Faces of the Army: Meet Major Elizabeth Juliana
When Major Elizabeth first walked through the doors of The Salvation Army, she wasn’t following a family legacy of service. In fact, she and her husband came to the organization in their late 20s, searching for a church home. What they found instead was a calling.
“We went to a worship service, and they just embraced us,” she recalls. “These people didn’t know us from Adam, but they treated us like they had known us forever. They embraced our children. It was just like—okay, we feel at home.”
That welcoming spirit is what drew the couple in—and they never looked back. From their first appointment in Miami, Florida, to their current roles in the ALM Division, Major Elizabeth and her husband have traveled across the country, sharing the love of Jesus and serving communities in need.
Today, Major Elizabeth holds the title of Divisional Leader for Mission Advancement and Officer Development. It’s a big title, but her mission is simple: to support and strengthen The Salvation Army’s ministry in every way possible.
“Our mission is to be Jesus to whoever we encounter,” she says. “It’s more than preaching. It’s about living out the love of Christ in practical ways.”
For Major Elizabeth, that mission is lived out in countless unseen acts of compassion—calling someone in the hospital, helping a family find work, or simply being present for someone who has lost everything.
One story that sticks with her came through a text message from a fellow officer. A woman named Evelyn had shown up at their doors after losing everything. “She’s just sitting outside on the steps,” the message said. “I’m praying with her.” That moment, shared through a text, spoke volumes about the culture of care that defines The Salvation Army.
Camp ministry is another passion close to Major Elizabeth’s heart. “Camp is life-changing,” she says. “Even if we don’t see immediate change, the seeds we plant, the kindness they experience—it stays with them.”
She lights up when talking about girls’ camp in particular, where she’s been a guide, a counselor, and sometimes just a listening ear to young girls navigating life’s challenges. “At camp, they experience peace, joy, and fairness—things they might not always get at home.”
Faith is central to her life and leadership. Her favorite Bible verse, Isaiah 43:1, reminds her of her identity in Christ: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” It’s a verse her father, a strong believer who discipled her from a young age, often shared. “He’d always tell me, ‘Elizabeth, don’t you know you’re a princess? You’re a daughter of the King.’”
That belief continues to fuel her mission today.
“The Salvation Army is a church,” she says. “I didn’t even know that when I first came. I’d seen the thrift stores, but I didn’t know about the spiritual life, the worship, the discipleship. It’s a whole world of faith and care.”
Looking to the future, Major Elizabeth dreams of a more tailored ministry—one that meets the unique needs of each community instead of following a one-size-fits-all model. “We’re already present in so many communities,” she says. “But I want us to be intentional—to really know what each community needs and serve in ways that matter.”
After all these years and appointments across the country, she still finds joy in exploring new places, learning local histories, and seeing firsthand how The Salvation Army remains a constant, steady presence in communities that have changed around it.
“I’m glad that the Lord brought me here,” she says. “I’m glad I get to be Jesus to these people. It’s exciting, refreshing, and challenging. But we get this—we’re children of the King.”