Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good
Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!
Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good
Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!
Who we Are
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 Salvation Army is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by U.S. law. EIN 38-1370971
Serving the Detroit area since 1887, the Great Lakes Division of the Salvation Army remains steadfast in our dedication to supporting those in need across our region.
Our History
The Salvation Army landed in the United States in 1880 and began serving Detroit in 1887. However, the earliest soldiers of the Army had faced opposition in Detroit. Their concern for the poor challenged the norm and shed light on social ills that others preferred to pretend did not exist. Not long after the first Salvationists assembled in the city, the local government passed the Campus Ordinance, proclaiming, "No man may make a speech or blow a horn or beat a drum within one half-mile of city hall." As much of the Army's early work depended on street meetings designed to attract people in need of aid, the ruling was a major setback. Colonel Blanche Cox, commander of The Salvation Army in Detroit, challenged the ordinance. Over a period of months, she was arrested and brought before the court 12 times. She spent months in jail for disturbing the peace, but even as she did, a public outcry grew in her defense. Soon, The Detroit News, led by its founder, James H. Scripps, made The Salvation Army a front page issue. With support from community leaders, the law was repealed and The Salvation Army earned its right to serve those in need.
Want to learn more about us? Read our Annual Report.
Our Local Leadership
Lieutenant Colonels Steven and Christine Merritt
Lieutenant Steve and Christine Merritt appointed in the Great Lake Division in June 2023. Previously, they were appointed to the Wisconsin & Upper Michigan Division starting in 2016.
They were both born to Salvation Army officers. They met as children while both families were stationed in Omaha, Nebraska, were married in 1986, and were commissioned and ordained in 1993 after attending The Salvation Army College for Officer Training in Chicago.
Prior to the Merritt’s appointment to Milwaukee, they were appointed to the Rockford Temple as Corps Officers. The Merritt’s have three children Benjamin, Matthew, and Abigail.
Get in Touch
The Salvation Army Great Lakes Division
16130 Northland Drive
Southfield, MI 48075
(248) 443-5500
