation Armies were vandalized.
But this did not stop the movement! More “lunch rooms” were opened where the poor could get a cup of soup for a quarter of a penny! One could buy an entire meal for only 6 pennies and of course, thousands of meals were given away free.
The Salvation Army now circles the globe. The vision that William and Catherine dedicated their lives too still brings people to the hope of Jesus Christ! The greatest way for me to show you the passion for souls the Booth’s had is for you to read it in William’s own words…
“’Not Called!’ did you say? ‘Not heard the call,’ I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the grates of the Hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father’s house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell Him there you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world.”
For comments or questions about this article, email Pastor Chad at missionsflame26@hotmail.com or visit www.preachingchristchurch.com
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