Donations: http://www.thesalarmy.org/cont/donate.htm
MISSION STATEMENT
In 1865, a Methodist minister named William Booth took to the slums of London’s east end and began his battle against hunger and homelessness. In these streets, he saw that sin and suffering did not discriminate. Suffering plagued people from all walks of life—old men, young women, children, the rich who lost it all and the poor who never had it. Booth, recognizing the physical and spiritual needs of these people, established a ministry based on the philosophy of “soup, soap and salvation.” Along with his wife Catherine and an evangelical crusade of soldiers, Booth hit the streets of London with the fervor of a military crusader. He preached hope and salvation to those assembled, most of whom were desperately poor and many of whom were drunkards. Booth’s plan had been to send his converts to the established churches. But he soon discovered that former prostitutes and gamblers and thieves were not welcome by mainstream denominations. By 1867, the East London Christian Mission (later renamed the Christian Mission) was formed with William Booth as General Superintendent. There were ten fulltime workers. Seven years later the mission had 42 evangelists and more than 1,000 volunteers. Concurrent with his preaching, Booth established social services (shelters, feeding programs, homes for unwed mothers, etc.), which eventually resulted in a world-wide network of institutions and programs to meet the needs of the disenfranchised. In 1876, The Salvation Army became a legal entity with a military structure. Reading a printer’s proof of the 1878 annual report of the Christian Mission, Booth found this sentence: “The Christian Mission, under the superintendence of the Rev. William Booth, is a volunteer army.” At that time the British government had “volunteer forces,” who served on a part-time, as-needed basis, not unlike the present-day National Guard in the USA. Muttering “We’re regulars or nothing,” Booth drew a line through the word “volunteer” and substituted “salvation.” The Christian Mission…is a salvation army. The name st
uck!
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church.
Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. Northern Division Vision Statement: Motivated by the love of God, as a leader in Christian faith-based human services, The Salvation Army is committed to serve the whole person, body, soul and spirit with integrity and respect, using creative solutions to positively transform lives.
ABOUT US
Whether its help we’re offering in a disaster or comfort for a family in need—hope and healing is the message of The Salvation Army. Since 1886, The Salvation Army has been providing social and spiritual services to communities throughout Minnesota and North Dakota. People given purpose, hearts given hope and souls finding redemption—this has been our mission for more than a century.
Motivated by the love of God, as a leader in Christian faith-based human services, The Salvation Army is committed to serve the whole person, body, soul and spirit, with integrity and respect, using creative solutions to positively transform lives.
Today, through over 9,600 service centers, The Army’s spiritual and social services affect the lives of millions of people in more than one hundred nations around the world. In the United States, The Salvation Army serves almost 6 million people during the holiday season alone.
HISTORY
In 1865, a Methodist minister named William Booth took to the slums of London’s east end and began his battle against hunger and homelessness. In these streets, he saw that sin and suffering did not discriminate. Suffering plagued people from all walks of life—old men, young women, children, the rich who lost it all and the poor who never had it. Booth, recognizing the physical and spiritual needs of these people, established a ministry based on the philosophy of “soup, soap and salvation.” Along with his wife Catherine and an evangelical crusade of soldiers, Booth hit the streets of London with the fervor of a military crusader. He preached hope and salvation to those assembled, most of whom were desperately poor and many of whom were drunkards. Booth’s plan had been to send his converts to the established churches. But he soon discovered that former prostitutes and gamblers and thieves were not welcome by mainstream denominations. By 1867, the East London Christian Mission (later renamed the Christian Mission) was formed with William Booth as General Superintendent. There were ten fulltime workers. Seven years later the mission had 42 evangelists and more than 1,000 volunteers. Concurrent with his preaching, Booth established social services (shelters, feeding programs, homes for unwed mothers, etc.), which eventually resulted in a world-wide network of institutions and programs to meet the needs of the disenfranchised. In 1876, The Salvation Army became a legal entity with a military structure. Reading a printer’s proof of the 1878 annual report of the Christian Mission, Booth found this sentence: “The Christian Mission, under the superintendence of the Rev. William Booth, is a volunteer army.” At that time the British government had “volunteer forces,” who served on a part-time, as-needed basis, not unlike the present-day National Guard in the USA. Muttering “We’re regulars or nothing,” Booth drew a line through the word “volunteer” and substituted “salvation.” The Christian Mission…is a salvation army. The name st
uck!