
Welcome Home, Lt. Colonels Davis
by Colonel Richard Munn
Periodically, officers who are appointed out of their home territory for a season then get to return. It is often a win-win turn of events. The officer is exposed to a broadened view of Salvation Army ministry with a deeper community of colleagues and contacts, and the home territory reaps the reward of a returning leader with added experience and new ideas.
Such is the case for Lt. Colonels David and Margaret Davis, veteran and respected USA East officers, who recently returned to their home territory after serving as part of the National Headquarters staff. Here is a gifted couple with a legacy of impact and investment within our boundary lines.
SAconnects took the chance to catch up with David and Meg to give you, our readers, the story behind the story.
Suffice it to say, welcome home, David and Meg.
How long have you been commissioned officers, and where have you served in that time?
Dave was commissioned in 1983 and served three years in the USA South before we were married. I was commissioned in 1998. Since then, we have served together as corps officers, on divisional staff, on the College for Officer Training faculty, as divisional leaders in Massachusetts, and most recently on the staff at National Headquarters in Alexandria, Va.
What are your current responsibilities at Territorial Headquarters?
David serves as assistant chief secretary and territorial diversity and inclusion secretary. I serve as territorial secretary for program. This is a season of genuine privilege and responsibility, which we can only fulfill by the grace and strength of God.
Your service in NHQ sounds fascinating. What did you learn from that time?
We learned so much—it was a real privilege to serve at NHQ, giving us a new perspective into the scope of the Army’s work across the nation. It was both inspiring and humbling to see the innovative, passionate, and sacrificial service of the officers and staff of so many Army programs.
A very special highlight was the opportunity we had to take the program team of one of our national grantors to a corps in the Chicago area to talk with the officers and staff implementing Pathway of Hope. We and the funders were blown away by the professionalism, creativity, and love for people and community that was displayed by the team. To see the excellent results of their labor in the life of a Ukrainian refugee and her children was a true blessing.
We also learned on a deeper level how much the Army is loved and supported by many friends across the nation. There are many lawmakers who share strong faith in Jesus Christ and support the work of the Army—to share the gospel and serve those in need. The members of Congress we met with are just people like us who really want to solve problems and make life better for everyone. Other like-minded organizations, both Christian and secular, are also eager to work with the Army in the task of alleviating poverty and helping all people realize their full potential.
We have incredible access to all levels of society, which is a precious gift God has given to us. Not every church or organization has this kind of access. People want to hear about what we are doing, and they want to come alongside.
The possibilities are endless, and we need to pray for our national leaders and those who support them as they reach out to those in power and to partnering agencies for the good of those who God has called us to serve across the nation. We can’t do this work alone, and we need to celebrate and fully utilize the access God has given to us.
What are your highest hopes for our territory in the next few years?
We hope that Jesus will continue to be lifted high, and that our worship and work will draw more men, women, and children to Him.
We hope that in these days of religious ambiguity, the Army would hold fast to the foundations of our faith and provide to those who are searching, the steadfast truth of the gospel.
We pray that our corps will grow—that our soldiers and officers will continue to embrace and lean into our heritage of holiness.
We pray that our young people will embrace the spirit of the Army and be eager to engage in the battle through discipleship and service.
Do you have any concluding words of encouragement or insight for our readers?
Our Eastern Territory is wonderfully diverse—and that makes us stand out within our nation. To see so many different races and cultures “up front” and emerging into leadership affirms the gifts that God has given to the different parts of His body—all for the building of His kingdom. We are definitely better together, and it is truly exciting to be a part of this mosaic of diverse, committed, and boldly creative individuals working together for His glory. There is much more to be done, and we stand proudly, yet humbly, with all our brothers and sisters in Christ to help lead the Army into the future.
Come, join our Army, and let’s do this together!
Thank you, David and Meg. Our prayer is that this return season back in the USA East will be rich and fulfilling for you both, and for our territory. You can be sure that SAconnects and the USA East are cheering you on.