The Salvation Army - Continuing a Tradition of Reaching Out to the Poor

Our speaker at the November 21st meeting was Major Thomas McWilliams, Area Commander of the Salvation Army for Oklahoma and Arkansas. Shown at left emphasizing a point, Major McWilliams explained the roles the Salvation Army has played and continues to play when war or natural disasters strike. "Thank God for the Salvation Army" is not a term used lightly by those who have walked up to an open canteen and received a hot bowl of soup, coffee and donuts, a blanket or more, after struggling to claim property destroyed after a hurricane or tornado, etc. When nothing else is available, the Salvation Army is usually somewhere close by doing what it can to ease the hurt somewhat and very often just enough for a victim to become a survivor.
 

From its start in 1865 when founder William Booth began The Salvation Army as a means to help the suffering souls throughout London who were not willing to attend – or even welcomed into – a traditional church, the Salvation Army has continued to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ far and wide to the poor, the vulnerable, and the destitute. Though General Booth died in 1912, he laid a firm foundation for the lifesaving work that The Salvation Army continues to perform today in over 100 countries. From serving donuts and coffee in the trenches in WW1 to delivering letters from POWs. And now providing shelter for disaster victims, day centers for homeless vets and treatment centers for recovering addicts the Salvation Army is striving to be a bright spot in a dark world.