B.A. in philosophy and English, Illinois Wesleyan University
J.D., University of Chicago Law School
Judicial Clerkship with Hon. Edward Nottingham of the United States District Court of Colorado
Admitted to Illinois Bar
M. Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
e-mail: cnellis@lclc.net
Phone (office): 773-762-6381
As a member of Lawndale Community Church, Clifford M. Nellis helped found the Lawndale Christian Legal Center after completing his Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His call to work with youth and young adults involved in the criminal justice system, however, occurred in 2002 when he pedaled his bicycle from Denver, CO, to San Diego, CA, to Miami, FL, with a bible (click here for Cliff’s personal testimony). On that trip, Cliff became a follower of Jesus and sensed a call to youth ministry when he happened across a guard shack in front of a boys’ correctional facility outside Springer, NM. After striking up a conversation with the guard, Cliff was alarmed by the number of times the guard told him the kids in the facility had no hope. The guard said the kids who came in at thirteen years old, returned at fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, and went on to spend the rest of their lives in adult prison. The conversation plagued Cliff. As he pedaled on to San Diego and Miami, Cliff began to pray for youth in juvenile correctional facilities and asked God to give him a vision for serving them. Eight years later, after crossing paths with the wonderful people of Lawndale Community Church, the hope of serving these youth became a reality at the Lawndale Christian Legal Center.
President: Wayne Gordon, Senior Pastor, Lawndale Community Church
Vice President: Joseph Atkins, Associate Pastor, Lawndale Community Church
Secretary: Chelsea Johnson, Assistant to Senior Pastor, Lawndale Community Church
Sheila Avery, Chair of Deacon Board, Lawndale Community Church
Terence Gadsden, Youth Pastor, Lawndale Community Church
Kim Jackson, Executive Director, Lawndale Christian Development Corporation
Phil Jackson, Senior Pastor, “Tha House” Hip Hop Church
Bruce Miller, CEO, Lawndale Christian Health Center
Daphine Moore, Chair of Outreach Board, Lawndale Community Church
Chair: Daniel E. Radakovich, Law Offices of Daniel E. Radakovich
Matt Arthur, Law Offices of Matt Arthur
Scott Baker, Professor of Law, Washington University School of Law
Scott Brower, Law Offices of Scott Brower
Steven R. Decker, Law Offices of Steven R. Decker
John R. De Leon, John De Leon & Associates
Hector Escalera, Juvenile Probation and Court Services
Daniel J. Florey, Law Offices of Daniel J. Florey
Rob E. Hurley, Cabrini Green Legal Aid
Daniel Keating, Tyrrell Williams Professor of Law, Washington University School of Law
John A. Laskey, Confidential Investigations
Monica Mahan, Northwestern Bluhm Legal Aid
Joel May, Jones Day
Courtney Tedrowe, Novack & Macy, LLP
Anthony Thomas, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
Sally R. Wagenmaker, Mosher & Wagenmaker, LLC
In March of 1978, God called and set apart a small group of Jesus-followers in Lawndale, mostly high school aged youth, to form Lawndale Community Church. These young founders did something atypical of the church; they listened to their community. The community said they needed quality affordable legal services, and prayers for that were made. In 1983, the church published a Five-Year Report in which they stated they believed God was leading them to expand their ministries to include legal aid. Although many attempts to provide legal services were made over the years, it was not until November 2009, when the church purchased the historic “BBR” building in North Lawndale on 16th and Hamlin, that they were ready to start a legal center. By January 2010, the church’s Deacon Board and Outreach Board unanimously approved to establish a legal center in the “BBR” building. On February 24, 2010, a Board of Directors composed of nine seasoned leaders from Lawndale Community Church voted to birth a new ministry called the Lawndale Christian Legal Center (“LCLC”).
Whether you are an attorney, social worker, pastor, fundraiser, grant writer, administrator, office manager, school teacher, tutor, probation officer, counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist, investigator, paralegal, police officer, judge, accountant, or someone who simply loves youth and wants to be a mentor, there is a place for you to volunteer at LCLC. Your unique heart, passion, gifts, and talents are welcome and needed. Please contact LCLC at 773-762-6381 if you would like to get involved.