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Major Otis Childs is a native of Greenville, Mississippi and is the oldest of four children born to the late Mrs. Lenora Childs Harris.
Major Childs’ educational background includes a High School diploma from Greenville High School in 1975, diploma and ministerial ordination from The Salvation Army College For Officers Training in 1977. In addition to these, Major Childs has completed continuing education studies in the areas of Pastoral Counseling, Homiletics, Discipleship, Human Resources, and Fitness and Nutrition.
Major Vivian Childs is the oldest girl of six children born to the late Mr. and Mrs. John (Jean) Taylor. Major Vivian Childs is a native of Quincy, Illinois, where she began attending The Salvation Army at age seven.
Major Vivian Childs’ educational background includes a diploma from Quincy High School in 1966, a diploma and ministerial ordination from The Salvation Army College for Officer Training in Chicago, Illinois in 1970. In addition to these Major Childs has college credits in Sociology and Human Relations. She also has numerous continuing education credits in Bible Study, counseling, social work and teen ministry.
On May 27, 1978 the former Lt. Otis Childs and Capt. Vivian Taylor were united in marriage in Nashville, Tennessee. Their ministry as a Salvation Army Officer couple includes service as Commanding Officers in Nashville from 1978-1980, Washington, DC from1980-1988, Petersburg, Virginia from1988-1992, and Portsmouth Virginia from1992-1994, Faculty members of The Salvation Army College For Officer Training in Atlanta Ga. 1994-2001, Divisional Secretary and Asst. Divisional Secretary for Women’s Ministries in Washington, DC 2001-2003, Corps Officers in Melbourne Florida from 2003-2006, and Ocala Florida 2006-2010. Currently the Childs are stationed at Territorial Headquarters. Major Otis L. Childs is the Evangelism & Adult Ministries Secretary. Major Vivian Childs is the Intercultural Ministries Director and Associate Evangelism & Adult Ministries Secretary.
The Childs have a combined total of approximately seventy-six years of service in Salvation Army ministry.
They have two children and one granddaughter, Candace, age 27, and Jeremy age 25. Granddaughter Leya (Jeremy’s little girl) is 3 years old.
Hobbies and special interests for the Childs include sports, computers, arts and crafts, and fishing.
