From personal experience, director says youth programs’ impact reaches far and wide

OMAHA, Neb.— Putting younger generations on the right path is as fulfilling as it gets.

That’s what The Salvation Army Western Division’s Divisional Youth Secretary Lt. Melissa Christiansen would tell you.

She manages all of the organization’s youth programs in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, and the Quad Cities.

She highlighted the litany of fun opportunities available at all three of Omaha’s corps community center locations.

"The Salvation Army here in the Omaha metro has a variety of youth programs available to the community,” she said.

And the Western Division offers similar programs across its entire coverage area.

"We also have our summer camp up in South Sioux City that I get the enormous privilege of helping run every summer, where we see hundreds of kids come and get to be outdoors and make memories and build potential and just have a great time and meet Jesus," she said.

Christiansen said that has a powerful impact, based on her personal experience.

"Summer camp has a special place in my heart.  I actually came to Christ at a summer camp.  And then, I came to The Salvation Army through working at Gene Eppley Camp that was south of Omaha prior to the 2019 floods.  So camp can have a powerful impact on the lives of kids and young adults both.”

She also touted the music programs available to young people.

“We have a monthly music day—Western Worship Arts Academy—where they can sing or play in the band, they can learn the guitar, ukulele."

Whether it is social development or finding their talents, Christiansen feels there is no limit to what kids and young adults can get out of these opportunities.

"I believe that Salvation Army youth programming is so important because it provides an opportunity for kids to build relationships, recognize that they have potential—and to help them reach that potential—make memories that will last them a lifetime, and just achieve things that they might not be able to otherwise achieve."