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About the Book
"THE HARVEST VOLUME II" by Rick Joyner is a Christian book that explores themes of spiritual growth, awakening, and revival. The author offers insights into the importance of personal transformation and discovering one's purpose in life. Joyner uses biblical teachings and personal anecdotes to inspire readers to seek a deeper relationship with God and fulfill their true potential.
William and Catherine Booth
William Booth
The Salvation Army founder, William Booth was born in Nottingham, England, on 10 April 1829.
Salvation Army founder General William BoothFrom his earliest years, William was no stranger to poverty. He was just 14 when his father died and was already working as a pawnbroker’s apprentice to supplement the family’s income.
As a pawnbroker, William saw poverty and suffering on a daily basis. By the time he finished his six-year apprenticeship, he had developed a deep hatred of it.
William, a fiery and impulsive teenager, became a Christian at 15 and began attending the local Wesleyan Chapel. There, he developed the passion that would be the driving force in his life; to reach the down and out of Britain's cities through the Gospel of Christ.
William, a talented preacher from a young age, went on to work as a travelling evangelist with the Methodist church. But it was through preaching in the streets of London's slums that he discovered his life's purpose and The Salvation Army was born.
Catherine Booth
The Salvation Army "mother", Catherine Mumford was born in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, on 17 January 1829.
The Salvation Army founder and Army mother Catherine BoothFrom an early age, she was a serious and sensitive girl with a strong Christian upbringing. By the age of 12, it's said that she had read the Bible through eight times.
At 14, Catherine became ill and spent a great deal of time in bed. She kept herself busy, especially concerned about the problems of alcohol. She wrote articles for a magazine, encouraging people not to drink.
But at 16, she came wholly into her faith. Reading the words, 'My God I am Thine, what a comfort Divine' in her hymn book, she realised the truth of them for herself.
A gentle woman with powerful appeal, Catherine would go on to co-found The Salvation Army and prove an inspiration to women in a harsh time.
Life together
Catherine and William met when he came to preach at her church. They soon fell in love and became engaged. During their three-year engagement, William continued his work as a travelling evangelist. Catherine was a constant support to William, writing him letters of encouragement on his travels.
They married on 16 June 1855.
Together, William and Catherine embarked on a lifelong journey to answer the call of God to bring the Gospel to the people. While William was a natural speaker, Catherine was a quiet woman and not at all accustomed to speaking at gatherings. It took time for her to find her voice, but she was driven by a conviction that woman had the same rights as men to speak. She grew into a courageous speaker, known for her gentle manner but powerful appeal, counselling alcoholics in their homes and holding cottage meetings for new faithfuls.
They were also parents to a growing family of eight children, who were brought up with a firm Christian education and a great love for their God’s mission. Two of their children, Bramwell and Evangeline would go on to be Generals of The Salvation Army.
In 1865, William, by now an independent evangelist, along with Catherine founded The Christian Mission. William preached to the poor while Catherine spoke to the wealthy to gain support for their financially demanding work. In time, she began to hold her own fundraising campaigns.
It was not until 1878 that The Christian Mission became known as The Salvation Army. Modelled after the military with William and his fellow ministers a part of God’s Army, seeking salvation for the masses. William was appointed the first General and his ministers became “officers”.
Catherine became known as “The Army Mother” and remained a strong voice on The Salvation Army’s ideas on social issues and matters of belief.
With its strong focus on the downtrodden and dispossessed, The Salvation Army began to grow beyond Britain’s borders. In William’s lifetime, the Army would be established in 58 countries and colonies. Its mission was and is still guided by William’s book “In Darkest England and the Way Out”, which maps out a revoluntionary approach to social engagement never before undertaken by a church.
Both Catherine and William worked tirelessly to bring the Gospel to all, establishing a movement in the form of The Salvation Army. But, on 4th October 1890, Catherine lost her ongoing battle with ill health. Her son, Bramwell, described her passing as “a warrior laid down her sword to receive her crown”.
William continued on for many years, traveling all over the world to oversee his growing Army. On 20th August 1912, William Booth was, in Salvation Army terms, promoted to glory.
Though passed, both William and Catherine continue to be guiding influences in The Salvation Army and stand as the mightiest examples of how God uses the ordinary to create the extraordinary.
4 Simple Steps to a New Financial Beginning
The start of a new year is a terrific time to begin your journey toward financial security and investing success by making it a priority to pay off credit cards, car loans, and other short-term debts. That’s right, the first financial fitness test you need to pass is the "debt" test. Webster’s says that debt is anything you’re "bound to pay or perform; the state of owing something." Using that definition, very few Americans are free of debt. Why is getting debt-free the first step toward a sound investing strategy? Because it’s unwise to take on the risks that come with investing unless you have staying power. That means you don’t want to be in a position where circumstances unrelated to your investment strategy force you to sell your holdings and use the money elsewhere, such as for interest and debt payments. Also, for Christians, debts are moral as well as legal obligations and they must be honorably met no matter the circumstances. The late Dr. D. James Kennedy once gave a sermon in which he read a poem called "The Land of Beginning Again." He then presented Christ as the King of the Land of Beginning Again. All of us have experienced our share of errors, failures, and missed opportunities. We all have things that we would do differently if given a second chance. What wonderful news that, in Christ, the slate is wiped clean and we do have the opportunity of beginning again. In a similar fashion, many who have become weighed down by debt wish they could get free. They have learned that the satisfaction that comes with spending is brief indeed compared to the pressure of making monthly payments which often go on for years. For some, it seems hopeless. You may sometimes feel this way yourself. If so, take heart! You can make significant strides this year. It will require planning, discipline, sacrifice, and singleness of purpose, and there are some excellent books that can help: • Check out Mary Hunt's website DebtProofLiving.com, which also links to her very helpful blog, "Money Rules, Debt Stinks." Through her website and books, Mary has become the queen of frugal living. Her advice is practical and witty. That’s why we use her articles regularly in SMI. • Free and Clear: God’s Road Map to Debt-Free Living by Howard Dayton is a compassionate guide for those struggling with debt. Dayton’s Compass1.org website offers this and many other helpful resources. • Dave Ramsey has made a big splash helping listeners to his radio program get debt-free. His Financial Peace Revisited is worth a look. A friend of mine likes to say that the most powerful force in the universe (humanly speaking, of course) is singleness of purpose. Individuals or groups, no matter how determined, disciplined, or talented, will never realize their potential for growth and accomplishment without singleness of purpose. Their time, money, and energies must be focused on common goals. One thing that successful people seem to have in common is an emphasis on — perhaps that’s putting it too lightly, make that an obsession about — setting goals. Without singleness of purpose and specific goals, we can become like the person Scripture describes as double-minded. "That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does" (James 1:7-8). So let me encourage you to engage in a meaningful goal-setting exercise as you work to get debt-free. Here are some suggestions for effective goal-setting in any area of life; adapt them to your financial situation. Set goals that are consistent with God’s Word. Many successful people have accomplished much, yet remain unhappy. Having singleness of purpose toward the wrong goals only leads to wrong results. Examine your motivations, as well as your actions, in the light of God’s wisdom. Ask God for His guidance. This is not the same as having scripturally sound goals. This has more to do with having the wisdom needed to set the right personal priorities. God promises to guide us if we’re willing to submit to Him (Prov. 3:5-6). It’s not: "Show me Your will, Lord, so I can decide if I’m willing." Rather, it’s: "Before You even reveal Your will to me, Lord, the answer is yes." If married, set your goals together. If two people have become "one flesh," it’s critical that they have a singleness of purpose in their commitment toward common goals. Few areas will so quickly affect a couple’s relationship as a financial plan that limits their spending freedom because it brings mutually conflicting goals into the open. If you can’t reach a meeting of the minds on what your priorities should be, perhaps the marriage relationship itself needs some work. Put your goals in writing, signing your name and date. This helps cement in your thinking that you really have made a firm commitment of your will to achieving your goals. It is also helpful to have your goals posted where you will see them daily as additional motivation to stay the course when the inevitable temptations to compromise arise. Austin Pryor
