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William Booth on the Call of Jesus to Share in His Mission
 

William Booth responded to God's call to walk with Christ in mission to the poor and needy in England. He married Catherine Mumford, who shared this call, in 1855. Together they formed The Salvation Army.

 William Booth

 


          Please watch the YouTube video sharing the vision of William Booth of our call to help save the lost:

 

(If the video has been removed, you can watch it here (in wmv format) or "right-click" here to dow nload a copy (in mp4.)  

          In his last public address William Booth reiterated the call which had shaped his life:

"While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while little children go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight - I'll fight to the very end!"


And he did. Why shouldn't we?

One of his prayers in the battle for good has been retained as a hymn.

The Nothingham Journal wrote at that time:

'William Booth started out from Nottingham largely self-educated, penniless, and practically friendless. He had one fixed idea. The whole of his effort and talent would be directed to the one purpose - saving the world. Like his predecessor Wesley, he took the whole world as his parish. So well did he succeed, that before he died, his name was known in practically every country of that parish, and his followers numbered in millions. He began with nothing, had no money, no powerful friends, only his golden voice, his passion, and this vision of man reconciled to God.'

After Booth's funeral, when the coffin had been taken out and the church was very nearly empty, a man remained kneeling near the front. As the janitor approached, waiting to lock up, he heard the man thumping  the rail with clenched fists and praying with passion, "Lord, do it again...do it again."

Yes, Lord, call others to follow you in this way.

Perhaps one of these will be you.