For many years it was the tradition of the residents of Halle and its outlying areas to choose a day and allow those who were destitute in the streets to knock on doors and ask for charity. August Francke lived in a little village just outside of Halle called Glaucha. The day appointed for weekly alms in this district was Thursday. For several years August took this opportunity to serve the poor by passing out bread in front of his home once each week. It occurred to him that this was a wonderful opportunity to fill not just empty stomachs, but to reach souls for Christ.