Thinking about William Booth again (my early years as a Christian were spent in the Salvation Army) and the amazing growth of their early years when they combined red hot evangelism with practical care-no good preaching to people on empty stomachs-largely using new converts to reach more. The Jesus Army has many similarities and now faces the challenge of operating within a highly regulated and largely secular society.
I look at our centre here near Oxford Circus and rejoice in the fact that it is welcoming , well equipped and our visitors really appreciate having high quality facilities. We offer much to help people practically and to get them into a more stable and positive life style, which is good; but how we need to see our work as a life boat rescuing people out of this world's sea and leading them to the Saviour while there is time.
God forbid that we end up only helping the outer man which perishes and not seeing them in light of their eternal destiny.
