About
The purpose of The War Cry, the official national publication of The Salvation Army in the United States, is the same as that for which the Army itself was called into being: to communicate the Christian gospel, to bring people to experience Jesus Christ as Savior and inspire them by His example.
Our Mission
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without-discrimination.
The War Cry Team
Lesa was born in Hannibal, MO, and grew up in the small town of Palmyra, MO. Following high school, Lesa studied at Hannibal-LaGrange College and then entered the College for Officer Training in 1983. Commissioned in 1985, she served in corps appointments in South Dakota, Nebraska and Wisconsin before being appointed to National Headquarters as youth editor in 1991. She also served as War Cry features editor during her time at NHQ. Lesa married her husband Brian in 1993. They are the parents of two young adult children, Emma and Josiah. Together, the Davises have served as corps officers in Fond du Lac, WI; St. Louis (Maplewood), MO; Lansing, MI; and at Norridge Citadel in the Chicago area. They were also appointed to the College for Officer Training as staff officers from 2002-2005, and again as training leaders from 2017-2022. Lesa was also appointed to the territorial headquarters staff as Secretary for Spiritual Life Development from 2019-2022. As an officer, Lesa completed her undergraduate degree at Olivet Nazarene University and a Master’s in Spiritual Formation from Asbury Seminary. – Lt. Colonel Lesa Davis: Editor-in-Chief
Born and raised in Michigan, Andrea attended Michigan State University where she earned a degree in journalism, with a focus in design and broadcast. After graduation, she moved to New York where she began her professional career at Macy’s. While in the Big Apple, Andrea met her future husband and ultimately moved to Virginia in 2013 where she found a family at the next step in her professional development at The Salvation Army. – Andrea Martin: Art Director
Caleb Louden is a lifelong Salvationist who is passionate about The Salvation Army’s holistic mission and message of full salvation. He has a Doctor of Ministry from Candler School of Theology (Emory University), Master of Theology (ThM) and Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, and BA in International Studies from University of South Florida. Prior to his present work, he served on staff at the Atlanta Temple Corps before later working in the USA Southern Territory’s Youth Department. – Caleb Louden: Managing Editor
Gloria has worked at The Salvation Army for 20+ years. As the Operations & Circulation Manager, she wears many hats in the Publications department including database management pertaining to all circulation matters. When she’s not in the office, she likes trying new recipes, going on long walks with her dog, Biggie, as well as watching movies. – Gloria Hull: Operations & Circulation Manager
Originally from Rhode Island, Elizabeth attended Pepperdine University where she earned a BA in Creative Writing and a minor in Multimedia Design. While at Pepperdine, Elizabeth spent an academic year abroad in Italy. After graduation, Elizabeth moved to D.C. to pursue her career in the creative arts. Elizabeth is the lead for developing and implementing
David is a born and raised Salvationist and lifelong writer. He graduated from the University of Washington in 2020 and joined The War Cry team in 2021 where he writes articles, reviews submissions and travels for stories and photos. He currently lives in the Seattle area with his fantastic wife and is a faithful soldier at the Seattle Temple corps. Some favorite pastimes include watching movies, playing board and video games, reading and wandering the forested roads of his home. – David Reardon: Journalist/ Copy Editor
Raised in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia) area her entire life, Maryam attended the University of Maryland, College Park, where she converted to Christianity and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English Language & Literature. During her time in school, she also minored in Creative Writing with a focus in African American studies, and wrote for several collegiate publications. In 2022, Maryam joined The Salvation Army National Publications team as an Editorial Assistant, where she assists in copy editing, graphic layout, and print production coordination. In her free time, Maryam loves cooking her favorite dishes, watching silly movies with her nerd of a husband, and collecting tons of books that it’ll take her approximately a year and a half to even crack open. – Maryam Outlaw: Editorial Assistant
Born and raised in Maryland, Rachel spent much of her youth exercising her creativity through music and the visual arts. She studied Communications at Allegheny College and later completed a graphic design certificate program, after which she began working as a custom stationery designer at a studio in Virginia. Rachel joined The Salvation Army Publications team in December 2022 as a graphic designer for The War Cry and Peer magazines. In her free time, Rachel enjoys spending time in nature, reading, word puzzles, expanding her ever-growing vinyl collection and exploring the local arts and music scene. – Rachel Domotor: Graphic Designer
With deep DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia) pride and a passion for storytelling, Makeda is a seasoned media professional with a diverse background. After studying at the University of Accra, she developed a global perspective and a love for travel. Her career began as an Associate Producer at SiriusXM, and she quickly rose to become the lead Line Producer for an international broadcast news network, refining her skills in live broadcast, video editing and control room operations. With a proven record for delivering impactful news stories while maintaining the highest editorial standards, Makeda now serves as the Production Coordinator for The War Cry. Overseeing production, she is known for her keen eye for detail and effective project management. Outside of work, she enjoys international travel (four continents and counting), exploring vegan cuisine, roller skating and thrifting for unique finds. – Makeda Sheffield: Production Coordinator
From his educational background in the South Carolina Public School System to his service in the United States Navy, Lonnie has made a significant impact serving others. He and his wife, Nichole, lead the youth department at their church and are actively involved in the greeter’s ministry and the H2H mission team. Spending time with family, including their granddaughter, and enjoying activities like swimming, traveling and shopping add a wonderful balance to his life. Lonnie’s commitment to service and community is commendable! – Lonnie Williams: Administrative Assistant
