His Heart Broke
In 1865, William Booth walked through London's East End and his heart broke. He saw children starving in gutters. Women selling themselves for bread. Men destroying themselves with gin. The church largely ignored them.
I'll Fight to the Very End
"While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight," Booth declared. "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 remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight - I'll fight to the very end!"
He started the Salvation Army - not just to preach salvation but to fight the conditions that destroyed people. His wife Catherine preached alongside him (scandalous for the time). His soldiers opened soup kitchens, shelters, and rescue homes.
Go for the Worst
When critics accused him of caring more about bellies than souls, Booth replied: "What is the use of preaching the Gospel to men whose whole attention is concentrated upon a mad, desperate struggle to keep themselves alive?"
The Salvation Army spread worldwide. Today it operates in over 130 countries, serving millions through disaster relief, homeless shelters, addiction recovery, and more.
"Go for souls, and go for the worst."