History

William Booth, Founder of The Salvation Army, embarked upon his ministerial career in 1852 as an itinerant evangelist, with no idea of a conventional pulpit. Booth was a crusader who longed to win the lost multitudes to Christ.

In 1865, Booth was invited to hold a series of evangelistic meetings in the East End of London. In July, he began preaching in a tent set up in a Quaker graveyard. The great success of the tent meetings led him to begin his career as the leader of a vigorous group dedicated to fight for the souls of unsaved people.

Driven by a missionary vision for lost people, The Army marched around the world. As The Salvation Army took its distinctive place within the Body of Christ, it was not only characterized by evangelism, but also by compassionate social service. The Army took an aggressive stand challenging social evils, but always within its framework and priority of evangelism.

Booth proclaimed the focused priority of The Army when he said, "We are a Salvation People -- this is our specialty -- getting saved and keeping saved, and then getting somebody else saved." (William Booth, Salvation Soldiery, c. 1890)

Today's Army

Today, The Salvation Army carries out its ministries in 109 countries and dependent territories as disparate in geography and culture as Canada and Pakistan.

Whether a local or major disaster, Salvation Army staff and volunteers are often the first on the scene and the last to depart, honoring a century-old commitment to serve those in need, at the same time of need, and at a place of need.

The red shield continues to be a beacon of compassion, of immediate aid, psychological support and spiritual counsel to individuals and families whose lives have been disrupted or shattered by forces beyond their control.

While each disaster or civil disorder is unique and devastating in its own violent impact on the lives of individuals and communities, there are certain basic needs to which The Salvation Army responds. Response and recovery services include: spiritual ministry, counseling, identification and registration, mobile feeding, congregate feeding, financial assistance, shelter, donated materials, basic commodities, reconstruction, support programs, services to volunteers, and advocacy.

The Salvation Army’s response to the 2005 Hurricane disasters provides a great example of this kind of dedication. The Salvation Army immediately responded to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, serving the needs of survivors by providing shelter, food, water, ice, cleaning supplies, and other personal hygiene products. To date, The Salvation Army has received $336 million in donations nationally. One hundred percent of the funds collected were used toward disaster relief to help those directly affected. And, we will stay on the job as long as we are needed to help OTHERS.