BE BOUNDLESS! Salvationists gather in London, England, for 150th anniversary congress
Dear Salvationists and friends, Commissioner Silvia and I are delighted to greet you as we gather in London, England, this month to celebrate 150 years of ministry and mission. One word that has been in all of our minds for the past several months is the word “boundless.” It is a great word; it reminds us that our God has no limits—his love is boundless, his grace is boundless, his forgiveness is boundless, his power is boundless! His love has no limits, his grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men … We will be focusing our hearts and our minds on this Boundless God as we meet for congress. The Army’s history is rich, but its future can be richer still if we take up the challenge and allow God to demonstrate his boundless power in our lives. Because of the promise of God’s Holy Spirit, there are no limits to what he can do through each one of us! May we each experience this Boundless God in a new way as we meet together at congress. Be blessed! Be Boundless!
General André Cox
The Song That Still Inspires BY RONALD W. HOLZ
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Boundless Salvation, written by General William Booth for the 1893 Boundless Salvation spiritual campaign in Great Britain, is still a favourite of congregations today. Composed in just one, long evening, it was sung to an obscure tune previously connected to an older hymn, My Jesus, I Love Thee. To this, Booth requested that a popular chorus, in 6/8 time, be added: “The heavenly gales are blowing.” The premiere came during the Boundless Congress weekend in London, England, in November 1893. 8 • July 2015 • Salvationist
While O Boundless Salvation was included in many song books in various forms after it was written, by the 1930 revised edition of The Song Book of The Salvation Army, it had gained status— placed first, with all seven verses. The song has been used at key moments throughout Salvation Army history. In his last public appearance on May 9, 1912, Booth led the song before a packed audience at the Royal Albert Hall even as he struggled with health problems. Dur ing the 50th anniversar y