Marc Belton became Chairman of the National Advisory Board (NAB) in January, succeeding Mike Cassling, who served in that role since 2021. Mr. Belton has served on the NAB since 2014 and most recently held the position of Vice Chairman.
We thought you’d like to learn more about this dynamic leader in his own words.
Tell us about your career.
I had a wonderful 32-year career with General Mills. I’m currently Chair of Minnehaha, a private Christian school in Minneapolis, The Guthrie Theatre and United by Black which is an inner-city collaborative in the Twin Cities. I started a consulting agency named Wisefellows Consulting, which allows me to work with purpose-driven businesses, focusing on creating sustainable growth and enabling strategic clarity for companies and not-for-profits. Serving is a passion for me.
How did you first become involved with the Army?
I became involved with the Army in 2000 when I was co-chair of a capital campaign for the Northern Division.
What should The Salvation Army expect of advisory board members at the local level?
I think the Army should look to their advisory boards for solid governance skills, practical guidance and ambassadorship. Advisory boards should be the first line of offense, sharing their advice and expertise. Being an ambassador is also very important— the ability to open doors, show unwavering support and create new relationships are central to the growth of the Army.
What is your expectation for officers who work with advisory board members?
Teaching people the ministry, listening without judgment and creating windows for effective participation is central to building a vibrant advisory board and Salvation Army relationships.
What do you view as the greatest challenge and opportunity for The Salvation Army?
Adapting to change. Finding the “best of both worlds”—which for me is finding the balance between autonomy and granularity and leveraging scale for increased efficiency and effectiveness. Focusing on the bigger picture by not letting the opportunity for increased ministry get crowded out by administrative and other challenges.
How do you see the NAB’s role in accomplishing the Army’s mission?*
The NAB’s role is to use wisdom, ability, and expertise to ensure The Salvation Army fulfills its mission to “preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human need in His name without discrimination.”
I truly believe that God has hand-picked His servants for this particular task and at this particular time.
I know that I can speak for every member of the NAB in saying that it is a tremendous honor to serve the King of Kings in this way.
What are you hoping will be achieved by the NAB while you serve as chairman?*
We are living in unprecedented times. It is my hope that we can together meet the challenges of these times operationally, strategically and innovatively while never losing focus on the mission of sharing the love of God through Jesus Christ.
What do you most appreciate about the Army’s ministry?
I love the Army because of their focus. They serve “the least, the last, the lost and the left out” in our communities with the love of Jesus.
Who is your most admired leader and why?
The absolute best model of leadership is Jesus Christ. If I have to pick an earthly leader, I would choose Nelson Mandela. He had grace in the face of extreme persecution and wisdom in unifying a nation with extreme divisions.
How does faith influence your career and community?
The greatest challenge is to keep our minds, hearts and actions consistent with a life in Him. There are so many distractions and controversies that can take our focus away on what really matters. The world we live in is volatile, uncertain, complex and is highly unlikely to change. How can we keep our minds and hearts right amid it all?
Questions, originally published in the War Cry, used with permission. *Additional questions.
