In 1878, by a fortunate inspiration, Booth changed the name of his mission from "The Christian Mission" to "The Salvation Army." Converts became soldiers of Christ and were given the name that they still use today of "Salvationists." Paramilitary ranks and uniforms were incorporated into the movement to serve as a witness to others and the movement quickly began to spread. In 1879, the first meeting of The Salvation Army in America was held in Philadelphia and elicited an enthusiastic response. Eight years later, Major Jones Inman, a pioneer army officer, visited Raleigh, North Carolina, where he held his first meetings in the chapel of the state penitentiary for about 500 prisoners.
Over a hundred years later, The Salvation Army of Wake County still continues to witness to prisoners, but has also grown into so much more. While William Booth's primary goal was to lead people into a relationship with Jesus Christ, he also recognized that physical, social and emotional restoration must go hand in hand with spiritual rebirth. Booth, therefore, instituted a social service program that has grown today into one of the largest and oldest social service programs in the nation. His motto of "Soup, Soap and Salvation" is still practiced today in the integrated ministry of spiritual and physical support offered at The Salvation Army of Wake County.
