True Mercy Award

Dennis Rens honored at Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast for his contributions to Administer Justice.
Holding a statue of the Good Samaritan with a caption which read, "Whatever you have done for the least of these you have done for me." Dennis Rens accepted The True Mercy Award from our Executive Director Bruce Strom. Following is the text of what was read to announce the award:

The True Mercy Award is awarded to a recipient who demonstrates a heart for the weightier matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness. The individual must model true faithfulness through humble service whatever the task; true mercy through caring for those in need; and true justice through love for all those with whom they serve. In this way the recipient puts into practice the words of Zechariah 7:9 - "This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true Justice; show mercy and compassion to one another."

This is the first year for making this award and the recipient is someone who has modeled well the characteristics for the award. In the summer of 2002 when God finally got me to shut down my private practice, I was looking for an office. Helen and I talked about renovating a room in our house and were praying for a place when our friend Randy Schulenburg offered an area in his office if we would come and put in walls and a door. Our recipient put in the very first door that allowed access into our 8x10 office for me to meet with many in need. That office remains my office today, but we have grown and added five more offices. Our recipient took out the original door to my office and put in the new door leading into the main office. He put down the carpet in the main office and the reception room. He made the games for our Fun Fair last year and provided the games for this year and served tirelessly doing whatever was needed the entire day both years. In every way, he has demonstrated true faithfulness whatever the task.
Our recipient is a very humble man who demonstrates true mercy to those in need. In 2003 he expressed a desire to learn more and help those struggling financially and he served on our initial financial services council. He regularly attended meetings, went through training and developed outlines and scriptures to aid counselors. When our first financial services director’s term expired, he graciously agreed to serve in that capacity. As our financial services director he has met with many individuals and families in need and offered true hope and security. In this position he has also provided leadership to our Low Income Taxpayer Clinic and took two days off of work last year to travel to Philadelphia for training with the IRS. He created the power point presentation now used by our LITC presenters to educate low income taxpayers of their rights in order to help provide them with needed benefits to provide security particularly for those who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Our recipient has demonstrated true mercy by caring and counseling many in need.

Our recipient has served on our executive board of directors and offered wisdom and counsel to our board. Finally, our recipient has graciously modeled and involved his family in serving at Administer Justice. His wife, Penny, has served wherever there was need from the moment Administer Justice opened its doors on a full-time basis and her children, Jessica and Nick have stuffed envelopes, folded brochures, set up games and served in many other ways. He is even creating a new generation of little servants as he awaits the birth of his first child. You’ll have to name him Justice. Whether laying carpet, installing doors, creating games, power point presentations, taking time off work, teaching, counseling, involving his family, or leading, this man has exemplified in every way what it means to Administer true Justice and show mercy and compassion to one another. It is my great privilege and honor to award this first True Mercy Award to Dennis Rens.

Congratulations Dennis!