Blog

Central Youth Network is powered by the wonderful staff of the Central Territory’s Territorial Headquarters Youth Department. We think it is important for you to get to know the staff who strives to get you the materials and resources you need to help make your ministry the best it can be. We also want you to know that we pray for you constantly and are always here to help you. Contact us if you need any help or guidance! We want to INSPIRE you. We want to EQUIP you with the tools and skills to help push your ministry further along its course. We want to DEVELOP you to be the best that you can be, to be the best YOU you can be.


Captain Mary Kim|Territorial Youth Secretary  

It is with great joy and excitement that Captain Mary Kim joins Territorial Headquarters as the Territorial Youth Secretary. After her ordination and commissioning as a Salvation Army officer with the 2010 Prayer Warriors session, Captain Mary was appointed as the Divisional Youth & Candidates’ Secretary to the Kansas & Western Missouri Division where she served from 2010-2014. Then she headed to the other side of Missouri to the Midland Division as the Corps Officer of The Salvation Army Maplewood Corps in St. Louis from 2014-2016.

Captain Mary is a 4th generation Salvationist and her parents are Colonels Paul and Anna Kim (retired), who served as missionaries from the Korea Territory to the United States and began the work of the Korean Salvation Army in North America in 1980. She has two brothers, two very lovely and patient sister-in- laws, and six beautiful, intelligent, and fun nieces and nephews (Rachel, Jane, Caleb, Joshua, Selah, and Josiah).

In addition to reading, playing music, and getting to know people, Captain Mary enjoys eating food and will definitely love meeting many new people over coffee (iced vanilla Americano), ice cream (Rocky Road or Cherries Jubilee), dessert (if it involves fruit or chocolate, that’s her kind of dessert), or a meal at any Chicagoland eatery (did she mention that she enjoys eating!).

Sharon Waiksnoris|Territorial Youth Development Specialist (Ages 0-5)

Sharon Waiksnoris is a Youth Development Specialist in the THQ Youth Department who resources and helps administrate Junior Soldiers, youth Sunday School, and VBS. Sharon started working with young people at her corps when she was in Junior High School! Over the years, she has been a leader in almost every Army youth program. Currently, she is a Preschool/Kindergarten Sunday School teacher at her corps, Norridge Citadel. Her love for children led her to earn a BA in Elementary Education (Eastern University, St. Davids, PA) and a MA in Reading(Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ). Sharon loves to read, do crossword puzzles, Bible study and spend time with friends and family, especially her fun-loving grandchildren…not necessarily in that order!  Sharon knows the value of children’s ministry and is thankful that she heard and accepted the Gospel message as a child. Sharon’s desire is to keep the importance of ministering to the hearts and souls and bodies and minds of our children an intentional part of every youth program as well as showing kids, even in casual interactions, that you care about them.

Jerrie Miller|Territorial Youth Development Specialist (Ages 6-10)

Jerrie Miller has been apart of our team since 2000. Jerrie accepted Christ in 1965, in which she was introduced to Christ, her Savior and life-saver, by a faithful Girl Guard leader who saw past a tough outer shell and loved her to Jesus. This then lead to her ministry here. She is our Character Building Programs Specialist, runs the TSA Outdoors Curriculum Development and Outreach, and is a Youth Development Specialist for ages 6-10 years old. Youth is her passion and she lives it out each and every day.

Barb Higgins|Territorial Youth Development Specialist (Ages 14-17)

Barbara Higgins draws from more than 40 years experience in ministry with preteens and teens.  Barb taught public school for 34 years after completing her master’s degree in secondary education.  Currently she is the Territorial Director of Youth Ministries for the Central Territory. She has been married to her husband, Edward for 39 years, has two married children and six grandchildren.  Her greatest desire in life is that teens will become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.  Her love for God and for teens is what motivates her day by day.

 

Eric Himes|Director of Young Adult Ministries

Eric Himes is the Central Territory’s Director of Young Adult & Worship Arts Ministries, which means he works with young adults ages 18-29, leads the Central Territorial Worship Band called The Singing Company and provides worship resources and training for worship bands. He is passionate about encouraging leaders to use their unique gifts to build God’s Kingdom. If you want to talk to Eric, these are some of his favorite topics: the Chicago Cubs, Dodgeball, I’ll Fight Day, Baggo, praise and worship, guitars, music, creative writing, youth ministry and the future of The Salvation Army.

Eric and his wife Cathleen will have been married for ten years and have a three year old daughter named Wendy Joy. They live in a 1930’s fixer-upper with their cat Scout and attend the Oakbrook Terrace Corps.

Gerri Rajski|Youth Program Specialist

Gerri Rajski is the administrative assistant and database administrator and has worked in the Youth Department for 18 years, Gerri Rajski has a wealth of knowledge about every youth program. One of her main responsibilities is being our database administrator. It is in Gerri’s nature to be a helpful resource in anyway she can. Gerri is a very active member of her church. She also uses her graphic design and computer skills in many of the youth department projects.

Since she views this position as a ministry and hopes that she is regarded as a helpful resource to the field. She enjoys spending time with family and grandchildren every chance she gets.

Dawn Tooley|Administrative Services Coordinator

Dawn Tooley is no stranger to TSA ministries.  Having grown up the child of officers, Dawn has served in various youth & adult corps ministries, as well as seasonal and full-time staff at Army camps. Dawn found great use of her administrative gifts and skills serving in a doctors’ office but has truly found an affinity for them in serving as an administrative assistant at corps, divisional and now a territorial level. Her desire is to help the territorial team and you in finding answers, meeting needs and serving the Kingdom to the best of her ability.

Zane Koehler|Youth Communications and Events Support Specialist

Zane Koehler has a passion of working for youth. He has always loved being apart of his youth group at the Oak Brook Terrace corps in Oak Brook, IL which led him onto the path of wanting to work with youth. Zane grew up in the army and is a faithful servant to God. One of Zane’s missions, not only in is work environment, but his personal mission and ministry is to give today’s youth a chance at life, show and tell them about the Risen One, and give them the greatest time they could ever have.   

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The Central Youth Network exists to encourage and equip youth workers and officers to make an impact for the kingdom of God in their communities.

We are here because we want to see the lives of young people changed through the power of Jesus Christ. As youth leaders, you are critical to that mission, and you are important to The Salvation Army. Our aim is to get age-relevant youth development content into your hands, and to outfit you with the best resources and the latest news:

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The Hopeful Message of the 40 Developmental Assets

The secret to helping children and youth grow into happy, healthy, and responsible adults isn’t really a

secret at all. Simply make a point to connect with young people: Get to know them, talk to them,

understand them, help them, and build relationships with them. As a caring, trusted adult, you’ll be better

able to provide the building blocks young people need to succeed and reach their goals. Adult role models,

guides, and friends are very important to young people. With your help, young people can begin to

understand themselves and the world around them. We all know growing up isn’t always easy. That’s why

young people need adults like you in their lives.

Research from Search Institute identifies 40 Developmental Assets that have a powerful, positive impact on

young people. Children and teenagers who have high levels of these assets get involved in fewer risky

behaviors and are much more likely to exhibit the positive values, such as leadership, good health,

diversity, and success in school. The bad news is most young people don’t have enough assets. About 59

percent of young people, ages 11–18, have 20 or fewer Developmental Assets, according to Search Institute

surveys. The good news is we can change this because we all have the power to build assets in young

people’s lives.

To see a full list of all the developmental assets, CLICK HERE.

Contact Us

For General Inquires:

THQ Youth Department             Email: uscyouth@usc.salvationarmy.org
5550 Prairie Stone Parkway
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192

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