The Christian Council for Reconciliation (CCR) was founded on the understanding that human brokenness is the root and result of crime. This brokenness requires the active participation of the wider faith community if healing and reconciliation are to occur. Our mission is to foster and support community participation in the work of prison ministry, both inside the walls of our prisons and on the street, primarily through volunteer mobilization.
My introduction to ministry to the wounded was with a visit to the Little Lighthouse Drop-in Centre in Moncton while I was in college there. The Little Lighthouse was one of the earliest community chaplaincy ventures in the Atlantic Region. This initial connection though quite brief, was nurtured and grown through contact with Charlie Taylor as I approached the end of my studies at Acadia Divinity College. Over the last couple of years of the M.Div program, I enrolled in a number of courses related to Prison Ministry and have been hooked ever since.
My involvement in this ministry has continued from that time (graduated in 1991) either formally or as a volunteer and until Charlie’s passing in 2004, he continued to be a most significant mentor. Over the years I have served as a facilitator in a spiritually based treatment program at Westmorland Institution and also as Chaplain in a provincial jail (Kings Correctional Centre) in Waterville, Nova Scotia. The Kairos Marathons have also been an important portal to this ministry and also influential in my own spiritual and personal growth. I continue with the Kairos Street Marathons to this day, teaming as co-facilitator with Clarence DeSchiffart. This experience and involvement has also grown into a teaching role at Acadia Divinity College, having acted as Director of the Diploma in Prison Ministry program for a number of years and in the present continuing to offer individual courses from time to time.
At present, I serve as counsellor to students at Kingstec Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College while staying connected to prison ministry through the marathons and instructing in the occasional course at Acadia.
Grand Pre, NS is home to my family, my wife Heather and daughter Lacey who recently turned five and is set for school in the fall.
Peter Hoar
Executive Director
Mille & Walter Munn
Administrator & Hostess
Spring House
the Rev. Carol Smith
Facilitator
St. Luke's Renewal Centre
Peter was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was raised there among six other siblings. He attended Mount St. Vincent University where he earned a BA majoring in Religious Studies and will complete his Masters in Divinity from the Atlantic School of Theology in the new year. Peter’s education includes a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education. Peter had a career in commercial insurance management prior to taking a few years home with his boys and renovating houses. He has a history of volunteer work in the Archdiocese of Halifax, has served as Lay Coordinator for his parish in Parrsboro and has acted as lay supply for local United Church of Canada congregations. Peter is glad to have the opportunity to work in an atmosphere which combines his administrative and managerial experience with his need to actively live out his faith.
Millie Munn, a support worker at Spring House since 2006, is now the Administrator and Hostess at Spring House. Millie is living in residence, and has brought along her husband Walter who volunteers as our handyman. Having such a warm and welcoming couple present at Spring House truly creates a ‘home’ atmosphere for our guests.
Born in Digby, NS and gained her education at the following universities: Acadia University, Acadia Divinity College, Presbyterian College and Queens University. Carol has worked as a pastor in Sherbrooke, NS; Cookstown, ON; Caledonia, NS; Digby, NS.
Carol is quick to point out that most every experience of her life thus far has prepared her for ministry at St. Luke's. Since making her decision to follow Christ at the age of sixteen, Carol has volunteered within various correctional setting, completed a :Diploma in Prison Ministry at Acadia and a Diploma in Restorative Justice at Queens, volunteered with the Kairos Marathons program, completed a Unit of Clinical Pastoral Education and volunteered with the Montreal Southwest Community Ministries including work at Cowensville Institution and the Laval Training Centre, PQ. Recently Carol completed a course at the Tatamagouche Centre, Models of Educational Design & Leadership.
Carol is quick to point out that most every experience of her life thus far has prepared her for ministry at St. Luke's. Since making her decision to follow Christ at the age of sixteen, Carol has volunteered within various correctional setting, completed a :Diploma in Prison Ministry at Acadia and a Diploma in Restorative Justice at Queens, volunteered with the Kairos Marathons program, completed a Unit of Clinical Pastoral Education and volunteered with the Montreal Southwest Community Ministries including work at Cowensville Institution and the Laval Training Centre, PQ. Recently Carol completed a course at the Tatamagouche Centre, Models of Educational Design & Leadership.