MAJOR KENNETH GARDNER

Keighley Salvation Army writes

If I were to ask the question what is the Salvation Army, I would probably get many different answers ranging from... brass bands at Christmas, tambourines, feeding the homeless, and so on, which would be correct but there is far more to the Salvation Army than that.

The Salvation Army, founded in 1865 by the Rev William Booth a Methodist preacher and evangelist, is today operating in more than 124 countries and here in the UK it is the largest provider of social care outside of the Government.

The Salvation Army is a charity, but first and foremost we are a Christian church promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ. At the end of May the Salvation Army celebrated – with a large gathering of Salvationists in the Royal Albert Hall, London – the 100th anniversary of the founder William Booth’s last and probably his greatest speech to his troops: “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 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.”

Today the Salvation Army with the help of our many friends and supporters continues to follow the teaching and example of Jesus, seeking to meet the needs of the most vulnerable within our society wherever and however we can.