6198 Airport Road, Syracuse, New York 13209, United States
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Who We Are
Our Status
The Circle Center is a non-profit organization. We run on volunteers who have a heart to serve the Lord and individuals and groups who generously support our mission through prayer and giving.
Our History
The Circle Center was founded in 2025 after over a year of planning, preparing and praying. We have already seen God answer prayers including providing a location.
Our Programs
The Circle Center is launching its first program - Youth Day Camps - Summer 2025! We plan to add a variety of other programs and events for youth, adults and families this fall.
Stay in touch on social media and sign up for our email updates.
The Circle Center Board
Jackie Policastro
Jackie Policastro
Jackie Policastro
Jackie Policastro is Founder, President and Executive Director of The Circle Center. Jackie's passion is to teach youth and adults the truth of God's Word, help them to grow in their walk with the Lord and train them to share the gospel and defend the faith.
One phrase you will hear Jackie say over and over is, "Jesus in Genesis." She is
Jackie Policastro is Founder, President and Executive Director of The Circle Center. Jackie's passion is to teach youth and adults the truth of God's Word, help them to grow in their walk with the Lord and train them to share the gospel and defend the faith.
One phrase you will hear Jackie say over and over is, "Jesus in Genesis." She is passionate about Genesis being the foundation for all we believe and helping others see the gospel and love of Christ from the beginning. For, the same Jesus who made the circle of the world and sits enthroned above it, also came down to it to save it.
Jackie's background includes over 12 years in overnight camp ministry - 4 years as Camp Director, author of a non-fiction book about Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel, writer of a basic theology workbook, writer of multiple camp Bible curriculums and programs, key speaker for women's conferences, teacher of women's Bible study groups, retail operations manager of a 60,000 sq. ft. sporting goods store and district operations manager for 7 Northeast stores, 7+ years as a certified lifeguard, and teaching at a private school for at-risk youth.
She resides in Syracuse and is married to her "Mr. Fix It" husband, Joe - having one fun and creative teenage boy, JJ.
Some of Jackie's favorite things include: sipping on a hot cup of banana foster coffee with almond milk creamer, running on the treadmill to some motivating Toby Mac music, and laughing and competing on the pickleball court - recently playing women's singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles events in Pickleball World Championships in Dallas, TX after qualifying in NYS.
Jim Lloyd
Jackie Policastro
Jackie Policastro
Jim started his full time working career by joining the US Marine Corps in 1975. After his service, he worked in the sign business before changing his occupation to the Propane, Gas and Oil industry which he managed for the last 44 years. While working his full time job, he owned and managed his own rental properties, and later co-owned a
Jim started his full time working career by joining the US Marine Corps in 1975. After his service, he worked in the sign business before changing his occupation to the Propane, Gas and Oil industry which he managed for the last 44 years. While working his full time job, he owned and managed his own rental properties, and later co-owned a cafe and bakery with his wife, Karen.
Jim was raised in a Christian home and came to faith in Jesus Christ as a young teenager. As a teen he served in Christian camping ministry as a counselor, and on maintenance. After marrying Karen in 1978 they felt led to start a church and served in many church ministries as deacon, elder, treasurer, youth leader and Bible study facilitator. In 1992, after working with many inner city youth, Jim and Karen founded a private school for at-risk youth in grades 6-12. Later in life Jim served for 5 years as President of a Christian camping ministry for youth, and was instrumental in developing fundraisers and making many grounds/building improvements. Currently Jim is “retired” and enjoys working in the garage on everything mechanical related to tractors, golf carts, and wood working projects. More importantly however he is teaching a Men’s Bible study group, involved in various Bible studies and serves as the Treasurer/Vice President of The Circle Center.
Karen Lloyd
Jackie Policastro
Karen Lloyd
Karen Lloyd is Board Secretary and Operations Director of The Circle Center. Her life skills and experiences include youth work, management, program development, art/design, and hospitality/food service.
Karen grew up in a Christian home, and came to know Christ personally at the age of 8. She has devoted her life to serving youth sin
Karen Lloyd is Board Secretary and Operations Director of The Circle Center. Her life skills and experiences include youth work, management, program development, art/design, and hospitality/food service.
Karen grew up in a Christian home, and came to know Christ personally at the age of 8. She has devoted her life to serving youth since she was a teen. As a teen, she was a children’s club leader, and served on staff at a summer Bible camp. She grew up in the same church and served at the same summer camp as her husband, Jim. They were married in 1978 in the summer camp tabernacle, and continued to be involved in camp ministry through much of their married life.
As a young wife and mom, she provided child care in her home, while homeschooling her own children, and leading a weekly children’s Bible club in her living room. She and her husband served on the steering committee for a new church plant, and during these years she served as a Missions committee member, Sunday School teacher, youth group leader, VBS and children’s club director, as well as children’s musical director.
In 1992, Karen co-founded (with her husband, Jim), and served as the Director of Eliakim Christian Academy, a school program developed for at-risk youth grades 6-12 (13 years). In 2011, for several years, she and her husband co-owned and managed a cafe and bakery. Karen worked as Food Service Director (2 yrs) and Events/Volunteer Coordinator at a Christian school. She has served 15 years in overnight summer camp ministry, from dish pit crew to counselor, to Food Service Director (3 yrs) and more recently, Operations Director (5 yrs) and Board Member (5 years).
Karen’s greatest life joys are Jesus and family. She spends her free time creating art, baking and cooking. In this last stretch of “the race” of her life, Karen counts it a privilege and a blessing to join The Circle Center in making a difference in the lives of youth and families.
The Circle Center Staff
At The Circle Center, staff submit a thorough application and are interviewed and trained. We are dedicated to training our staff in safety, policies, classroom skills, relational and communication skills, and Biblical knowledge and practical Christian living.
Additionally, we comply with NYS Health Department regulations concerning staff vetting, ratios and other requirements.
CIRCLE AMBASSADORS
Circle ambassadors are selected individuals from a variety of professions, churches, and cites/towns surrounding the Syracuse area.
This team meets to have first-hand knowledge of what's happening in the ministry and offer support through contacts/connections, the fulfillment of tangible needs, finances, distribution of materials and prayer.
We are grateful for a team of God-fearing people who encourage, uphold, and support the mission of The Circle Center. It is invaluable to unify in seeking God through prayer for wisdom and all He would have us do.
The Circle Center's Statement of Faith
The Bible:
- The Bible (66 books) is supremely authoritative, infallible, and inerrant since God is the author. We believe God’s Word is true from the very first verse. (Genesis 1:1, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 17:17)
- We believe the Bible was written by men who were divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20-21, 1 Thessalonians 2:13)
- The Bible reveals who God is, who we are, His love, His gospel, His instructions to us, and His principles by which we are called to live. In addition, the Bible is true history and history matters. God’s Word teaches, admonishes, changes, warns, encourages, enlightens, and gives us hope. (Genesis 1-11, Exodus 20, Romans 15:4, 1 Corinthians 10:11, Psalm 19:7-11)
- The Bible is living and active. It penetrates our hearts. (Hebrews 4:12)
- God’s Word is eternal and will never pass away. (Matthew 5:18, 24:35, Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8, 55:11)
- God’s Word is complete. We are instructed not to add or take away from it. (Revelation 22:18-19, Deuteronomy 4:2)
God:
- We believe there is one true God, eternally and self-existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is Creator, Ruler and Sustainer of all things. No one is before or above Him. (Genesis 1-2, John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:4, Deuteronomy 6:4)
- The Father, Son and Spirit have distinct personal attributes, but are equal in substance and essence - each is fully God. They are coeternal. (John 10:30, John 1:1,14, Colossians 1:15,19, John 14:26, John 16:7-15, John 17:20-26)
- God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and present everywhere. (Matthew 19:26, Psalm 115:3, Revelation 19:6, Isaiah 40:21-22, Jeremiah 32:17, Psalm 147:5, 1 John 3:20, Psalm 139:4, Acts 2:23, John 4:24, Genesis 1:1, Psalm 139:7-12)
- We believe in the love of the Father – He sent His Son to be our Savior. (1 John 4:14, John 5:20, John 15:9, John 17:25-26)
- We believe in the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth – being conceived by the Holy Spirit, in His sinless life and testimony to the truth, in His miracles, in His atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. We believe Jesus, our Creator, took on human flesh, being fully man and fully God at the same time. (Matthew 1:18, Hebrews 1:2, Luke 24:27, John 18:37, John 14:1-3, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:20, Mark 16:19, 1 Peter 2:24)
- We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by who’s indwelling the Christian is enabled to live godly and produce the fruits of righteousness. He has sealed believers till the day of redemption. The Spirit convicts sinners to repent and believe in Jesus. He initiates regeneration and renewal. (Galatians 5:22-26, Ephesians 2:19-22, 4:30, Acts 1:8, Romans 8:15, 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, Titus 3:5-7)
- We believe in God as Creator. He spoke the universe into existence, creating it in six literal, 24 hour, days. He created time, space and matter on day 1. This is important because we believe God is outside of time, space and matter. Although God could have chosen to take any amount of time (including just seconds) to create the world and everything in it, the Bible reveals His clear purpose in using 6 literal, 24 hour, days in the book of Exodus. God was setting a pattern for mankind to follow: Work 6 days and rest on day 7 (Genesis 1 and 2, Exodus 20:8-11). In addition, God did not create the world to be empty, but to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18). Because God's Word is clear that death is a result of sin, death and fossils of dead things could not have existed prior to the sin of Adam and Eve (Romans 5:12, Romans 6:23, Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3).
Man:
- Mankind consists of two genders: male and female. (Genesis 1:27, Mark 10:6)
- Adam and Eve were created by God in His image – Adam from dust and Eve from Adam’s rib. They were originally perfect, but were given free-will, to which they chose to sin. They passed on sin and its results (death) to the entire human race. (Genesis 1:26, 2:7, 2:16-17, 2:21-24, 3:6, 3:20, 9:6, 10:1, 10:32, Romans 3:23, 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:45-49)
- Human life begins at fertilization and is sacred. (Genesis 4, 9:6, Exodus 20:13, Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 1:4-5, Luke 1:39-44, James 2:11)
- All people are descendants of Adam and Eve, and thereafter, Noah. There is one race – the human race. All have equal value. (Genesis 1-11, Genesis 3:20, Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:45-49)
- Marriage and sexual intimacy are designed by God to be between one naturally born man and one naturally born woman whom God has joined together. (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 5:27-30, Mark 10:2-9, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7, Hebrews 13:4)
- Parents have a responsibility to train their children in the Lord and set a godly example. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:4)
- Mankind has a purpose – to glorify God. (Genesis 1:27-28, 2:16, Isaiah 43:7, 45:18, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Micah 6:8, Philippians 3:9-10, Psalm 16:11)
Satan:
- We believe in the existence of Satan – he sinned and rebelled against God, becoming an adversary of God and mankind. He tempted Adam and Eve to reject the authority of God’s Word and disobey God’s command. He will be judged and cast into hell for eternity. He is an accuser of the brethren, a murderer from the beginning, and in him is no truth. (Genesis 3, John 8:44, Revelation 12:10)
Sin and Salvation:
- Salvation is necessary due to the fall of Adam and Eve when they sinned in the garden. Upon their sin, death (physical and spiritual), disease, suffering, natural evils (such as hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.), and other pains (sweat, thorns and thistles, etc.) entered the world as a result. Mankind not only suffers the consequences, but the whole creation groans. (Genesis 3, Romans 5:12, Romans 8:19-23)
- We believe that Salvation of lost and sinful people is by grace through faith in the saving work of Jesus (His death and resurrection). It is not by our own works. Faith, repentance and the regeneration of the Holy Spirit are essential to Salvation. Based on the sufficient work of Jesus Christ, justification is a declaration by God that the believer is brought into a right standing with God. (Romans 1:17, Romans 3:22-24, Romans 5:8, Luke 13:1-5, Luke 5:32, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, 1 John 1:9)
- We believe in the redemptive covenant. Upon Adam and Eve’s sin, God was not surprised by it or in need of another plan. Instead, the Father, Son, and Spirit made a covenant before creating the world to redeem mankind. (Acts 2:23-24, Hebrews 13:20-21, Titus 1:1-2)
Sanctification:
o Upon Salvation, we believe the presence and power of the Holy Spirit is at work in the life of a believer for sanctification – becoming more like Christ and fulfilling God’s purposes for their life.
- (Acts 20:32, 1 Peter 1:2, Galatians 5:22-23)
Baptism:
- We believe baptism is an act of obedience to God and His Word, whereby the believer is immersed in water to symbolize the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and publicly portray their faith in His saving work.
- (Acts 2:38-42, Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:3-4)
The Church:
- We believe Christians are to be in fellowship with a local church body who holds true to God’s Word. Worship, receiving of the Word, support, service, spiritual growth, communion, and love and care for one another are Biblical practices within the body.
- (1 Corinthians 11:17-33, 16:2, Matthew 26:26-28, Hebrews 10:23-25, 13:17, Galatians 5:13, Colossians 3:16, 1 Timothy 4:13)
The Great Commission:
- We believe God has called all believers to spread the gospel (the good news of Jesus) to the lost inhabitants on earths circle (the nations).
- (Genesis 12:2, Galatians 3:8, Mark 16:15, Psalm 19:1-6, Isaiah 9:2)
