The Salvation Army Ringers Banned

Belk Department Stores has banned Salvation Army bell ringers from its stores --- just in time for 2017 Christmas season!!  The reason?  "... Salvation Army said they were told the department store ban had something to do with a change in Belk's social consciousness."  

There are 300 Belk locations in 16 states.  This move might result in $1 million less in donations, per the Salvation Army.

pc: wikipedia

BTW, since Year 2004 Target has not allowed SA bellringers at their stores.  Sad. 
Oh, well.  Just another reason that I've found myself increasingly less willing to stop and shop at our local Target store.  It's been many months since I've shopped thru their website too.  

William Booth (1829–1912), founder of The Salvation Army, laboured for the Lord among the poor and destitute in London’s East End. He would “stumble home night after night haggard with fatigue; often his clothes were torn and bloody bandages swathed his head where a stone had struck,” wrote his wife Catherine. “‘Not called!’ did you say? ‘Not heard the call,’ I think you should say,” wrote Booth. “Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father’s house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world.”


ETA:  Belk reverses its decision!  Read about it HERE

Ring Those Bells!!


The Salvation Army


William Booth, Founder of The Salvation Army

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