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When winter settles over Kalispell, Montana, the town grows quieter as the days get shorter. After-school opportunities are often limited, leaving kids and teens with routines of going from school to home with few places in between.
The decrease in activities compared to summer months can lead to isolation, and coupled with reduced sunlight, it can negatively impact mental health, exacerbating symptoms of depression and anxiety, according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Seeing a gap in opportunities for local youth, Kalispell Corps Officer Lt. Sean Pease set out to strengthen the corps’ support for kids. “I felt God pulling on my heart and saying, ‘We can do more to fulfill needs in the community,’” Pease said.
He began by sending a survey to families connected to the Angel Tree program, asking how The Salvation Army could continue serving their children throughout the year. He said the majority of responses made it clear that families wanted a dedicated teen night.
“I realized this needed to happen,” Pease said. “I envisioned the corps as a place where kids felt they belonged—somewhere they wanted to be.”
At the time, Pease said portions of the building had remained unused since the pandemic, including four empty classrooms and an indoor gymnasium—one of the only ones in Kalispell.
“I know that God was guiding me to do this,” he said. “I went in with the mindset that even if it’s just a space for one kid or one teen a night, it’s worth it.”
In March 2025, the corps opened its doors for a Monday teen night and a Wednesday evening Troops character-building program for younger children. Pease ensured accessibility wasn’t a barrier by offering transportation to and from the corps, along with a free on-site dinner, easing stress for parents.
Since launching the programs, the corps has welcomed an average of 20 kids each week, strengthening engagement with families already involved at the corps while also drawing in new participants.
“Youth ministry is so valuable because it sets the tone for young people’s futures. We can give kids the tools not to avoid difficult situations, but to get through them and rely on God.”
Lt. Sean Pease
He said growing youth attendance prompted the corps to hire Thamires SilvaRocha as Youth Ministries Coordinator to help with transportation and lead weekly Bible studies and activities.
“It’s become an opportunity for more intentional one-on-one connection and support,” Pease said. “It’s through that care and consistency that we help build a space where kids feel safe and heard.”
Following group dinners, kids participate in a Bible study where they can ask questions and engage in open conversations often surrounding identity, friendships and the challenges they may face in everyday life.
SilvaRocha said that after weekly lessons, she gets the kids up and moving with indoor basketball, pickleball and other games, giving them an outlet that winter weather often takes away. She said they also plan themed nights, including movie screenings and a ramen cooking contest—a favorite for many.
“They tell us how much fun they’re having, and we see it firsthand as they begin building friendships with one another,” she said.
Throughout the evening, she reminds participants that she’s always available if they need someone to talk to.
“Some kids have concerns at home or school, and this becomes a space where they can express their emotions or just have fun for a while,” she added.
One participant, Violet Griffin, 16, has attended Sunday service at the corps for over six years.
“Attending the corps has helped me become more confident in my faith,” Griffin said. “It’s a place where I don’t feel like I have to hold back.”
Once Griffin heard about teen night, she knew she wanted to get involved to connect with teens her age who share similar interests and values.
“We learned she’s the oldest of several siblings, and that responsibility comes with various pressures,” SilvaRocha said. “She simply needed a place where she could be a kid and be heard.”
Griffin said it didn’t take long for teen night to become a highlight of her week.
“I just like to hang around and talk with everybody,” Griffin said. “We definitely support each other a lot. Everyone’s going through their own things and so we just listen and be there.”
Today, she is a corps cadet who volunteers as a leader during Teen Night, often helping SilvaRocha read Scripture to the group. She has also begun assisting with worship by playing guitar and singing alongside Pease.
“She’s grown so much in just a year,” SilvaRocha said. “She’s become a confident peer leader and a role model for the other kids.”
SilvaRocha said she grew up in a busy home similar to Griffin’s and recognizes the role faith and community can play in helping kids find stability amid chaos.
“It’s so important to give kids these spaces to be themselves,” SilvaRocha said.
Looking ahead, Pease said his focus is on building more connections between local youth and the corps and creating opportunities for them to engage with the wider community.
“Youth ministry is so valuable because it sets the tone for young people’s futures,” Pease said. “We can give kids the tools not to avoid difficult situations, but to get through them and rely on God.”
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