The 1826 Legacy We Carry Today
Two hundred years ago, a follower of Jesus by the name of David Nasmith changed the face of urban care forever by founding the Glasgow City Mission in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1826, between the deep poverty of the Industrial Revolution and the divide between the church and the working class, Nasmith launched a revolutionary movement that would soon
sweep across the globe that was built on a simple yet profound premise: you cannot care for a person’s soul without also caring for their body. Before “holistic care” became a modern concept, Nasmith and his team were living it out on the streets of Glasgow. They understood that true biblical Christian love meets people exactly where they are. By combining vital practical relief—like food, shelter, and literacy—with spiritual companionship, they created the world’s very first gospel rescue mission!
Today we stand on the shoulders of these pioneers. Every meal you help fund, every hour you spend volunteering, and every prayer you offer carries the very tangible love and Gospel of Jesus into the lives of struggling people right here in our community.
Thank you for helping us to continue David Nasmith’s legacy of meeting immediate physical needs while offering deep, lasting hope for the soul. A legacy that can trace is beginnings back even further to a man upon a cross.
Image: Streets of Glasgow, Scotland 1820’s