Product Description
This meticulously researched yet engaging book traces The Salvation Army’s history of service from its beginnings in Victorian England to its present-day mission in all parts of the world. / A phenomenal religious movement, acclaimed for its compassionate service, The Salvation Army now works in no fewer than 118 countries, yet no contemporary book has chronicled this high-profile organization — until now. Henry Gariepy’s well-written, comprehensive account effectively fills that gap. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Will inspire readers with how charity can spread throughout the world
Sometimes good just stays around and keeps doing good. "Christianity in Action: The International History of The Salvation Army" tells the story of how the Salvation army became an icon at Christmastime and has become synonymous with charity. Growing from Victorian England to being a force in well over a hundred countries around the world, "Christianity in Action" tells the story of the goodness of people and will inspire readers with how charity can spread throughout the world. ... Read more

Product Description
The amazing beginnings and growth of the Salvation Army are told through the stories of its founders, William and Catherine Booth. Even when attacked by angry mobs, the Booths and their growing army preached "the power of the blood of Christ and the fire of the Holy Spirit" to the destitute, desperate people unwelcome in the churches of nineteenth-century England. This highly readable biography will introduce new readers to the worldwide ministry of the Salvation Army and the pioneers who selflessly dedicated their lives to God’s service. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Salvation Army - How It All Began
This wonderful book, published in 2003, will answer all your questions about the Salvation Army.I always wondered how it all began and when, and how it has evolved. I hope Mr. Yaxley will consider a sequel and write about the Army as it exists today.This book ends just as Evangeline Booth begins her leadership in America in the last century

I recommend this biography by Trevor Yaxley because of all the information, the look inside England in the mid eighteen hundreds, the easy to read can't put this book down style, and the almost unbelievable accomplishments of these two beloved people, William and Catherine Booth.There is a timeline and family tree in back of the book as well as good pictures.

The epilogue, entitled The Challenge, consists of the last public address by Catherine Booth, to two thousand delegates of her "army" in London on June 21, 1888.It is remarkable, challenging, and inspired.

Quoting from the first chapter is a paragraph by Paul Smith - here it is:"On April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee met Ulysses S. Grant in the parlor of a private home at AppomattoxCourt House.He surrendered his army, bringing to an end four long years of death and devastation called the American Civil War.In the same year, a thirty six year old Englishman by the name of William Booth declared war on the powers of darness by founding The Salvation Army."

The multitudes of people living in poverty and without dignity inspired the Booths to declare this spiritual War and with great love and compassion, they gave hope to the helpless by offering faith in God (salvation thru Christ) food (soup kitchens) clothing, and employment, and a purpose (serving in the Army to help others as they were helped and lifted up).

The story of the Booths is all about a couple in love and a passion for helping desperate destitute people and giving spiritual and physical help - so innovative was their work, that what began in England gradually spread throughout the world and they also raised many children who continued in the work of helping the poor.Today, the Salvation Army is first to appear when disasters occur anywhere in the world - want to join!

I loved the book and you will too.I never even imagined what this "Army" was all about until I came across this biography.

Outstanding
Sensitive, engaging, historical account of the lives of the two founders of the Salvation Army.Peronal letters between these two sweethearts, then husband and wife as well as life-long evangelists, detail the outstanding faith and human struggleit took to start an army in the slums and in opposition to the "old church hierarchy" which did not want to deal with the "riff-raff."The dedication of the first salvationists often meant placing themselves in harms way as angry mobs jeered and soldiers lost their lives.Still, the Army grew stronger and stronger.Every paragraph in this book is engaging...and I generally find historical accounts very boring.If you are looking for an exciting and sensitive historical account and wish to be enaged spiritually as well, this is a must read. ... Read more

Product Description
The Salvation Army has a long history of medical services, which have grown from a single dispensary in Nagercoil, India, to more than 60 hospitals and 123 health centers/clinics. There are also nearly 1,340 hostels, homes and centers which serve poor, disadvantaged and/or at risk men, women and children. This book traces the history of the Army's medical services from their small beginnings to the multifaceted programs which operate today. The book also looks to the future to see where the Army might be headed in its determination to serve suffering humanity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

wonderful book to read about coming out
I have just read about this author in a magazine. The writer`s review was amazing and that encouraged me to buy it.I realize during the reading that is was a wonderful story, very wellnarrated. It made me feel in his own skin, and felt all his feelings during the process off coming out.Its a book to read in one week.

Bittersweet
The best parts of Abdellah Taia's "Salvation Army" story are largely about the challenges of being gay in a Muslim country (albeit a relatively open one--Morocco); then finding a kind of sexual liberation in Europe; finally finding another kind of isolation in being a third worlder in a first world country. Taia's autobiographical protagonist is by stages idealistic, romantic, naive and disillusioned. Not surprising as he is following his heart in Morocco into forbidden territory, which is both dangerous and ultimately futile.Age brings hope and escape to another culture where being gay is not the offense, but being foreign is.There is a happy outcome to this particular tale (implied at least) because Abdellah Taia did become a successful literary figure in France and a kind of cult figure in Morocco, where his books have been published.

This is an engaging contribution to the more general story of the modern immigrant, but with the special circumstances of an alternative sexual identity.A 3+ on the Amazon rating scale.A more extensive novel on this subject in a more mature voice is Tahar Ben Jelloun's "Leaving Tangier".

oh so unique
It is one of a kind.... I enjoyed every part of it. It was a little difficult to follow at parts but kept me interested at all times.

Morroccan desire mixed with a touch of French
As a person who generally loves the memoir genre, I was impressed at how skilled Taia shaped thoughts and stories about his life. At times he was verbose giving every last detail and at other times he leaves the reader without all of the information. Taia artfully sculpts part of his life into a cutting edge novel that spans two theatres--Morroco and Switzerland--and the conflicts deep inside Taia. Taia should be lauded for the authenticity provided in his narrative told through raw stories.

Interesting Story
Well, if I give too long of a review there'll be no reason to read the book, as it is very short andI might end up telling the whole story.Should almost be more of a paper than a book. It must have only taken an hour and a half to read it. (glad the library had it too).But I love reading gay stories about men's lives, so this was a must under any circumstance.You really have to hand it to these fellows who live in the Middle East and other 'third world' type countries where this kind of thing (coming out and being out) is not tolerated.They just have indiscriminate sexual encounters.Fortunately Abdelleh was able to leave Morocco and hence able to find himself.And for the most part he had pleasant encounters. And I think he knows it. I enjoyed the book very much. ... Read more

Product Description

In this engrossing study of religion, urban life, and commercial culture, Diane Winston shows how a (self-styled "red-hot") militant Protestant mission established a beachhead in the modern city. When The Salvation Army, a British evangelical movement, landed in New York in 1880, local citizens called its eye-catching advertisements "vulgar" and dubbed its brass bands, female preachers, and overheated services "sensationalist." Yet a little more than a century later, this ragtag missionary movement had evolved into the nation's largest charitable fund-raiser--the very exemplar of America's most cherished values of social service and religious commitment.

Winston illustrates how the Army borrowed the forms and idioms of popular entertainments, commercial emporiums, and master marketers to deliver its message. In contrast to histories that relegate religion to the sidelines of urban society, her book shows that Salvationists were at the center of debates about social services for the urban poor, the changing position of women, and the evolution of a consumer culture. She also describes Salvationist influence on contemporary life--from the public's post-World War I (and ongoing) love affair with the doughnut to the Salvationist young woman's career as a Hollywood icon to the institutionalization of religious ideals into nonsectarian social programs.

Winston's vivid account of a street savvy religious mission transformed over the decades makes adroit use of performance theory and material culture studies to create an evocative portrait of a beloved yet little understood religious movement. Her book provides striking evidence that, counter to conventional wisdom, religion was among the seminal social forces that shaped modern, urban America--and, in the process, found new expression for its own ideals.

William Booth, who founded the Army in Britain in 1878, believed heneeded to take religion to the people and urged his followers toimagine a "cathedral of the open air." Salvation Army preachers becamea common sight in the streets of New York. Conservative Christianswere upset by the public spectacle; the Army, however, happily bangedcymbals, beat drums, and sang--their goal was to attractattention. Using contemporary advertising techniques, pageants, andparades, the Salvation Army made a vibrant mark on the urban scene andthe American consciousness. Over time the Army's focus shifted fromproselytizing to practical religion: gaining converts throughreligiously motivated social programs. Soup kitchens, homelessshelters, coal in winter--the Army offered relief to all, regardlessof race, religion, or creed. Its greatest success, however, came whenit sent 250 workers, including a few dozen women, to Europe to providea little bit of home to the boys fighting in the Great War. With theirtrays of doughnuts and pitchers of coffee, the "Sallies" boostedmorale and earned the Salvation Army a tremendous amount ofrespect. Winston's book reveals that she, too, respects both theArmy's mission and its theology, and she tells its story with gracefulprose. Red-Hot and Righteous will interest scholars ofreligious movements and 19th-century urban lifealike. --C.B. Delaney ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Historical Research that Reads Like a Novel
I'm delighted with Winston's work.Currently I'm writing a novel in which the Salvation Army is prominent and I needed to be sure I had some early facts verified.Winston gives me the facts I need and has confirmed some of my own material.I particularly appreciated her emphasis on performances and the Army's proclamation of all space as God's own.

Her explanation of the secularization of religion, the bringing of religion out of the clouds and into everyday life, provides a whole new perspective on religious belief. A time when the religious experience was fun.

Required but fun
Required for a history class years ago. One of the better social histories out there.

Gracefully written, but lacking in focus.
Is this book an organizational history of the Salvation Army?Is it about the Army as an urban religious phenomenon?Is it about the Army's use of the methods of popular entertainment in order to draw attention, converts, and public support?Is it about the power of women within the Salvation Army?Is it a discussion of how the public perception of the Army (and the women in it)changed between 1880 and 1940?

"Red Hot and Righteous" tries to be all of these and more, but unfortunately it doesn't work.As a popular history, this is pleasant enough reading, but as a scholarly work it is maddeningly diffuse.Winston's thesis is ill-defined, she fails to address the existing literature on the Salvation Army, and she has no evident theoretical approach.While she addresses the power women had within the Salvation Army, as a feminist history "Red Hot and Righteous" lacks teeth because Winston turns her focus elsewhere rather than fully developing her discussion of women's roles.

Winston also uses a very limited range of sources.When presenting the Army's side of the story she leans very heavily on the 'American War Cry'--the Army's own paper.The 'AWC' was sold to the general public to raise funds, and it was thus intended to present the Army and its activities in the best possible light.For an outsider's view of the Salvation Army she relies overwhelmingly on one newspaper--the 'New York Times.'What about ethnic newspapers?What about papers that found their audience primarily among the poor and working class?What did the people the Army aimed its evangelical and charitable activities at think of these predominantly middle-class do-gooders?

Winston writes very well, and she gives the Salvation Army the respectful treatment it deserves.But as an academic work, "Red Hot and Righteous" fails to gel.By narrowing her argument and focusing on a specific issue--women's roles and leadership within the Army, the use of popular culture as an evangelical tool, changing depictions of Salvation Army women in books and popular entertainment--and expanding the types of sources used, Winston could have broken new ground.Unfortunately, she keeps stabbing her spade with too little force in too many different places, and as a result she only raises a bit of dust.While I would still recommend this book for a general readership, as a scholar I found it unfocused and ultimately unsatisfying.

Where do I sign up?
I thought this back was very interesting. It presents the history of the Salvation Army from its inception in England in the nineteenth century through a good part of the twentieth century.Its focus is on the female leadership. It is interesting to note that though men are mentioned in the text, they are only briefly so. You learn a lot about the Booth women and their role in the Army but little about what their husbands where doing.It is a positive perspective of the movement and the ways in which it has helped Americans both here and abroad during the World Wars. ... Read more

Product Description
The book about not just business but the meaning of life ... a guide for being the best at what you do and doing it with a sense of purpose that connects with something larger than yourself ...

For many people, The Salvation Army is most visible between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That's when its officers, soldiers and volunteers, in the ubiquitous Kettle Campaign, make music and collect money for good works.Few realize, however, that the Army is much, much more than this one effort and is in fact a powerhouse of an organization. None other than Peter Drucker called it"the most effective organization in the U.S."Not the most effective nonprofit, but "the most effective organization."Quite a compliment from the world's most preeminent management thinker, especially when you consider that he is comparing The Salvation Army to world-class corporations like General Electric, IBM and Johnson &Johnson.

Now, Robert Watson, the Army's recently retired national commander, is ready to share the Army's secrets about organization, strategy, and acting with a sense of mission. With its 9,500 centers of operation, $2 billion in annual revenues, and 32 million clients served in every zip code in America, The Salvation Army is the model for doing business with a purpose. As Peter Drucker says, "no one even comes close to it with respect to clarity of mission, ability to innovate, measurable results, dedication and putting money to maximum use":
* Clarity of mission: What you can learn from the Army's laser-like focus of evaluating everything it does in terms of its mission of preaching the gospel and meeting human needs without discrimination.
* Ability to innovate: How The Salvation Army's investment in people gets incredible returns and why it as much venture capitalist as charity.
* Measurable results: Learn The Army's unique ways of setting, monitoring and celebrating the achievement of measurable goals so you, too, can say, "look, we promised we would do this and we delivered."
* Dedication: How the Army accomplishes so much with such a small cadre of officers.
* Putting Money to Maximum Use: What you can learn from The Army's bare skeleton of a national organization in terms of making the most of your resources and making all of your operations self-sufficient.

By demonstrating the power of a sense of purpose combined with organizational effectiveness, this remarkable book has something essential to say to all executives, entrepreneurs, managers, and anyone with the ambition to bring people together to reach a goal.

Free subscription to the Crown Business E-Newsletter just for signing up, email CrownBusiness@Randomhouse.com
Amazon.com Review
Most of us know the Salvation Army from its fundraising efforts and philanthropic programs, but the $2 billion-a-year transcontinental institution, now serving more than 30 million people with a vastly underpaid and overworked staff, is also a model business structure. Under a title taken from the description applied to it by management guru Peter Drucker, The Most Effective Organization in the U.S. outlines the fundamental tenets that the group has prospered under since its founding in the mid- to late 1800s. Written by former National Commander Robert A. Watson and freelancer Ben Brown, the book details eight principles that allow the Army to do so much with so little: focus on "a purpose that transcends quarterly earnings"; make "what you do serve human needs"; stay publicly accountable to visible standards; encourage feedback and act upon it; "invest real power and real responsibility" in top personnel; "accept the inevitability of change"; take calculated risks; and motivate employees by ensuring their jobs are both valuable and enjoyable. Some readers may not be comfortable with the organization's overt ties to Christian teachings, but few can argue with the success it consistently enjoys. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great book about a great organization!
I am not a religious person, so the "Whys" of the SA weren't of great interest to me. However, the "Hows" and "Whats" are: this book is a compelling account of how the SA effectively converts almost every penny it receives into direct, real benefits for the needy and downtrodden. ANY organization could learn much from the SA (and this book) on how to deliver high-quality, low-overhead customer service to its target audience.

If government agencies, other churches, and or even most companies, were run even half as well as the SA, the world would indeed be a much, much better place!

A terrific story, well-told!

To Save and to Serve
Peter Drucker, a management guru if there ever was one, once declared that "the Salvation Army is by far the most effective organization in the U.S." And he added: "No one even comes close to it with respect to clarity of mission, ability to innovate, measurable results, dedication, and putting money to maximum use."

As Robert A. Watson, the retired National Commander of The Salvation Army U.S.A., comments in the introduction of this book, "It would never occur to us to make that claim for ourselves. It is not our style." Officers who wear the uniform of the Salvation Army cultivate a modest demeanor, and they don't like to brag about themselves. But on second thought, Mr. Watson and his coauthor do like to brag about their organization's goals and achievements: "We are out to save the world." They are proud of the Army's unblemished track record of dedication and performance. And they want their book to be about "the meaning of life", possibly "one of the most important book you'll ever read."

This last claim seems a bit overstretched--especially from an institution that claims the Holy Bible as the sole authority--, but The Most Effective Organization is probably one of the best management books I have ever read--and this includes the essays of Peter Drucker, which I often find repetitive and merely stating the obvious. Here readers won't find "the eight habits of successful spiritual enterprises" or "the eight-fold path to organizational happiness." There aren't even eight equally weighted principles. As the authors underscore, there is really one Big Idea: "Engage the Spirit". Everything stems from this basic imperative. But this being a management book, there is indeed a list of eight injunctions or bottom-line principles connected with the Big Idea.

Each chapter therefore expands on a simple message--"Embody the Brand", "Lead by Listening", etc.--illustrated through excerpts from the Salvation Army's history, anecdotes from Mr. Watson's own experience as an officer, inspirational stories from prominent business leaders, short quotes from some of the most influential management scholars, and lessons drawn from the world of professional sport and entertainment. Being the chief officer of the U.S. organization gave the main author access to many chief executives and chairpersons of large corporations, who devoted time and energy sitting on the Army's National Advisory Board and helping it shape its strategic directions. The authors also took the best they could from management books, distillating their teachings into key messages and practical examples.

What makes The Salvation Army different is its connection with the transcendental. "Our advantage--and the advantage other organizations can acquire--is a shared conviction that our purpose is sacred. We're together in the belief that our organization exists only to help people realign themselves with God and to serve one another. And we're all in agreement that each of our programs must be measured against that purpose." The Army's mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to serve people in need without discrimination. "When we say we are here to save and to serve, we mean that as our promise, as what we intend to be held accountable for. All of our programs--our products--grow from that sense of mission, and we measure their success against it."

"From the beginning, because of our double mission, The Salvation Army has had to be doubly accountable. To those who may not share Salvationists' religious faith, the Army must demonstrate that, in putting its spiritual purpose at the forefront, it actually strengthens attention to clients' total welfare--in body, mind and soul. To those driven by religious faith, the Army must show that it's not distracted by social service from its evangelical purpose. The Army must always prove its promise to maintain "heart to God, hand to man.""

The Salvation Army has no qualms about being a religious organization. "Yes, we are an evangelical church. Our officers are ordained ministers. Our twofold mission is to serve others and to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. And we cannot be who we are if we deny our religious orientation." So they are ready to draw a line and to refuse government subsidies if they come with too many strings attached that would make them lose their identity. As Peter Drucker already noted, ""Government as a paymaster is a very corrupting paymaster because they think that because they're paying the piper, they can call the tunes."

The one thing that I found missing in this book is how the twin missions of evangelical preaching and social service connect to each other in the name of Jesus Christ. The Scriptures has many messages to offer to managers, and it can be a great source of inspiration for people dealing with business issues. And yet there are only two or three quotes from the Bible, brought forth in the introduction and summing up the Salvation Army's theology of service. One is "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19, KJV). The other is from the parable of the Good Samaritan: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40, KJV). These are words to remember.

The heart and soul of our country's purpose and direction
"No one even comes close to it with respect to clarity of
mission, ability to innovate, measurable results, dedication, and putting money to maximum use." Peter Drucker, preeminent management thinker.
"This book, describing the leadership skills of the Salvation Army, clearly explains why The Salvation Army is one of our most trusted, successful, and cost effective organizations whose mission is to help people. These same principles apply to all businesses and to our everyday lives." H. Ross Perot
Table of Contents:
The "Business" of the Salvation Army
Engage the Spirit
Put people in Your Purpose
Embody the Brand
Lead by Listening
Spread the Responsibility, Share the Profits
Organize to Improvise
Act With Audicity
Make Joy Count

Different Skills Required When Growing a Great Organization
In my consulting practice--and in my management workshops--I sometimes hear the protest, "But you don't understand! We're just a small ministry. We couldn't possibly implement the best practices of those much larger organizations."

Hopefully, my response is gracious--but direct. "Is God leading you to be small for the next 10 years? Is your mission about reaching and serving more people, or less people? Do you need a workshop on how to stay small or how to shrink further? Probably not! So what should you do?"

I recommend that organizations create a rolling three-year strategic plan. Build an annual planning cycle that ruthlessly evaluates the last year and then adds one more year onto the rolling three-year forecast. And...face the growth question with courage, time-on-your-knees and outside wisdom. Part of that outside wisdom is looking at the big boys. How did they grow? How do they innovate? How do they build in capacity and sustainability?

One excellent and very unique model is The Salvation Army, the second largest nonprofit charity in the United States (according to the annual Philanthropy 400 list published by the "Chronicle of Philanthropy"). According to their 2009 annual report (now published only online along with a video report), they spent $3.05 billion serving people in 2008. Wow.

They are evangelical Christian in beliefs--yet coalesce wider public involvement and support in meeting human needs. Their crystal clear mission statement (on their website home page) is unequivocal: "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."

Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, called The Salvation Army "the most effective organization in the U.S." He added, "No one even comes close to it with respect to clarity of mission, ability to innovate, measurable results, dedication, and putting money to maximum use."

Hmmm. They might be worth studying. So let me commend to you this excellent book on "leadership secrets of The Salvation Army." Consider using this book (published in 2001--but maybe even more relevant today) at your next four or five weekly staff meetings. Delegate the reading and reporting on these fascinating chapters to your direct reports:
* The "Business" of The Salvation Army
* Engage the Spirit
* Put People in Your Purpose
* Embody the Brand
* Lead by Listening
* Spread the Responsibility, Share the Profits
* Organize to Improve
* Act with Audacity
* Make Joy Count

Co-author Robert A. Watson served 44 years as a commissioned officer in The Salvation Army, four of those as the national commander, the highest-ranking officer in the U.S.This is no puff piece--it's an insider's insight on a remarkable organization and very much worth the read.

He writes, "To grow from a start-up to a much larger enterprise, to thrive over the long term without losing either mission focus or creative energy, requires skills that aren't nearly so apparent or crucial when an organization launches. In fact they may be skills that are quite the opposite of those required to get off the ground."

Stay small, shrink or grow? This book will help you grow.

Leadership
This is actually an interesting book. It tells the reader how the Salvation Army is an effective orgainzation. I bought this book for a college management class assignment on leadership and found the book to be very helpful. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is about the faith of the Salvationist. It is based upon the eleven Articles of Faith which, since 1878, have been the basis of The Salvation Army's witness to the Christian gospel. Some may wonder why Salvationists place such emphasis upon a written statement of faith. After all, they are people who rightly maintain that a Christian is one who enters trustfully into a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and is born again of the Holy Spirit. They emphasise that faith is a personal affair, often springing from an experience of God's grace that is beyond the reach of definition or analysis. They may well be suspicious of any attempt to reduce this lif-changing encounter to a form of words on a page. Yet without words, the experience fails to be named, clarified or shared. Faith is not only personal: it has a public face. The earliest Christians acknowledged one another in the simple confession: 'Jesus is Lord' (1 Corinthians 12:3). This was their creed. As they shared it, they grounded their personal experience in the risen Christ, verified one another's experience and called upon the world to acknowledge the lordship of Christ. It was from these biblical beginnings that the creeds of the Church grew to be authoritative statements of the Christian faith. They have a long history, some of which is referred to within these pages. (from introduction) ... Read more

Product Description
People need inspiration like never before-stories of legendary, faith-filled heroes who met amazing obstacles with courage, perseverance, and even joy. . .stories of godly men and women who changed the world. Barbour's retooled Heroes of the Faith series is back with additional titles-compelling, easy-to-read biographies of missionaries, evangelists, and others who made their mark for Christ beyond the walls of the church. Adults and adolescents alike will be inspired by the commitment, sacrifice, and wisdom of these great Christian leaders. Heroes of the Faith-the name says it all! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wow. This is a great book.
I was pleased at the way this book chronicles the lives of William and Catherine Booth. What a pair! I mean this man had a very hard life and basically was an indentured servant during his apprenticeship.They both new the meaning of self sacrifice and being our brother's keeper. What an awesome couple. Definitely read this one. It will give you a new perspective on your own life.

Heroes of the Faith Series
This book is a must have for anyone in the Salvation Army.You will enjoy the great story of the beginnig of the Salvation Army as you learn about the lives of the William and Catherine Booth. This book touched my heart and I'm sure it will touch yours. I give this book 5/5 stars. ... Read more

Product Description
The Nottingham Journal stated, "William Booth started out from Nottingham largely self-educationed, penniless, and practically friendless.He had one fixed idea.The whole of his effort and talent would be directed to 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 the vision of man reconciled to God." ... Read more

Product Description
To Salvationists THE SONG BOOK OF THE SALVATION ARMY is a liturgy for public worship, an aid to personal devotion, a means of proclaiming the gospel and a help to rekindling fires of enthusiasm and devotion. ... Read more

Product Description
"EDWARD McKINLEY'S book moves readers beyond a rudimentary understanding of the Salvation Army as the top philanthropic organization in the U.S. Rooted in the holiness tradition, it is an evangelical denomination whose central mission is to win converts for Christianity. The distinctiveness of this church is twofold. First, the Salvation Army expresses itself through militaristic images, war phraseology and an organization based on military ranks. The military model expresses the Army's belief that Christians are engaged in spiritual warfare against evil. Second, Salvationists carry out their ministry of conversion and sanctification among a specific group: the poorest and most troubled people in society.A professor of history at Asbury College and an active soldier in the Salvation Army, McKinley wrote the first edition of this work in commemoration of the Army's centennial celebration. With this second edition the author makes a significant contribution to the scholarship of American evangelicalism. McKinley's well-researched work weaves the Army's particular history with the broader issues facing Protestant denominations in the late 19th and 20th centuries.While much of the book reads like a denominational history, McKinley recounts interesting stories, provides detailed personality sketches of the early leaders, and explains the Army's internal political intrigue.The book contains seven chapters that progress chronologically through the Army's history. In the last chapter, new to this edition, McKinley analyzes the Army's present situation and what it needs to do in order to chart a viable future. Three appendices list the Army's doctrines, ranks and national commanders. Nearly 40 black-and-white photographs are interspersed throughout the work.Like other evangelical groups, the Salvation Army espouses conservative theology. But unlike most conservatives, the Army has always accepted women in leadership roles and has never seen a contradiction between soul-winning and social ministry. Like most denominations, the Army's growth comes largely from within as children of Army families themselves become soldiers and officers. But while most denominations depend on their members for financial support, charitable giving is the Army's primary source of income. Finally, the Army shares a common challenge with all American denominations: struggling to stay true to its origins and its historic mission in the face of social and technological change."-Review in Christian Century ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Rescue Shop Within a Yard of Hell
This is a well written account of the incredibly courageous, tenacious General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army. C. T. Studd is quoted as saying ""Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell." That sums up the life of Booth. This story is inspiring, humbling and extraordinarily interesting. Booth put his faith into hands on action during a period of great social change. In doing so he inspired an army that continues his legacy today.

The General Next to God
Excellent Book! The Salvation Army was on the cutting edge of women's rights, social justice, awareness and action regarding human trafficing/slavery at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th. Their positive work is continued and felt all over the world today. ... Read more

Product Description
Publisher: London : Salvation Army Book DeptPublication date: 1911Subjects: Salvation ArmyHymns, EnglishRevival hymnsNotes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be numerous typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: World War, 1914-1918; European War, 1914-1918; Fiction / Religious; Fiction / Romance / General; Fiction / Romance / Historical; Fiction / Christian / General; Fiction / Christian / Historical; Fiction / Christian / Romance; History / Military / World War I; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A wonderful collection ofwar time kindness
This book was commissioned by the Salvation Army to declare the deeds of the brave women who went to help those who did not have the comforts of home.While at times this book was campy in nature and clearly of a directleaning towards the Salvation Army it also contained many accounts of hardwork and perserverance in the face of great physical and mental hardship. The women did everything they could to encourage the young soldiers to actas true heroes.They did things from making donuts to creating a placewhere soldiers could come as a refuge from the ravages of war.This bookhelped me to feel more supportive towards those who serve in the armedforces. ... Read more

Product Description
Describing the faith and accomplishments of a self-giving and God-centered world-changer, this portrait is most concerned with Mother Booth's intellectual and spiritual journey. That journey was shaped by revivalists, social activists, and feminists. Booth, in turn, influenced the movement she headed through life-long fidelity to the doctrine of entire sanctification and her conviction that a Christian must be fully consecrated to God. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Catherine Booth Was A Humane Saint !
Until I read this wondrous book, I had no idea that Catherine Booth, the conservative Co-Founder of the Slavation Army, embraced women's rights, animal rights and vegetarianism. The author provides many documented instances when Catherine would intervene and stop people from being cruel to dogs, horses, donkeys and oxen. He also mentions the Booth's and their Children loving an array of pets. I always knew that Catherine Booth was a groundbreaking Christian and Humanitarian, but Roger Green surprisingly informed me about Catherine Booth being an animal-loving vegetarian. Too bad today's Christian leaders have failed to emulate her reverence for all God's creatures' creed !

Great Read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book about Catherine Booth. I had known she was a vital part of the team, but I didn't realize the extent of her influence on her husband. This is a book I'm keeping in my library. It's well worththe space ... Read more