William Booth and Catherine’s First Preaching Ministry
It was 1861 and although William Booth had become a prominent Methodist evangelist, he was unhappy that the annual conference of the denomination kept assigning him to a pastorate. Home duties in a local church kept him from accepting invitations to do evangelistic campaigns. This was where his heart really lay. God would soon change his circumstances but before then something unexpected had to happen.
William had just announced the last hymn when his wife stood up and made her way to the front. What could be so important for her to interrupt the service? As she came up beside him, William whispered “What is it my dear?” She looked at him with steady eyes. “I want to say a word.” “At the pulpit?” he whispered back. Catherine nodded. William was astonished. Women didn’t take over the pulpit from their husband. “My dear wife wishes to speak” he said as he sat down.
Catherine spoke in a clear high voice, “I have made a promise that I will obey God from now on and it was the Holy Spirit who urged me to stand up and speak to you all. I, like my husband, have been called to preach the gospel from the pulpit, and I am ready to do that!” As Catherine continued for a few more minutes, many of the congregation were visibly moved. Some were in tears. As she finished and William hurried up to the pulpit, he quietly asked, “Will you preach again tonight?” Catherine nodded. She did preach that night and the usual congregation was supplemented by curious enquirers.
After that her preaching became a more regular attraction in that Methodist church. This was not without controversy but William Booth had one sole motivation – to bring people under the sound of the gospel, and if a woman preacher would draw a crowd that a man preacher couldn’t, he was all for it!
How strong is your desire to see people genuinely saved? Would you step out of your comfort zone to see it happen? Those who lead souls to Christ in our day all seem to be people who go where others dare not go. Will you be one of them?