Residents and program participants praise Set Free Church recovery services in public comment

During the public-comment period of the June 11 meeting, multiple people identified themselves as participants or beneficiaries of the Set Free Church program and described personal recovery and reintegration.

Pastor Marty introduced the church's outreach, saying the group "reach[es] out to people that have fallen through the cracks of life who are in need of help." Several participants then spoke in support of the program.

James ROM said he has been in the program for about two years and credited it with helping him remain sober and reconcile with family. "Thanks to Pastor Marty ... I'm now living a life of sobriety, life of hope," he said.

Annabella Romero, Elia BR, Candice and other speakers gave brief personal testimonies about regaining custody of children, getting sober after homelessness and obtaining employment. Christopher FS said he was an employee of the City of Needles public "books" department after six years in the program and described being ordained an elder and helping others.

Speakers repeatedly thanked the program and its leaders and asked the council and community to recognize the group's contributions. The public-comment period closed before council moved on to the presentation portion of the agenda.