Church Army Australia

Church ArmyAustralia

It is 1932. Capt. John Cowland boards a ship in England, and sails halfway round the globe, in response to a call from the Australian Church to lead an evangelistic mission. His team of 10 travels to every Australian state and territory and reaps a great harvest of souls on behalf of the church.

The result of Cowland's campaign was unanimous support from every Australian Bishop to establish the Church Army in Australia. For the past 70 years the Church Army has been serving the Australian Church with a focus on conversion, consecration and committed church membership.

Church Army began in London in 1882. Founder, Wilson Carlile, was known as the "Archbishop of the Gutter" and the "Apostle to the Outsider". His personal motto was "Go for the worst". His heart resonated deeply with God's heart for the least, the last and the lost!

A lot has changed since 1882, or even 1932, but one things remains constant: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." And he calls ordinary men and women to be his hands and feet in a hurting world.

The Church Army is a growing movement of pioneering evangelists who declare the good news of Jesus Christ in word and action so that many more people will follow Him and be established in healthy communities of faith

Wilson Carlile & The Birth Of Church Army

Early Life and Calling

At the age of fourteen, Wilson Carlile (1847–1942) left school to work in the family silk business. His one ambition was to make money.

During the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 he dodged about on the Continent, often enough between the lines of the opposing forces, picking up the raw material of his business at low, panic prices. At twenty-five he realised his ambition having amassed a fortune of £20,000.

The depression of 1873 wiped out his fortune and Carlile found himself bedridden with a serious illness for six months.

In those months of despair and illness he gave his life, his heart, his soul absolutely and completely to God. Later he said, “God threw me on my back so I could look up better.”