Enough is Enough: Protecting our Children Online

Commissioner Eva D. Gaither - National President of Women's Ministries, The Salvation Army in the United States of America

Commissioner Eva Gaither is a fifth generation Salvationist. She is also one of five children, born in Sidney, Ohio to Richard and Merle Shue. On her graduation from the Army's School for Officers Training in June, 1964 - Eva was ordained as a minister and commissioned as a Salvation Army officer (clergy). Over her 40 years of service with The Salvation Army, Gaither's ministry has impacted the Salvation Army's work in 111 countries most significantly in Africa, England and the United States. Mrs. Gaither has served in numerous leadership positions throughout the Army, including as pastor of Salvation Army corps (congregations) in Aliquippa, Erie and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as well as in Brooklyn New York's Bedford-Stuyvesant and various regional, national, and international leadership positions in business administration.

Commissioner Gaither served as the World Secretary for Women's Ministries, an executive responsibility for the advancement of women in developed and developing sectors of the world. During this four-year period of service at The Salvation Army's International Headquarters in London, England, Gaither traveled to more than 30 countries through more than 50 visits to Salvation Army territories in order to provide support and guidance to the leaders in those regions as well as to minister to leaders' needs. Commissioner Eva also served as a divisional leader in Southern New England and again in Western Pennsylvania, followed by her appointment to several key territorial assignments for the Army's USA Eastern Territory, including the top leadership role of Territorial Commander, encompassing 11 northeastern states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Prior to being appointed to lead The Salvation Army in the USA Eastern Territory, both Mr. and Mrs. Gaither served as the Territorial Leaders of the Army's work in Southern Africa. They were appointed as such in January 1999 marking yet another first for African-Americans in the organization - the first African-American Salvation Army Officer appointed to a position outside of the USA. In their respective roles as Territorial Commander and Territorial President of Women's Ministries at the headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, they oversaw the extensive work of The Salvation Army in the countries of South Africa and Mozambique; the Kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland and the Army's ministry on the island of St. Helena. On May 1, 2006 the Gaithers assumed the key executive leadership assignments of National Commander and National President of Women's Ministries for the United States of America. Commissioner Eva Gather has served as guest presenter and speaker for a variety of women's programs.

The Gaithers have two children, Michele Gaither Sparks who holds a B.A. and M.A. from Asbury College. She serves as the Director of Communications at the Gatton College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky. Their son Mark, a physical education teacher and varsity basketball coach at Ringgold High School in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, holds a B.S. degree from Asbury and an M.A. from Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh, PA. Two grandchildren are the joys of the Gaither's life: Isaiah Highland Sparks (8) and Matthew Israel Gaither (18 months).