see, and soon he convinced her
to join the work in a more official
capacity. It wasn't long before
Eliza was sent to help open The
Christian Mission in other com-
munities.
moved to Philadelphia in search
of more work. He wrote back
to her and her mother that the
United States also needed what
was now becoming known as
The Salvation Army. He begged
them to join him there and bring
this soul-saving work with them.
Eliza was convinced that this was
what God was asking her to do.
She felt God was indeed calling
her to America and that she must
obey. General William Booth,
however, did not see things the
same way. He felt she simply
missed her parents and his fledg-
ling Army was not at all prepared
to oversee a work so far away.
However, Eliza insisted that
she must obey God's direction
in the matter. In the end, Booth
consented to allow her to go and
the lines of the Army.
If it succeeded, he
would see fit to send
her reinforcements.
for Philadelphia.
Upon their arrival
in October of 1879,
they began the work
of The Salvation Army in the
United States. Eliza was only
16 years old at the time, and yet
God was with her. Within months
they had seen over 1,000 people
converted, they had secured a
building in which they could hold
meetings and they had launched
a second post in another part of
the city. In her personal writings,
Eliza said she was disappointed
because there were still so many
lost souls without the light of
God. Her heart yearned to share
the love of Jesus Christ with all
of them.
flags for the first corps in the
United States. What began with
and her mother has
now evolved into an
influential denomi-
nation and social
service organization
in the United States.
How is it possible?
And what does her
story teach us?
vationist. It is the story of one
person who found the saving love
of Jesus Christ and committed
to obeying His direction no mat-
ter what He asked. She wasn't
remarkable; she was just a young
woman who obeyed God. And the
reality is that God can still do
amazing and miraculous things
in our communities and in our
society, if we only obey Him. Per-
haps He still has a mighty work
to do in the United States. Who
will say yes to his call?
DEAMS/Candidates Secretary for the
Army's Kentucky and Tennessee Divi-
sion, with headquarters in Louisville, KY.