Bringing True Justice and Hope to those in Need

In 1999 John Robb and I sat down over a cup of coffee in San Antonio, Texas never dreaming we would be here tonight. We were at a Christian Legal Society Conference where John was encouraging attorneys to start Christian Legal Aids across the country. He challenged us by asking, “Doesn’t the Bible have something to say about obligations for Christians and the Christian Church to help the poor – to defend the rights of the poor and needy.” I believed John was right and upon my return to Elgin met with my church. I provided them a proposal to start a Christian Legal Aid concluding, “The risk is minimal. The only chance for failure is a lack of spiritual commitment. There are many suffering individuals in the Fox Valley who need assistance and will not ordinarily walk through the doors of a church, but if they can receive assistance with their conflicts - legal, financial, or other - then perhaps the seeds of the Gospel can be sown in a very real demonstration of true justice and compassion.” Administer Justice began on February 14, 2000.

For the first two years we operated a couple Saturday mornings a month at Fox Valley Church in Dundee. Word spread fast and our phone answering machine was constantly full with requests for help. It became obvious that the need was far greater than what a part-time clinic could provide. So in the summer of 2002, I closed my successful private law practice. And in the fall of that year, Administer Justice became my full-time career.

Have you ever done something and then wondered: “what in the world was I thinking?” I certainly have. Here I was, earning so little I actually qualified for the low-income legal aid I was providing. I found myself angry and alone in an 8 x 10 office. I knew that more than 2,000 verses of the Bible cried out for justice, but I thought the sacrifice was too great. There I stood, a lawyer who had taken cases all the way to the United States Supreme Court, but who at that moment could not even figure out how to print an envelope. In desperation I cried, “What in the world am I doing here?” Though not audible, God’s response was clear, “My will, for whatever you do for the least of these you do unto me.”

I no longer serve alone. Since that day, God has enabled us to serve more than 15,000 of the least of these trapped in a complex legal and government system. I do that with the help of 12 staff members and nearly 200 volunteer attorneys, who join with more than 350 other volunteers who dare to make a difference. Together they help us carry out our mission to administer justice through a comprehensive program of educational outreach, legal assistance, financial counseling and conflict resolution services to empower the powerless, give hope to the hopeless and show mercy and compassion to those in need.

They fight against injustice and the lack of access to our judicial and government systems. They fight to prevent homelessness, fraud and abuse. They fight to provide stability to broken families. They fight to provide hope to the least of these.

The suburban poor are often overlooked and misunderstood. They are not drunks, mentally ill or lazy. They have low-wages or no wages as they try to support themselves and their family. The number one poor person in the suburbs is a child followed by his or her single parent. Your suburban school district has a homeless liason for these children. Ours served more than 600 students last year, because of family homes lost in foreclosure. Kane County has a foreclosure rate more than six times the national average. People are losing jobs, losing families, losing homes, losing hope right here in our neighborhoods.

On any given day our waiting room can be filled to overflowing. Almost every day people walk in off the street desperate for help. Our offices are filled to capacity with no more room to meet the growing demand for services. For the first time in history, the majority of the poor aren’t living in urban or rural areas, they live in the suburbs. Yet the suburbs have almost no resources. Only two legal service providers exist in Kane County and only one in most other counties outside Chicago. We are the only low income tax service provider outside of Chicago. Without an advocate, our seniors can lose their life savings; children can be lost without the stability of a guardianship; moms and children can be homeless without child support; dads can lose everything without unemployment; immigrants and other disadvantaged and disabled individuals are taken advantage of, and the whole of our democratic system suffers. We must not allow that to happen.

Think of what would have happened to Grant if Administer Justice was not there to intervene. Grant was going through life just like you and me until an accident left him with permanent brain damage. Disabled and alone, he was living in subsidized housing. The landlord wanted to get rid of Grant and filed an eviction notice for non-payment of rent. Grant was terrified. If he got evicted, he would be kicked out of the government program and be on the street, where he would probably die. A social service agency referred Grant to us. Grant could not believe an attorney would care enough to pray for him. After being treated so badly by his landlord, he was overwhelmed when that attorney also visited his home, went to his bank, and intervened on his behalf in court. At court the landlord changed the date for non-payment requiring another trial date. Our attorney pored over bank records again to prove payment, and ultimately the judge threw the landlord’s case out.

Administer Justice saved Grant from homelessness, but we also helped Grant understand that he mattered to God and he mattered to us. As he said, “Administer Justice made me feel completely at ease, like I was going to make it. Administer Justice helped me decide that I can live like anyone else. They put a perspective on life that I can grasp and work with. Thank God I got some help.”

Every day we have the opportunity to put a Godly perspective on life that makes a significant difference in the lives of people just like Grant. But there is much more that needs to be done.

Our board is casting a bold vision for the future. By 2020, when we gather to celebrate our next ten years together, Administer Justice will have branch offices in each of the collar counties making it possible for more people to find justice. We will lead the way and come alongside others in delivering gospel justice services all around the country. We will provide help each year to 20,000 low-income clients, and serve all who come regardless of race, religion or any other status. We will not discriminate but neither will we ignore the opportunity to provide the only real hope that can be found in the midst of great trials. The hope of the gospel. We will pray, we will equip and we will empower our clients to understand that God loves them and has a plan for their life. We will encourage them to be involved with a church and together we will transform lives not only in this life but for the life to come.

With your support that vision will become our future, and that future will begin tonight. Our theme for this evening is the Power of Ten. Ten years of service, ten years of future possibilities, ten people at your table who represent the real power of ten. Because with your support, we will double the number of clients helped every four years. With your support, Administer Justice will grow to stand in the gap on behalf of those in need – maybe someone you know – who without help or hope would be overwhelmed. With your support, we will make a difference. With your support we will spread the word and let God’s justice go forth as we do his will, answer his call, and serve the least of these with justice, mercy, compassion and hope.