ROY KIRTON, pastor of Circle of Love Ministry in Copiague, Long Island, NY, and founder of the invaluable ministry "Safe Harbor Mentoring Program," born out of a vision given to Pastor Kirton who began volunteering as a Para-chaplain in 1994, will address the theme: "THE CHRISTIAN OBLIGATION TO PRISON INMATES (Matthew 25:43)".While teaching a life skills class on a weekly basis in the Nassau County Correctional Facility, Pastor Kirton began to connect with the men that attended in a positive way. The men remained in contact with Pastor Kirton when they went to State facilities. Upon their return home, Pastor Kirton and the members of Circle of Love Ministry worked with these men as they made the transition back to society. Out of this outreach, Safe Harbor was born. The Safe Harbor Mentoring Program derives its name from the hamlet of its origin. The ministry's hometown on Long Island, "Copiague", has as its name a Native American word meaning “safe harbor” .
The program is designed to assist people with a criminal/troubled past, who are being released from prison and need to focus on living socially acceptable and productive lives--some of them for the first time. According to Pastor Kirton, "The cost to families, the judicial system, taxpayers and countless victims has to be reversed...Our culture has to be prepared to turn a blight into a self-sufficient resource..."
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