The training was held on Oct. to 19 at the Jesus Is Lord Church in Dandan and was focused on “Restorative Justice Advocacy.”
The event was a follow-up on the conference on Restorative Justice Advocacy in 2008 attended by Prison Fellowship-affiliated churches in Palau, Guam, the Federated State of Micronesia and the Northern Marianas.
Prison Fellowship CNMI executive director Femie Rey said the conference was aimed at training church leaders and empower them to advocate for restorative justice.
More than 100 attended the nightly meetings and 71, including some pastors, finished the training on ministry development, she said.
“Prison Fellowship CNMI seeks to empower individuals and faith communities to advocate for peace, justice, and reconciliation and to bring hope, forgiveness, restoration, and freedom to those who have been harmed,” she added.
Prison Fellowship CNMI was founded in 2001 as an organization dedicated to improving prison conditions and the lives of those incarcerated through the transforming love of Christ.
During the seminar, Rey talked about the fellowship program, including its intercessory network the Sycamore Tree project, evangelization and mentoring which provides support to inmates, their families and the community.
Among those who attended the seminar were Pastors Raffy Armenia of Jesus Is Lord; Manuelito Rey, Cornorstone Christian Church; Rober Abe, Saipan Community Church; Paul Medina, Marianas Christian Church; Brendon Perez, Victorious Christian Church; Alvaro Samonte, Saipan Bible Fellowship; Eric Abragan, Life in the Sun Christian Fellowship; Noel Puno, Filipino Community Church; Lito Roly, Christian Bible Fellowship Church; an Danny Ibanez, Upper International Ministry.
Pastor Kettot Dwight of Palauan Evangelical Church also joined the seminar.
One of the speakers, Pastor Manuelito Rey talked about the faith community’s response to violence, crime and justice.
He also discussed the model of restorative community and practicing God-given essential functions.
“The church is God’s model society in the world. By thinking and acting restoratively we demonstrate God’s redemptive and reconciling love,” he said.
