A Brief Look at our Origins
The Salvation Army is an integral part of the Christian Church,
although distinctive in government and practice. The Army’s doctrine
follows the mainstream of Christian belief and its articles of faith
emphasize God’s saving purposes. Its objects are ‘the advancement of the
Christian religion… of education, the relief of poverty, and other
charitable objects beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a
whole.’
The
movement, founded in 1865 by William Booth, has spread from London,
England, to many parts of the world. The rapid deployment of the first
Salvationists was aided by the adoption of a quasi-military command
structure in 1878 when the title, ‘The Salvation Army’, was brought into
use. A similarly practical organisation today enables resources to be
equally flexible. Responding to a recurrent theme in Christianity which
sees the Church engaged in spiritual warfare, the Salvation Army
continues to use soldier’s features such as uniforms, flags and ranks to
identify, inspire and regulate the ministry.FOUNDER
William Booth
William Booth began The Salvation Army in July 1865. Preaching to a small congregation in the slums of London. Thieves, prostitutes, gamblers, and drunkards were among Booth’s first converts to Christianity. His congregation were desperately poor. He preached hope and salvation. His aim was to lead them to Christ and link them to a church for continued spiritual guidance.
Even though Booth’s followers were converted, churches did not accept them because of what they had been. However, Booth gave their lives direction in both a spiritual and practical manner and put them to work to help others who were like themselves. They, too preached and sang in the streets as a living testimony to the power of God.
In 1867, Booth had only 10 full-time workers. By 1874, the numbers had grown to 1,000 volunteers and 42 evangelists. They served under the name The Christian Mission and Booth assumed the title of General Superintendent, although his followers called him ‘General’. Known as the ‘Hallelujah Army’, the converts spread out to the east end of London into neighbouring areas and then to other cities.
In 1878, Booth was reading a printer’s proof of the organization’s annual report when he noticed the statement, ‘the Christian Mission under the Superintendent’s of the Rev. William Booth is a volunteer army.’ He crossed out the words ‘volunteer army’ and penned in ‘Salvation Army.’ From those words came the basis of the foundation deed of The Salvation Army which was adopted in August of that same year.
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Catherine Booth
Catherine Booth, wife of Salvation Army founder William Booth, was known as the “Army Mother”. In her world, women had few rights, no place in the professions and a minimal presence in church leadership. Nonetheless, in her marriage to William Booth, she became an evangelist, preacher and theologian, and co-founder of The Salvation Army.
As a child, Catherine Booth was bright and tenacious despite long illnesses. By age 12, she had thoroughly studied the Bible from cover to cover—eight times. During her life, she became one of the most popular preachers of her era.
A prolific writer, Catherine Booth explored universal questions and provided forthright answers. She believed Christians must be passionate about their faith, that if we are indifferent we can lose the capacity for love and service. She wrote: ‘He doesn’t ask you to go to chapel or join the church and pray...but to get down and give up your heart to Him, to choose whom you will serve, and do it at once, and everything else will follow.’
In 1860 Catherine and William Booth attended Chapel in Gateshead. William was preaching in the pulpit and Catherine was sitting in the congregation. As he finished speaking William saw Catherine leave her seat and make her way to the front. He leaned over the pulpit and asked: “What is the matter?” “I want to say a word,” Catherine replied.
William then addressed the congregation and said, “My dear wife wants to say a word”. He then sat down and Catherine mounted the pulpit. She told the congregation of her disobedience to the voice of the Holy Spirit telling her to be courageous and speak in public about Jesus. As she confessed her own weaknesses in public, members of the congregation were in tears as they listened to this godly woman. News quickly spread through the town that a woman had preached, and from then onwards she was in great demand as a preacher.
All this would never have happened had not William Booth allowed Catherine to speak. He recognised her abilities, her spirituality and her love for souls and he gave her the opportunity to join him in a shared ministry.
The
Salvation Army began its work in the former Tanganyika in November
1933, in the town of Tabora, under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel
Francis and Mrs. Jessie Dare whom came from the United Kingdom.
From the Tabora the work spread to Chunya and to Arusha in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. In 1950, at the request for assistance from the Colonial Governor, the Army was invited to oversight the work of the Mgulani Camp which had been operating under the British Red Cross Society. The Tanzania Headquarters is now located in the Mgulani Compound in Dar es Salaam. From these early beginnings, The Salvation Army’s work continued to develop and on 1st October, 1998, the Tanzania Command was inaugurated under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonels David and Jean Burrows. The work of The Salvation Army in Tanzania was no longer administratively dependent on another Africa country.
21st February, 2000 was another milestone in the Tanzania Command. In prior years, pastors (officers) were attended a 2-year training school in Kenya. But now 12 Cadets (students in training to become pastors) of the "Cross Bearers" Session commenced training at the Command’s own Training College. As a result, Tanzania has been training leaders for ministry ever since.
From our humble roots nearly 80 years ago, we have spread throughout the country. We now have over 150 national officers (pastors) who lead ministries in over 150 communities.
William Booth began The Salvation Army in July 1865. Preaching to a small congregation in the slums of London. Thieves, prostitutes, gamblers, and drunkards were among Booth’s first converts to Christianity. His congregation were desperately poor. He preached hope and salvation. His aim was to lead them to Christ and link them to a church for continued spiritual guidance.
Even though Booth’s followers were converted, churches did not accept them because of what they had been. However, Booth gave their lives direction in both a spiritual and practical manner and put them to work to help others who were like themselves. They, too preached and sang in the streets as a living testimony to the power of God.
In 1867, Booth had only 10 full-time workers. By 1874, the numbers had grown to 1,000 volunteers and 42 evangelists. They served under the name The Christian Mission and Booth assumed the title of General Superintendent, although his followers called him ‘General’. Known as the ‘Hallelujah Army’, the converts spread out to the east end of London into neighbouring areas and then to other cities.
In 1878, Booth was reading a printer’s proof of the organization’s annual report when he noticed the statement, ‘the Christian Mission under the Superintendent’s of the Rev. William Booth is a volunteer army.’ He crossed out the words ‘volunteer army’ and penned in ‘Salvation Army.’ From those words came the basis of the foundation deed of The Salvation Army which was adopted in August of that same year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catherine Booth
Catherine Booth, wife of Salvation Army founder William Booth, was known as the “Army Mother”. In her world, women had few rights, no place in the professions and a minimal presence in church leadership. Nonetheless, in her marriage to William Booth, she became an evangelist, preacher and theologian, and co-founder of The Salvation Army.
As a child, Catherine Booth was bright and tenacious despite long illnesses. By age 12, she had thoroughly studied the Bible from cover to cover—eight times. During her life, she became one of the most popular preachers of her era.
A prolific writer, Catherine Booth explored universal questions and provided forthright answers. She believed Christians must be passionate about their faith, that if we are indifferent we can lose the capacity for love and service. She wrote: ‘He doesn’t ask you to go to chapel or join the church and pray...but to get down and give up your heart to Him, to choose whom you will serve, and do it at once, and everything else will follow.’
In 1860 Catherine and William Booth attended Chapel in Gateshead. William was preaching in the pulpit and Catherine was sitting in the congregation. As he finished speaking William saw Catherine leave her seat and make her way to the front. He leaned over the pulpit and asked: “What is the matter?” “I want to say a word,” Catherine replied.
William then addressed the congregation and said, “My dear wife wants to say a word”. He then sat down and Catherine mounted the pulpit. She told the congregation of her disobedience to the voice of the Holy Spirit telling her to be courageous and speak in public about Jesus. As she confessed her own weaknesses in public, members of the congregation were in tears as they listened to this godly woman. News quickly spread through the town that a woman had preached, and from then onwards she was in great demand as a preacher.
All this would never have happened had not William Booth allowed Catherine to speak. He recognised her abilities, her spirituality and her love for souls and he gave her the opportunity to join him in a shared ministry.
PIONEERS IN TANZANIA
The
Salvation Army began its work in the former Tanganyika in November
1933, in the town of Tabora, under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel
Francis and Mrs. Jessie Dare whom came from the United Kingdom.From the Tabora the work spread to Chunya and to Arusha in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. In 1950, at the request for assistance from the Colonial Governor, the Army was invited to oversight the work of the Mgulani Camp which had been operating under the British Red Cross Society. The Tanzania Headquarters is now located in the Mgulani Compound in Dar es Salaam. From these early beginnings, The Salvation Army’s work continued to develop and on 1st October, 1998, the Tanzania Command was inaugurated under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonels David and Jean Burrows. The work of The Salvation Army in Tanzania was no longer administratively dependent on another Africa country.
21st February, 2000 was another milestone in the Tanzania Command. In prior years, pastors (officers) were attended a 2-year training school in Kenya. But now 12 Cadets (students in training to become pastors) of the "Cross Bearers" Session commenced training at the Command’s own Training College. As a result, Tanzania has been training leaders for ministry ever since.
From our humble roots nearly 80 years ago, we have spread throughout the country. We now have over 150 national officers (pastors) who lead ministries in over 150 communities.
Our History in Tanzania
In November 1933, Adjutant and Mrs. Francis Dare came
from Kenya to begin the work of The Salvation Army in Tabora, Tanzania
(formerly known as Tanganyika). Starting in 1947 an initiative was
developed to grow peanuts in Tanganyika as a contribution to both the
African and British economies. The Groundnuts Scheme began but was
abandoned four years later on January 9th, 1951. A few years later The
Salvation Army took occupancy of a former RAF camp as a center to assist
immigrants who, having come to Tanzania to assist with the scheme,
found themselves homeless and jobless. In 1961, The Salvation Army was
registered in Dar es Salaam, and the 15 acres on Kilwa Road became its
Headquarters. In 1962, the Salvation Army was given Permission to Occupy
the property and it has been the site of our Territorial (National)
Headquarters ever since.
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