Our Story

William Booth began The Salvation Army in July 1865. Preaching to a small congregation in the slums of London, his spirit was as militant as that of a professional soldier while battling an almost overwhelming army. 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 save 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 neighboring 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 (sic) 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.

The Salvation Army gained a foothold in the United States by the work of Lieutenant Eliza Shirley, who had left England to join her parents. She held the first meeting of The Salvation Army in America in Philadelphia in 1879. In 1880, General Booth sent a party of eight Salvationists, led by George Scott Railton, to officially begin the work of The Salvation Army in the United States.

The Salvation Army Portland

The Salvation Army set foot in Portland in the fall of 1886, just six years after eight Salvationists landed in New York City. When Captain Mary Stillwell came to Portland, she found saloons lining Union Avenue, filled with rough characters that wanted nothing to do with The Salvation Army. Nevertheless, the 26-year-old Captain plunged into her work with fortitude, holding The Army's first open-air preaching and singing services on Oct. 3, 1886, at Southwest Fifth and Burnside streets.

Opposition to the small Army was fierce in East Portland, where The Army marched with its brass instruments and held outdoor worship services. Mary herself was badly injured when a saloon keeper turned a fire hose on a Salvation Army meeting. But Mary and other Salvationists continued their mission, even in the face of being jailed.

Heckling gradually gave way to tolerance and goodwill. The Army's message of help, hope and salvation spread rapidly during the 1890s. By 1904, Salvationists were providing work to down-and-out men and raising money for clothes and furniture for the poor. Children in need were given clothes and shoes. Soon other services followed.

Today, The Salvation Army, a faith-based, nonprofit organization, continues its mission of preaching the love of God through word and music and meeting human needs in His name without discrimination. The Salvation Army has 32 corps (Churches) and community centers throughout Oregon and Southern Idaho.  We serve people of all ages, ministering to their spiritual and physical needs. Through its programs and services, and with the help of thousands of volunteers, The Salvation Army serves the men, women, and youth of our community, regardless of race, sex, creed, sexual orientation or age.

The Salvation Army's goal today remains the same as it was 150 years ago — to make a difference, one human being at a time. 

Today, The Salvation Army serves people in 132 countries.

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