Joe the Turk, one of The Salvation Army's most legendary historical figures, has also been regarded as the spiritual father of many Salvationists throughout the years.

Imprisoned 57 times “for Jesus,” or for disturbing the peace with his open air preaching as authorities described it, Joseph Garabed was not the usual Salvationist.  Originally born Nishan Der Garabedian in Tallas, Turkey to a priest of the American Episcopal Church, he was at first not able to join The Salvation Army church because of his affinity for smoking and drinking.

 Having arrived in the United States with his brother at the tender age of 17, Garabed wanted to travel the country in search of adventures. It was his friendship with Houston native Salvationist, John Ephraim Thomas Milsaps, however, that ultimately convinced him to retire his habits in order to join The Salvation Army in 1887. He soon after changed his name to Joseph Garabed and was nicknamed “Joe the Turk” for his colorful personality and wardrobe.

During his 38 years as a Salvation Army officer, Joe the Turk traveled coast to coast spreading the gospel of The Salvation Army and defending other Salvationists from public humiliation. He once ran out the corrupt mayor of Macomb, Illinois and sat in his place until the town elected a new mayoral candidate. In another town, he saw a mob about to lynch a fellow Salvation Army corps officer and braved the crowd until the officer was able to safely escape on a train.

Time and time again, in towns across the United States the six foot, 250 pound, Joe the Turk was arrested 57 times for his unorthodox ways of spreading the word of God – most often using his cornet as a means of capturing the public’s attention. Each time, nonetheless, he was acquitted and released for what he described as doing Jesus work.

After almost four decades of adventurous service in the ranks of the Army, he retired in 1925. By the time he was promoted to glory in his New York hotel room in 1937, thousands of Salvationists across the country and the world called "Joe the Turk" their spiritual father.