The Salvation Army Tacoma
A Christian organization empowered by God's Holy Spirit working together in harmony, effectively communicating The mission and the message of the Salvation Army in its holistic ministry in our areas of accountability and responsibility, as we serve God and all humanity without discrimination.
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.
Description:
The Salvation Army offers a wide range of social services in Tacoma including Child Care Program, Youth Program, Emergency Shelter, Food Bank, and services to assist the neediest of our community. Seasonal services include Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance to families and individuals.
The Salvation Army is an integral part of the community. Along with a network of other organizations and services, The Army exists to meet the needs of the people who live in this community. In more than 100-years of service around the world and here in Tacoma, Pierce County area, The Salvation Army has earned the trust of the community and strives to merit continued support.
The manner in which need for assistance is verified and the spirit in which help is given are at the heart of Army service. The compassion and understanding shown in an emergency may open the way for assistance with deep-seated problems and long-term deprivation. Needs may be revealed for counseling, placement, day care, rehabilitation, referral, or other help.
History:
William Booth began The Salvation Army in July 1865. Preaching to a small congregation in the slums of London, his spirit was as militant as that of a professional soldier while battling an almost overwhelming army. Thieves, prostitutes, gamblers, and drunkards were among Booth's first converts to Christianity. His congregation were desperately poor. He preached hope and salvation. His aim was to lead them to Christ and link them to a church for continued spiritual guidance.
Even though Booth's followers were converted, churches did not accept them because of what they had been. However, Booth gave their lives direction in both a spiritual and practical manner and put them to work to save others who were like themselves. They, too preached and sang in the streets as a living testimony to the power of God.
In 1867, Booth had only 10 full-time workers. By 1874, the numbers had grown to 1,000 volunteers and 42 evangelists. They served under the name "The Christian Mission" and Booth assumed the title of General Superintendent, although his followers called him "General". Known as the "Hallelujah Army", the converts spread out to the east end of London into neighboring areas and then to other cities.
In 1878, Booth was reading a printer's proof of the organization's annual report when he noticed the statement, "the Christian Mission under the (sic) Superintendent's of the Rev. William Booth is a volunteer army." He crossed out the words "volunteer army" and penned in "Salvation Army." From those words came the basis of the foundation deed of The Salvation Army which was adopted in August of that same year.
The Salvation Army gained a foothold in the United States by the work of Lieutenant Eliza Shirley, who had left England to join her parents. She held the first meeting of The Salvation Army in America in Philadelphia in 1879. In 1880, General Booth sent a party of eight Salvationists, led by George Scott Railton, to officially begin the work of The Salvation Army in the United States.
In 1886, President Grover Cleveland received a delegation of Salvation Army officers and gave the organization a warm personal endorsement. This was the first recognition from the White House and was followed by similar receptions from succeeding presidents of the United States. The Salvation Army expanded rapidly to Canada, Australia, France, Switzerland, India, South Africa, Iceland, Germany, and many other countries.
General Booth's death in 1912 was a great loss to The Salvation Army. However, he had laid a firm foundation for the organization. Today, The Salvation Army serves people in 103 countries.
Contact people:
Office fax number: (253) 591-7070
Address:
Web Site: http://www.salvationarmytacoma.org
| Last updated on November 3, 2009 |
