South Africa
From Sawiki
In 1983 The Salvation Army in South Africa commemorated the arrival atthe southern tip of Africa of a tiny task force which sought, by a combination of militant evangelism and practical compassion, to fulfil the injunction of General William Booth to "win Africa for Christ".
The intrepid army of three consisted of Major and Mrs. Francis Simmonds and their young lieutenant Alice Teager. After opening fire in the Cape Town Drill Hall, the Army spread rapidly through the Cape Colony, opening bridgeheads in the Eastern Cape and in Natal.
Salvation Army "cavalry forts" trundled north by ox wagon in true South African fashion, and Salvationist "Bluejackets" even carried the message to St.Helena Island.
Work amongst the indigenous races of Southern Africa began in 1887 and it was from South Africa that similar work in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and South West Africa was opened up.
Several notable firsts stand to the credit of South African Salvationists, not least that of the commencement of spiritual work amongst prisoners. They set up relief work among troops on the field of battle at Estcourt during the Boer War, ministering to the Boers and the British alike.
During its second century in South Africa, The Salvation Army seeks the grace of God and the good will of the peoples of South Africa through over thirty social, medical and educative centres. Its soldiers exist for others through over two hundred places of worship as the living embodiment of "Christianity with its sleeves rolled up".
