SHJC News

Entering 2026

Reflecting on 2025

Current Statistics

Clients Housed: 68

Clients Employed: 57

Clients Advancing to Phase 5 / Graduated: 10

2024 Statistics

Clients Housed: 117

Clients Employed: 325

Taxes Paid - $645,795.04

Child Support Paid - $58,519.55

Dear Friends, Supporters, and Partners in Christ,

As we come to the close of another year, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude and awe for the incredible ways God has moved within and through Safe Harbor Jefferson County this year. In reflecting on the past twelve months, to “God be the Glorify” for His unending faithfulness, provision, and grace that have shaped every success story and heart transformation at Safe Harbor!

Celebrating God's Provision

This year, we have witnessed firsthand the miraculous hand of God providing for our needs, often before we even voiced them. As our population has doubled we are continually faced with demands and challenges greater than ever before. Through the generosity of donors, dedicated volunteers, or the opening of unexpected doors, every resource and opportunity has been a testament to His perfect timing and loving care. We have seen new partnerships formed, critical funding secured, and lives changed—all orchestrated by His sovereign power. Just one of the many ways He provided was in our new pavilion!

Lives Transformed by His Love

The greatest joy of this year has been seeing the Gospel at work among the men we serve. Many have found hope, healing, and restoration through the services and safe environment Safe Harbor provides. Testimonies of renewed faith, family reunification, and personal breakthroughs fill our hearts with praise. We rejoice that seeds planted in faith have blossomed into stories of redemption, reminding us that with God, no life is beyond repair, and one such life is the client who is highlighted below.

Unity in Mission

This year, God has put together a staff, volunteers, churches, and community partners, unifying us for our 4-part purpose, helping our men; “KNOW GOD, FIND FREEDOM, DISCOVER PURPOSE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE”.  With our commitment stronger than ever God has giving us a vision to expand opportunities beyond all that we can ask or think Eph 3:20,21. The needs of the hurting and hopeless don’t seem to be dwindling, therefore we are trusting Jesus, the source of our strength, and all those He calls to be a Light at Safe Harbor! Let Your Light Shine!

Looking Ahead with Expectation

As we enter a new year, we do so with humble anticipation for what God will accomplish next. We trust that He who began a good work at Safe Harbor will be faithful to complete it. We ask for your continued prayers, support, and partnerships as we serve, protect, and love the men we serve, in His Name!

We have several projects on the drawing board and would love your impute and support to see them to fruition.



• New School Bldg. /Chapel (we have outgrown our current multipurpose building; with a new building we will be able to provide more structured classes and worship opportunities)
• Playground, adjacent to our pavilion for children visiting their dads.
• Repave our drive and parking lot as it has deteriorated drastically over the past couple of years

Please pray and seek how He might lead you in helping us accomplish these projects. To God be the Glory—great things He has done!

With Gratitude and Praise,

Pastor David Elkins

We would like to congratulate Custom Foods of America for the third year in a row as Partner of the Year.

Custom Foods has consistently been a high impact in the clients that work there. They have a hard drive to hire them and our guys are treated with high respect.

The rapport with their supervisors, Safety Coordinator and Human Resource staff has a family sort of feel and dealing with them with day to day operations is smooth. 

We pray and hope that this long lasting partnership continues throughout many more years.

"I grew up with two other brothers, but was always kind of a loner due to me being overweight. Not a whole lot of friends, so I struggled with that until I got to high school. I started experimenting with weed and cocaine, thinking that was a way into social groups and parties.  

I started spending all my time and effort getting high and ultimately numbing the pain of not feeling loved. It progressed until I was using opiates in a much worse way to lightly put it.  

Once this happened, life got progressively worse. I started stealing, lying, etc. Whatever to feed my addiction or "suppressant" to the feelings deep in the inside. I ended up in and out of jail and prison in Florida.

It wasn't until my 4th round in prison, which was here in Tennessee that I had time to self-reflect on how Jesus had been knocking on the door of my heart, and how God had been setting everything up to the day I happened to turn on the television in my cell.  It was on harvest church, pastor Greg Laurie..... It was like he was speaking directly to me about how we are never alone and Jesus is always with us. I started crying and hit my knees in my cell and cried out for the lord to come into my heart.

And he did!

All of a sudden the medication I had been seeking for the curing of my hepatitis c was given to me. I was accepted into safe harbor and then went up for parole and made it!

All of this started happening immediately, but that’s nothing compared to the prison Jesus released me from on the inside: all the anger, hate and resentment for others I felt seemed to fade and I became new. I started to actually feel love for others around me.

I made it to safe harbor on April 23rd of last year. Off the rip, I knew that this was all part of God’s plan for my life. Everyone here is loving, caring and attentive to each man that steps through these doors. I was given a job at a factory doing something I have never did before, but by the grace of God, I flourished and was given an opportunity to move up with the company.

I’ve been blessed with a loving woman and family of my own now, and it seems that God gave me exactly what I have been missing my whole life. Life isn’t perfect and there will always be tough times, but they are lessons to be learned from God!

I never thought my life would look the way that it’s coming together, but all glory and praise be to our heavenly father and our lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 29:11 for I know the plans I have for you declares the lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Thanks to the help of safe harbor; I know God, I found freedom, I discovered my purpose and I’m gonna make a difference!"

Landon is a man after Gods Heart!

Dedicated to his calling to serve hurting men here at Safe Harbor while being head of his household of 4 children and a wife, a new home, CPRS classes, and Seminary. Just in the day and life of a Assistant Director!

It is my belief that Landon will be leading Safe Harbor long after I am gone through the power of "The Highest"!

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