It seems that many great things in our world have a Methodist connection somewhere. Take, for instance, the Salvation Army. Their founder, William Booth, was a Methodist minister, but he felt more called to reach the down and out who were far from church than preach to the safe (and already saved!). A story that reflects the early days of the Salvation Army movement and the spirit that launched it, involves a soup kitchen that served the poor and destitute. After the mealtime representatives of area churches would come into the room to invite people of their various denominations to go with them. One said, “All who are Presbyterian, come with me.” And a small band followed him into another room. 

Another got up and said, “All who are Baptist, come with me.” Then another, “All who are Church of England, come with me.” “All who are Methodist.” “All who are Reformed Church.” “All who are Lutheran.” 

After they all left, William Booth walked into the room and looking at the remaining numbers sitting at tables said, “All of you whom nobody else wants, come with me.” And thus began the Salvation Army. 

This is a wonderful picture of grace. Just as we talked about in the Making Room series, God extends grace to all of us and that extension comes through people. And just like we will talk about in the month of October, grace is what our world needs to heal its divisions and wounds. But understand what grace means. Grace means being willing to be a nobody. It means recognizing that our worth and value come not in our self-esteem or the esteem others impose, but a value offered by a benevolent, compassionate, loving God who says, “I will always take you. Come with me.” 

A church that crosses barriers of gender, race, physical and mental ability, social class, educational level, cultural and political divide, nationality, and language, will be a church the world needs. 

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