The Salvation Army began in 1865 when William Booth, a London minister, gave up the comfort of his pulpit and decided to take his message into the streets where it would reach the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the destitute. His original aim was to send converts to established churches of the day, but soon he realized that the poor did not feel comfortable or welcome in the pews of most of the churches and chapels of Victorian England. Booth decided to found a church especially for them, which eventually grew into The Salvation Army.

For nearly 150 years, The Salvation Army has been providing assistance to people with a variety of social and spiritual afflictions. In 1887, the first Salvation Army Officers arrived in Mobile, preaching at the corner of Conception and St. Francis Streets. By 1899, an official Salvation Army Corps (church) opened in the Port City.  Persons who have sought our ministry, nurture and healing have come with issues of substance abuse, legal problems, relational conflicts, homelessness, unemployment, and most importantly, a need for spiritual awakening and restoration.  For more than 125 years, The Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama has opened its doors and offered hope to the poor, the homeless, and those struggling with drug and alcohol dependency.