[December 21, 2013] With the holiday season upon us and the bell ringers outside many stores this Christmas season, the most visible as well as an historically successful organization is the Salvation Army. Founded in 1865 in London by Catherine and William Booth, they sought to bring salvation to the poor, destitute, and hungry.
Originally a religious effort, it has expanded to include many social services: disaster relief, adult rehabilitation, elderly services, community care, and combating human trafficking. While still evangelic, it is now more of a total ministry for the total person.
The Salvation Army’s core values are:
- Passion
- Compassion
- Bravery
- Uplifting Spirit
- Trustworthiness
The Salvation Army’s mission statement:
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 discrimination1.
As other successful organizations highlighted here, the Salvation Army is top-rated. As a charity, it consistently receives high marks from the American Institute of Philanthropy2 (now called Charity Watch) and others. This means that the Salvation Army’s financials are among the most reliable of philanthropic organizations.
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[1] The official website of the Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/about
[2] The American Institute of Philanthropy, now known as Charity Watch – rated “A” or “A-” at http://www.charitywatch.org/toprated.html