“Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible…I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” I Corinthians 9:19,22.
The Canadian founder of our movement was A.B. Simpson. After pastoring in Hamilton, he accepted a post-civil-war pastorate in Kentucky, where he saw great healing in the churches which were sharply divided over the slavery issue. While there he had a profound encounter with the Holy Spirit and his heart swelled with the desire to reach the world for Christ. When the opportunity arose to pastor the 13th Street Presbyterian church in New York city, he saw the chance to expand his evangelistic dream. He went on the condition that the leadership would help him reach the unchurched.
At the time, New York city was the place where immigrants came to the U.S. and where missionaries would go out from to the rest of the world. From 1892 – 1954, 12 million immigrants went through Ellis Island, with over a million in 1907 alone. It was ‘gospel central.’
Albert began to go into the low-class Italian district and found great reception. But when he invited 100 Italian converts to church, leadership wouldn’t let them in. Bowing gracefully out of that church, three months later he started what would become our movement of churches with 35 people present “…for the especial purpose of Gospel work among the neglected classes both at home and abroad.” Very quickly this small group grew and threw themselves at their stated objective through:
-Rescue homes for fallen women. “Doors of Hope” opened in 1890 in New York and by 1903 there were 61 of these homes across the US.
-Orphanages, starting with Berachah (‘blessing’) orphanage in 1886.
-Homes for those seeking healing and return to wholeness, as well as medical missions overseas.
-Centres for teaching trades for those in rescue missions. Among others they taught sewing, dressmaking, poultry care and gardening. The Alliance owned a farm in India where they brought orphans and taught them how to make a living.
-Disaster relief. 1891 floods in China; we fed 3000 people a day in the 1903 China famine, as well as much help following the San Francisco earthquake in 1906.
-Immigrant work, especially among the Italians, which included ESL taught by bible school students.
-Temperance work.
-Education through starting kindergartens and schools.
-Race relations. The Alliance did much to encourage acceptance of black people and opened the Lovejoy Missionary Institute in North Carolina.
-Publication. Simpson had publication facilities in the top floors of the photo included above, and put out the premier missions magazine of the day.
Through all of this was the strong gospel message that Jesus saves. By all means we have sought to save some. Simpson wrote many songs and in one of them he wrote:
“Jesus only is our message, Jesus all our theme shall be;
We will lift up Jesus ever, Jesus only will we see.
Jesus only, Jesus ever, Jesus all in all we sing,
Saviour Sanctifier and Healer, Glorious Lord and coming King.”
Let’s retain the spirit of our roots. “Lord, how do you want us to serve our culture and our world today?”
Pastor Leon Throness
With fear and trepidation, I have learned to run the podcast tech equipment and have recorded a podcast for the first time. Have a listen to this effort from the wonderful story of Joseph… Lessons from the pit.
