Commissioner Israel Gaither is one of five children and the only son born to the Rev. Israel L. Gaither, Sr and Lillian Gaither. The Commissioner was born and raised in New Castle, Pennsylvania.
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 their graduation from the Army’s School for Officers Training in June, 1964 - Israel and Eva were ordained and commissioned as Salvation Army officers (clergy). For over 40 years their service in the Army has taken them around the world. In addition to the USA the Commissioners have lived in Africa and the United Kingdom.
They have served - individually and jointly - numerous leadership positions – including pastors of Salvation Army corps (congregations) in Aliquippa, Erie and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as well as in Brooklyn New York’s Bedford-Stuyvesant.
Their more than four decades of ministry has impacted the Salvation Army’s work in 120 countries and significantly so in Africa, England and the United States. Most of their trips to over 30 countries, with more than 50 visits to Salvation Army territories, occurred during the time of leadership service at the Army’s International Headquarters in London.
In November 2002 Commissioner Israel Gaither was appointed to serve as the Salvation Army’s Chief of the Staff, the first African-American to hold the position since the founding of the organization in 1865. As the organizations chief executive officer, the Commissioner served as second-in-command of the worldwide organization. During that period Commissioner Eva Gaither served as the World Secretary for Women’s Ministries – an executive responsibility for the advancing of women in developed and developing sectors of the world. Both of these administrative positions were served at the Salvation Army’s International Headquarters.
Described as an efficient administrator and gifted speaker – the Commissioner is a much sought after preacher having addressed thousands of Salvationists and Christians worldwide. Commissioner Eva has served as guest presenter and speaker for a variety of women’s programs.
Among his varied leadership accomplishments, Commissioner Israel, as an African-American, in addition to serving as the Chief of the Staff, has obtained many ‘firsts’ in Salvation Army history. He is the first to be conferred with the rank of commissioner, the highest that can be achieved in the organization.
The Commissioner is also the first African-American to serve as a divisional commander; having served with Commissioner Eva as divisional leaders in Southern New England followed by a similar appointment in Western Pennsylvania. These were followed by their appointments to several key territorial assignments for the Army’s USA Eastern Territory encompassing 11 northeastern states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The Gaither’s marriage in 1967 - during the turbulence of the African–American civil rights era - marked the first racially integrated marriage of Salvation Army Officers in the USA.
Prior to being appointed to lead The Salvation Army in the USA Eastern Territory with headquarters in New York, the Gaithers served a similar capacity as the Territorial Leaders of the Army’s work in Southern Africa. They received those appointments in January 1999 marking the first time for the appointing of an African-American Salvation Army Officer outside of the USA. In their respective roles as Territorial Commander and Territorial President of Women’s Ministries, they gave oversight to the extensive work from its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa. The work under their charge included the countries of South Africa and Mozambique; the Kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland and the Army’s ministry on the island of St. Helena.
The key administrative leadership appointments in New York and Johannesburg were historic as Commissioner Gaither was again the first African-American to serve in these top posts.
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 Gaither is the first African-American to serve in this distinguished assignment.
The Army’s USA Eastern Territory commissioned the writing of the biography of Commissioner Israel Gaither. It is the story of the remarkable Christian leadership journey of the Commissioner and his wife, written by the extensively published author (Colonel) Henry Gariepy, author of 25 books.
Among the honors received by Commissioner Israel for his global leadership and ministry are honorary doctorates: Doctor of Humane Letters (May 2005) from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky and Doctor of Divinity (May 2008) from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana; being named in the San Francisco Examiner as one of the ‘Top Ten Communicators’ in 2006; and recognition by Dominion and the Dominion Foundation as one of nine African-American Leaders to receive the Excellence in Leadership: Strong Men and Women Award (2008).
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, the University of Kentucky. Their son Mark, founder of JAWS Marketing, is also head varsity basketball coach at Bethel Park High School, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania and holds a B.S. degree from Asbury College and a M.A. from Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh, PA.
Four grandchildren are the joys of the Gaithers’ life: Isaiah Highland Sparks and Matthew Israel Gaither, Virginia Marie Gaither, and Andrew Adams Gaither.
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