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Dear Friends,
It is a pleasure
to share with you this website. We hope it will increase your
understanding of The Salvation Army, the people we serve, and the life
changing programs offered here in the Bluegrass.
Behind the
familiar red shield, there are no discarded lives. Behind the shield,
homeless children and adults find safe shelter, the physically and
spiritually hungry are fed, and financially disadvantaged children
find something they would never otherwise have - opportunity. There
is hope as Christian faith and love are lived out in word and deed.
Behind the
shield there are thousands of volunteers and donors who give
generously of their money, time and resources so that The Salvation
Army can make a difference in the lives of people 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, 365 days a year. If you have supported our work we say
thank you. If you have never volunteered or donated to The Salvation
Army we ask you to consider doing so. We need you. Together we can
change lives.
May God bless
you.
Sincerely,
Majors
Steven and Debra Ashcraft
Central
Kentucky Area Services Coordinators
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HISTORY
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In 1865, William
Booth, an ordained Methodist minister, aided by his wife Catherine,
formed an evangelical group dedicated to preaching among the
“unchurched” people living in the midst of the appalling poverty in
London
’s
East End
. Booth’s ministry recognized
the interdependence of material, emotional and spiritual needs.
In addition to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, Booth became
involved in the feeding and sheltering of the hungry and homeless and in
rehabilitation of alcoholics.
-
Booth and his
followers, originally known as The Christian Mission, became The Salvation
Army in 1878, when the organization evolved in a quasi-military pattern.
Booth became “the General” and officers’ ranks were given to
his ministers.
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In 1880, George
Scott Railton, along with seven “Hallelujah Lasses” (as they were called
by the local newspaper) arrived in New York City to “officially” open
the work of The Salvation Army in the United States.
They immediately set about to preach the gospel of Christ and serve
the poorest of the poor through practical acts of compassion.
-
The Daily
Leader,
Lexington
,
KY
,
February 7, 1886
, read, “Salvation Army to Bombard Lexington Tonight.”
The gospel was preached in an open-air meeting at the Courthouse on
Main Street
drawing a huge crowd. Meetings
followed for a time in rented halls. The
Salvation Army, which had closed due to lack of funding re-opened for good
in 1903.
-
The kettle
tradition was started in 1891 by Captain Joseph McFee in
San Francisco
to help fund a Christmas dinner for the poor.
He received permission to place a pot at the
Oakland
ferry landing to raise money for the poor.
Today, the Christmas kettle stands as a symbol of service, a
refreshing reminder amid the commercialism of the holidays that people do
still care for one another.
SERVICES
The
Salvation Army is a church and social service organization. The
basic social services developed by William Booth have remained an outward
visible expression of the Army’s strong religious principles.
Social service outreach programs vary from community to community depending
upon the need and resources available.
Among these
outreach programs are disaster relief , day care centers, summer camps, holiday
assistance, services for the aging, residential services,
medical facilities, shelters for battered women and children, food pantries,
soup kitchens, family and career
counseling, vocational training, correction services, and substance abuse
rehabilitation. More than 30 million people a year are aided in some way by services
provided by The Salvation Army.
STRUCTURE
The
General, with headquarters in
London, England, is the international leader of The Salvation Army. In the
United States, the functions of The Salvation Army are coordinated by the National Commander
whose office is at the National Headquarters in Alexandria
,
VA.
For
administrative purposes, the nation is divided into four territories: the Central
Territory
with headquarters in
Des Plaines,
Illinois, the
Eastern
Territory with Headquarters
in
West Nyack
,
New York , the Southern
Territory with headquarters in Atlanta
,
Georgia, and the
Western
Territory
with headquarters in
Long Beach
,
California
. Each territory is under leadership of a territorial commander.
Nationwide
uniformity of policy is the responsibility of the Commissioners’ Conference,
whose membership includes the National Commander, the Territorial Commanders,
the National Chief Secretary (COO) and the four Territorial Chief Secretaries.
Standing commissions devise and evaluate strategic initiatives to further the
mission and ministry of The Salvation Army and then make recommendations to the
Commissioners’ Conference.
Territories
are made up of smaller units known as divisions. There are 40 divisions in the
United States
and each is headed by a divisional commander. Divisions consist of corps
centers for worship and service, which are the basic units of The Salvation
Army, and various specialized centers. The functions of each corps include
religious and social services which are adapted to local needs. Each corps is
under the supervision of a corps officer.
Salvation
Army corps officers are assisted by a local advisory board, employees and
volunteers. They are sometimes referred to as "The Army behind The
Army."
The
Salvation Army is a participating member in various religious and human
services associations, coalitions and conferences having similar principles and
practices. Legally, each of the four Salvation Army territories in the
United States
functions as a tax-exempt corporation with the National Commander as Chairperson of the Board.
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