Within the Bible, the word goodness is found in the book of Galatians as one of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. It can be described in many positive ways, but the Salvation Army has made it their core mission. Their current mission statement is “Doing the most good”. Within the United States Navy, there is an abundance of personal awards and citations that one can earn that entail merit. One of those is the military outstanding volunteer service medal which is awarded to Sailors who offer exceptional community service during their free time. During my naval career, I always enjoyed volunteering my time to community service for different organizations. Now that I’ve been retired for over three years, I still love to volunteer. But my favorite organization to volunteer my time and energy to has always been the Salvation Army.
On a recent occasion, my family and I rang the Salvation Army Christmas bell next to a donation box outside a Walmart in Floresville, TX. My sister and one of her colleagues helped facilitate that opportunity. It was a fun and fulfilling experience for us, especially during the holiday season. Despite the busy lives that many of us manage, it feels good to volunteer our time and energy to causes we are aligned with. Ever since 2015 when I came home to San Antonio on leave from an overseas tour, I have volunteered with that splendid organization in various capacities and times. In 2015 I helped for a few days to re-organize one of their supply rooms in a central location in San Antonio. During that process, I met some terrific people who worked as employees of the organization. They educated me on how the organization operated and executed their mission and responsibilities. In February of 2024, I assisted in a pantry restocking evolution while I was joined by University of Texas San Antonio nursing students along with other persons from different work sectors. As a generally outgoing person, I enjoyed socializing and bonding with these volunteers as we worked and moved together. Though these coordinated volunteer efforts have an expected outcome, it is the human bonding experience of people coming together to do good things that generates a sense of connection and our shared humanity.
The identity and legacy of the Salvation Army is what it is today because of the integrity, perseverance, and spiritual fruit that have existed at its core for decades. Today, the organization has major partnerships with sports leagues, corporations, and other non-profit institutions. The organization is viewed upon and respected as a reliable and faithful team that is committed to its stated mission and the noblest of principles. Those principles are rooted in its main core mission which is to spread the love of Jesus Christ in spiritual and practical ways to a world in need. The organization was founded by William Booth in London in the 1860’s during the Victorian Era and at the height of the Industrial Revolution. During that era, there were extensive pockets of poverty, despair, and exploitation of the working class in several parts of the United Kingdom. Booth’s vision was to create a Christian organization that provided a balanced emphasis between purity of character and practical Christian charity. The Salvation Army dedicated itself to feeding, clothing, housing and spiritually nourishing the masses in need. Interestingly, there was also widespread opposition to their work and methods. Since the sale and consumption of alcohol was a significant pastime amongst the working class, the Salvation Army identified temperance as a major issue of that time. The Army directed music and evangelistic methods towards the saloons and brothels to share the gospel. On many occasions, they were met with violence, and riots occurred. But during these trials and adversity, their growth and impact accelerated due to the publicity generated from those events.
As time passed, the Salvation Army grew within England and spread into other countries. The structure and organization of the Army is very similar to a military organization. Booth established a military style rank structure of officers, leaders and soldiers within the Army. He established rules and parameters with the purpose of ensuring good order and discipline so that the Army could faithfully execute its mission of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and assist the poor and destitute. As of 2025, the Army is active in approximately 134 countries worldwide. Within the United States, it is classified as a non-profit organization. The organization is regarded with great respect on the American cultural scene despite the polarizing cultural tensions and social labels that attach themselves to large philanthropy groups. Much of the Army’s effectiveness is due to the integrity of their staff. These dedicated professionals discharge their duties faithfully and recruit volunteers who serve with great enthusiasm. Every year during the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving games, the halftime show is dedicated to the Salvation Army’s mission of spreading hope and providing practical assistance to Americans in need.
In reflecting upon the adversity and challenges the Army faced in London during their formative years, I was reminded of the trials that early Christian believers faced in the book of Acts. Following Pentecost and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, Christians were filled with power and boldness to spread the gospel message and heal people. Their presence was transformative in a cultural and political landscape where certain people were not always welcoming to the effect of their actions. In the same manner, the Salvation Army encountered similar types of abuse, persecution, and even imprisonment for their work in different towns and regions. In some cases, they were viewed as disruptors of the religious status quo and to the efforts of publicans and commercially interested stakeholders. Yet their work was focused on the higher calling of healing society from the inside out and the salvation and restoration of souls.
History teaches that the sacrifices and legacy of those who’ve gone before us in certain endeavors gives us inspiration and strength to carry on those same endeavors. For example, the blood and sacrifice of our military is what gives us the freedom and ability to live the American dream. In Christianity, the blood of martyrs and the courage of missionaries and soul-winners has given us tales of inspiration through the overwhelming odds they have faced. An image that remains etched in my mind is from a particular photograph of my wife and two daughters as they manned the Salvation Army donation station at the Walmart previously mentioned. On a calm and sunny Saturday afternoon as they manned their station, they also charmed many shoppers who generously donated to the designated donation box. It was a warm and uplifting experience. But I later reflected on the thought that their joyous experience was not always that way for the original Salvationists nearly 150 years prior. Their experience was grittier and more challenging, but their courage and perseverance paved the way for the Salvation Army to continue its exceptional work with their distinctly powerful footprint. It is that footprint that continues to attract donors and volunteers from all sectors and walks of life to partake and join their mission in shining the light of God’s love for people.