Horizons Family Law Centre is a not-for-profit community legal service that has been working alongside local churches since 2005. Horizons grew out of a desire for church to be a place of compassion and help, by providing advice and representation to people with no other access to a lawyer.
Horizons operates pop-up advice clinics at various churches across Sydney. Coming into the clinics, people meet with not only a lawyer filled with spirit of Jesus, but also church volunteers in the waiting area.
“The beauty of our clinics being connected to creative, compassionate, and missionally-engaged local churches is that there is always scope for Kingdom collaboration,” says Todd.
Todd works part time as a lawyer at Horizon, and part time as Lead Pastor of H3O in Dee Why. “Some people think being a lawyer and a Baptist pastor is a strange mix – but for me it’s all just full-time ministry, “reflects Todd, “I’ve been working bi-vocationally as a lawyer with Horizons Family Law Centre for nearly five years now, and every week my two roles intertwine in beautiful kingdom-shaped ways.”
The team works to bring good into the world and find great joy in helping others. Mary* came in for legal advice on how to escape her violent ex-partner. It took three years, but Horizons finished her case on a safe basis. Over this time, Mary developed a positive connection with Georges River Life Church, the church that had hosted the advice clinic she attended, and now volunteers in the church’s community arm, helping to distribute food hampers to people who are struggling.
Similarly, the team helped David* who had issues with drug and alcohol and was not able to see his children. They finished his case positively, and the team can rest in the knowledge that his children will grow up safely knowing both parents. Over the course of his legal battle, David developed a positive relationship with one of the pastors at Georges River Life Church, even sharing Christmas with his family.
Pray for Horizons Family Law Centre in their unique ministry context. Thank God for the help they are able to provide to those in need, and the way they point people to the kindness and compassion found in Jesus.
To find out more about Horizons Family Law, visit http://horizonsfamilylaw.org.au/
