Stress was evident in the way the man carried himself—heavy, confused, broken. With an air of despair, words tumbled out of his mouth. “I’m unable to pay my mortgage; no one at the bank will talk to me; I have no way to refinance.” A caring lawyer with Willow Creek’s Legal Aid Ministry sat down with the gentleman and immediately was drawn to his eyes—ones that said, “My world is about to cave in.” She talked through some options; none of which were particularly satisfying.
Then the man said, “There is usually one more place to look, one more person to ask, one more step to take. But, I think you will be my last stop. I’m out of options. I’m out of ideas and people.” When he finished, the lawyer spoke gently to him, “God is throwing you a party right now because you are finally going to turn this over to Him. You are finally going to trust Him.” The words felt strange to her until she realized they were from God. The man looked blankly for a second, then his eyes watered, he smiled and left. No deep legal opinion rendered, but a life path changed, perhaps.
A Common Scenario
For the members of the Legal Aid Ministry, this is an all too common scenario. Fifteen lawyers serve regularly at Willow Creek’s Care Center on Tuesday mornings. Clients are seen on a first come/first served basis.
Attorneys hear a mix of stories, mostly family law issues, but also foreclosures, consumer debt, and employment/benefits concerns. Legal Ministry team members interview the client, hoping to solve the issue in one visit. If resolution takes longer, the client may be referred to a panel of pro bono referral lawyers or another legal aid resource.
Success Stories
In existence now for two years, the Legal Aid Ministry sees approximately one thousand clients each year. While the team members use their legal expertise throughout the process, they also believe strongly that their mission is to seek justice and encourage the oppressed while demonstrating God’s love.
As attorneys, they desire to resolve every legal issue quickly, but they work toward another objective: Do clients feel the peace of God before they leave? The goal is to access God’s power to resolve the problem and to conclude each consultation with prayer.
The Road Ahead
In today’s economy, many people require legal aid. Sometimes simply adding a lawyer to the situation positively moves negotiations. To help others in need of aid, the ministry will soon add an evening time slot on Tuesdays. Additionally, team members are working to create seminars that will educate clients on important topics such as foreclosures.
Licensed lawyers are always needed. If you’d like to volunteer in this role, please contact Kellye Fabian.
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