The Salvation Army is an international movement that helps people who are poverty stricken or poor due to other reasons. They have people stationed all over the world that dedicate their lives to people who are less fortunate then themselves. The Salvation Army is considered a denomination of the universal Christian church. They base their message and lifestyle on the word and love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of God and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination. (McCarthy 30) The Salvation Army has been around since the mid 1800's, and still strives to help the needs of people to this day.
In 1852, William Booth took up a ministerial lifestyle. Though he did not agree with some of the actions and teachings the church conducted, he agreed with the preaching of Christianity. Therefore, he set off on his own, walking the streets of London and preaching to the poor, homeless, and sick. Booth dedicated his life to what seemed a solo cause, and he took his message around the country to whoever would listen. Booth's dedication and passion led to many disagreements with church leaders thought out England.
On July 2nd 1865, two men heard Booth preaching in front of a beggar home. They invited him to start a mission called the New Connexion, marking the foundation of the Salvation Army. William's wife supported him fully and is sometimes said to be the cofounder of the Salvation Army. "Many nights he (William) would stumble home haggard with fatigue. Often his clothes were torn and bloody bandages swathed his head where stone had struck." (Norman 5) Booth again traveled this time to eastern London and sent up a tent in a Quaker yard. .
Most of Booth's first converters were thieves, gamblers, drunks, and prostitutes. People who attended worship were poor and seemed hopeless, but yet Booth still preached of hope and salvation. At first Booth's goal was to turn people to the Christian faith, however most churches would not accept Booth's converters because of their pasts.