08/26/2026
They were the children of William and Catherine Booth. But they were also just children.
Eight of them.
They grew up in a house where the mission never stopped. Their parents worked day and night building a movement that would eventually span the globe.
All eight became Salvation Army officers.
Some became legends.
Some served quietly.
Some changed entire nations.
And three eventually walked away from The Salvation Army.
But their story isn't simply one of success or failure.
It's a story of calling, family, sacrifice, leadership, conflict, heartbreak, and grace.
This week on CrossTalk at the Kroc, Major Jonathan Raymer and Lieutenant Colonel Eddie Hobgood sit down for the fourth and final episode of our August Salvation Army history series to explore the Booth children.
We talk about:
🔴 Bramwell Booth and the origins of the Salvation Army name
🇺🇸 Ballington Booth and the birth of Volunteers of America
🇫🇷 Kate Booth and her ministry in France
🎺 Herbert Booth and the development of Salvation Army music and media
❤️ Marie and her quiet faithfulness
⭐ Evangeline Booth and her extraordinary leadership
🌎 Lucy Booth and her ministry around the world
💔 The three children who left the Army—and the heartbreak it caused their father
But underneath all of it is a lesson that hits much closer to home:
The Booths weren't perfect. They were broken people whom God used for His glory.
And that's good news for the rest of us.
Because I don't have to be perfect.
I just have to be faithful.
🎙️ Listen to the newest episode of CrossTalk at the Kroc wherever you get your podcasts.
