Emphasis Preaching Journal

William Booth had just stepped into the pulpit when members of his Methodist congregation started their vocal protest. They were angry that their pastor continued to invite street people into their sanctuary and church home. These unsavory people belonged elsewhere, but not in their church. Before he could respond his wife Catherine answered for him. She yelled from the first row of the balcony, "Never!" She was telling the congregants they would never stop inviting the homeless and downtrodden into the church.