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Greetings!
Did you know that this is National Volunteer Appreciation Week? At Administer Justice, we are honored to have more than 550 people volunteer with us, including almost 200 attorneys who give of their time and talents to meet with clients. Considering that we have a staff of only 11 people (including 4 staff attorneys), it's pretty clear that without our volunteers, we could not handle the demand for our low-income legal and financial services, nor could we grow our outreach into other areas of need. So on Saturday, April 9, we held a Volunteer Appreciation Brunch (see story & photos below) to celebrate and thank those who serve either on the front lines or behind the scenes in the cause of Gospel Justice: - Our intake specialists speak with each client who calls for an appointment, taking the time to listen and show genuine concern. Many times prayers are offered before the call is ended.
- Our intake attorneys meet with each client privately, looking not only at the problem, but at the person. Getting not only to the heart of the matter, but the heart of the client with the love of Jesus.
- Our pro bono attorneys invest hours of research, preparation, travel, and court time representing those clients who qualify for this service, ensuring that their rights are protected and that the scales of justice are balanced in the courtroom.
- Our financial counselors meet with individuals, couples, and even families to work on budget planning, and debt reduction, applying Biblical principles to money management.
- Our interpreters make sure that clients have the ability to understand complicated legal documents and to clearly communicate their problems.
- Our office assistants attend to the important details that impact our clients directly (by providing home-baked goods in the reception areas, managing paperwork, and keeping our offices looking sharp) and indirectly (by preparing mailings that encourage the donor support that keeps our ministry running and assisting with fundraisers.)
- Our conflict coaches provide one-on-one counseling to those who want to learn how to manage stress and resolve conflict before it escalates.
The hundreds of volunteers described above are answering the call to "administer true justice and show mercy and compassion to one another". They do it selflessly, they do it graciously. And they make a difference, One by One.
If you would like to learn more about volunteering with us, please click here if you are an attorney, or
click here if you would like to offer non-attorney services.
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AJ honors its volunteers at Appreciation Brunch |
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Over 100 of our volunteers, including attorneys, offfice support, and board members, attended a Brunch that celebrated their support of Administer Justice. The morning kicked off with Christian comic Sally Edwards, followed by good food, good conversation, and a number of awards and door prizes.
Volunteer Attorney Mark Turek (below left receiving his award from Attorney Judith Leesley) was this year's recipient of the True Justice Award (in recognition of his heart for justice for the poor), and Office Volunteer Debbie Basham (below right) received the True Mercy Award from Volunteer Services Director Karen Hippchen for Deb's encouragement and support of our work.
Through the generosity of donors, we were able to give out fabulous door prizes, including gift baskets with such themes as "Movie Night", "Thanks for the Memories", and "Tailgate Party".
Karen and Phil Thacher (below) were the winners of the Grand Prize Drawing: a weekend get-away to Lake Geneva! Phil is one of our volunteer financial counselors, and his wife Karen volunteers as a conflict coach.
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Welcome to our newest staff member |
| | |  Norma Rogel has joined the staff as our Bi-Lingual Intake Specialist. If you call in to the Elgin office weekday mornings, chances are it'll be Norma who greets you. Married and the mother of 2 boys, Norma comes to us with a wealth of experience in assisting those in need. We asked her to tell us more about that: Q: What led you to want to serve the underprivileged? A: As a child in Mexico, my parents modeled the servant's heart. I remember my mother visiting poor people and taking them food that she had grown in our garden. She also helped women learn skills so they could earn a living and run their homes more efficiently.
Q: What did that lead you to do?
A: I joined with some other women to found a Christian school in Mexico, where I served many roles. What I loved most was being able to both equip children for the future, and also to tell them about Jesus. If there were parents who wanted their children in the school but couldn't afford it, some of the staff would give up part of their salaries to fund the tuitions.
Q: Why did you choose to pursue a Certificate in Nonprofit Management?
A: When I came to the United States, I wanted to continue to serve the poor and to be a part of charitable ministries. My husband pastors a church, and although I was familiar with how these things worked in Mexico, I wanted to be sure that we understood the laws about nonprofit work in the United States.
Q: How did you hear about Administer Justice? A: Our church needed the help of an attorney knowledgeable in church law to assist us with structuring a donation. After meeting with (Executive Director) Bruce Strom and learning more about AJ, I knew it was an organization that matched my heart for service. Q: What do you find most fulfilling about working at AJ? A: I believe that I serve God best by serving others. I know that the services that Administer Justice offers the poor are much needed and important. I enjoy talking with clients each day, listening to them, praying for them, and helping them know that God loves them. |
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Two camera donations make picture taking a snap! |
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We would like to thank two of our newsletter readers for taking our "wish list" to heart last month.
We asked for a simple-to-use digital camera that we could take with us to events (so we can post them up here!), and we received not one but TWO cameras!
Nancy Miles and Ann Michalsen each donated a camera, and we couldn't be more thrilled. Now, if we could just learn to keep our thumbs out of the pictures ...
Would you be interested in making a donation of an item we can use? Would you be interested in providing the funding for a specific item we need?
Take a look at the wish list below. If you want to give us something, click here to let us know. We'll even make arrangements to pick it up if that helps. Thank you!
WISH LIST
Our Low Income Tax Clinic (LITC) needs a heavy-duty locking 2-drawer file cabinet (in cream) about 14" wide.
Our volunteer attorneys do a lot of traveling to court and back and forth to appointments. With gas at almost $5 a gallon, this is becoming even more sacrificial on their part. Gas Cards from area service stations would help offset this growing cost.
We are in need of a simple laptop for our branch office at Fox Valley Church.
We are always grateful for donations of postage stamps, file folders, and other office supplies.
We are always grateful for gift cards -- whether for an office supply store or general merchandise. We can even use partial ones!
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Support the cause of Gospel Justice |
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 DONATE MONEY
We have been accredited by ECFA (The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability) because we meet their stringent standards for being good strewards of the money you send us. Your gift ensures that a victim of abuse, fraud, abandonment, or identity theft receives the help they need to protect their rights in a dignified manner.
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We begin every work week here at the Elgin headquarters with prayer. Whether you can pray along with us then from wherever you are, or whenever you think about Administer Justice, please know that we cherish the spiritual support and we know that it has been making a difference in what we are doing.
Every day, our phone rings off the hook. Our clients often have to wait up to two weeks to see an attorney. Our attorneys and administrative staff collectively work hundreds of hours each month in service to the poor, often enduring anger, fear, anxiety, desperation, and helplessness from those they see. It is a tremendous burden, one that is greatly lifted by your prayer support.
The story of Gospel Justice and Christian Legal Aid cannot be told better than by those who stand at the front lines. We are prepared to share what the Bible has to say about justice and the poor, conflict management, and even financial freedom, with your church congregation, small group, Bible Study, Sunday School class, office team ... we're all about "go and tell".
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