William Takes the Gospel to the Streets
William was convinced that if he planned to save the souls of the poor, he could not afford to wait for them to come to him. So, he persuaded his good friend, Will Sansom, to preach with him in the streets.
Together, the two headed for “The Bottoms,” the worst of Nottingham’s slums. Young Booth cut an impressive figure as he stood atop a barrel or a chair to address his audiences. He was tall, with deep grey eyes, black hair, and a high, prominent nose.
William’s appeals did not go unanswered. However, he needed a significant breakthrough if he was going to get the people of this neighbourhood to follow him into a church, a building where they had been unwelcomed for so long. Fortunately, that breakthrough was not long in coming.
An Unexpected Encounter on Kid Street
One day, he and Will went to Kid Street to preach. Unfamiliar with the area, they set up camp right in front of the home of a notorious, rowdy drunkard known as Besom Jack.
First, the two sang a hymn. Then William stood on a chair and began to address the crowd.
“Friends,” he cried, “I want to put a few straight questions to your soul … Have any of you got a child at home without shoes to its feet? Are your wives sitting now in dark houses waiting for you to return without money? Are you going away from here to spend on drink, money that your wives need for food?”
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A Confrontation That Touched the Heart
Suddenly, the front door of the house behind them burst open. Besom Jack made straight for the pair of preachers.
Just as he was coming within reach, William’s gaze met him straight in the eyes. He said, “Jack, God loves your wife, and so did you once.”
Jack stopped dead in his tracks. The words had struck a nerve.
Then William asked, “Can you remember how much you loved her and cherished her when you first met?”
Jack’s eyes were fixed on the ground before William’s feet. Slowly, he nodded.
“Well, Jack, God loves you with a love like that, with a love far deeper and greater than that.”
A Soul Won in the Streets
Meanwhile, the crowd was hanging on every word. Finally, Jack looked up.
“Me?”
“Yes, Jack, you.”
Then William stepped down from his chair and took Jack by the arm.
“Come, Jack, kneel down here and tell the Lord that you love him too, and ask him to forgive you.”
Jack did just that.
To Be Continued…
Tale Tuesday 084
Date: 7th May, 2024
Title: : William & Catherine Booth (Part 10)
Source: God’s generals- The Revivalists
Author: Roberts Liardon
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