Community advocate Carolyn Brown knows all about sandwich making, homeless feeding and community networking.
“After 14 years of feeding the homeless downtown [in Seattle, Wash.], I’ve learned a lot from sitting and talking with people,” Brown says in her matter-of-fact way. “They appreciate the sandwiches, socks and gloves. But what they wanted more was to be able to buy their own. Small legal issues kept them from working, getting a place or going to school. They couldn’t afford an attorney.”
So the lady who is already changing lives started finding more avenues of change.
Brown began knocking on doors of lawyers and judges. Doors closed, yet she persisted in her God-inspired calling. She formed a prayer team and attended ministry training sessions. She didn’t know how to start a legal clinic, but she knew God knew the right people.
“Six years ago I prayed, ‘God, I just want to be more relevant to my community. I want to do something that will change lives,’” remembers Brown.
Finding the Right Door
After many disappointments, Brown went to the next legal office. She was tired of uncooperative clerks who wouldn’t give her time. Her frustration drew the attention of the law practice owner, who invited her into his office.
“Are you in trouble?” he asked.
“No, but people in this city are,” she responded. Brown explained the situation and need for a free legal clinic and ended her appeal with, “And you are just the person to help me.”
The lawyer shook his head in disbelief — and ended up advising Brown and her team of volunteers.
The details started coming together: office space in a converted Sabbath School room, office furniture at bargain rates, a network of legal volunteers willing to help for a couple hours a month and a marketing company’s services at a discounted rate that matched their financial picture.
It’s been a faith journey all the way through. Many planning meetings were held in Brown’s hospital room. With weekly challenges, Brown often threatened to “quit,” but God kept bringing her back.
Now if you drive along the Rainier Valley neighborhood in Seattle, you will see yard signs for politicians, professional services, various causes ... and Maranatha Adventist Church’s free legal clinic.
The church family posted the yard signs two hours before a dedication service on Sept. 9. The phone started ringing with appointment requests, and the first scheduled evening of legal aid was immediately booked.
What’s next for this ministry? Brown says more frequent legal clinics at Maranatha Church and maybe more legal clinics up and down the I-5 corridor.
“If I can be a small part in changing someone’s life, that's what I want to do,” Brown says with conviction. “God changed me and gave me a second chance. More people need this help too.”
Maranatha Church leaders like Louis Brown, Carolyn Harper-Brown and Jefferson Butler are seeking ways to better serve their ever-changing community.
Washington Conference leaders and Maranatha Church members dedicate in prayer the church's new free legal clinic.
Cynthia, Toni and Carolyn recount God's blessings in opening a free legal clinic for the community. God brought the volunteers, office furniture, and ministry partners at just the right time and price.
