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Explore every episode of the podcast Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast

Dive into the complete episode list for Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Season Six Finale: Saying Goodbye to Host Crystal Keating26 Dec 202400:39:56

Crystal Keating has been part of Joni and Friends for over ten years helping the ministry answer thousands of calls, letters, and messages about disability, sharing resources, and holding fast to hope in Jesus through life’s greatest hardships. Her prayer for the Ministry Podcast is that each conversation will help listeners and their loved ones “bear much fruit” (John 15:8) in acts of love throughout the disability community.

Tune in to Crystal Keating’s interview with Joni Eareckson Tada from season one

More podcast episodes mentioned:

Explore episodes from the past six seasons

 

KEY QUESTIONS: 

In what new ways can your church and community welcome, include, and love people with disabilities?

Times of transition can be difficult—how can you trust God and put your hope in him as you face a new beginning or a bittersweet ending?

What hope for the future has God placed on your heart?

 

KEY SCRIPTURES:

Philippians 1:3–6: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

John 15:8: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Finding The Spirit of the Season: A Christmas Special with Joni Eareckson Tada19 Dec 202400:28:19

Do you find yourself feeling nostalgic, wistful, or drained going into Christmas? Perhaps frustrated, frantic, or lonely? Joni knows well that Christmas time doesn’t automatically induce joy, especially as you grapple with the challenges of disability, grief, or other hardships. This is why she invites you to think deeply about Christ’s coming, and his death on the cross, meditating on what this salvation message means to you personally. Because gratitude will prepare your heart to find joy and fulfillment in Christ’s coming, bringing light into the darkness, and joy that transcends the deepest of pain.

Learn more at joniandfriends.org/christmas

If you need hope today, Joni and Friends can help:

Sign up to receive encouraging daily devotionals written by Joni

Download Joni and Ken’s Bible-reading plan to journey with them through God’s Word

Tune in to Joni’s radio programs

KEY QUESTIONS:

How do you cultivate the Christmas spirit?

Who in your life could use a word of encouragement this season?

What (or whom) are you most grateful for today? Stop to give God thanks!

KEY SCRIPTURE:

Take time to read and meditate on the promises found in Isaiah 9:6–7:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

The Call to Care for Vulnerable Foster Children17 Oct 202400:29:49

Stacy DeWitt is the Executive Director of James Storehouse, a community-based non-profit established in 2012. She works daily with an outstanding volunteer team to meet emergency needs to help expedite cases and ease transitions for children and families. By offering essential support to foster children—including those with disabilities—James Storehouse helps to break multi-generational cycles of abuse, neglect, and poverty.

Stacy is bilingual and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts/ Spanish. She has done graduate work at California Lutheran University and Fuller Theological Seminary. Stacy has three children ranging in age from fourteen to twenty-four. She is also an adoptive mother and has had the great joy of being a foster mother as well. She considers it the highest honor to fight for justice and to be a strong voice for the voiceless and most vulnerable in her community.

Located in Newbury Park, California, James Storehouse partners with local public and private child welfare agencies. From cribs to college, James Storehouse supports children in foster care, youth aging-out of foster care, children who have been commercially sexually exploited, children “at-risk” of removal, and all their caregiving families. The organization has received commendations from Los Angeles County and Ventura County recognizing its service to the child-welfare community.

Learn more about James Storehouse

 

KEY QUESTIONS:

What are the most pressing needs facing foster children, especially those with disabilities?

How can we, as Christians, respond to the needs of vulnerable children?

What can the church do to support foster children with disabilities?

 

KEY SCRIPTURES:

Psalm 82:3–4: “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

James 1:27: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Designed to Heal – Dr. Cymbeline Culiat16 Sep 202100:25:14

“The deepest transformations in our lives actually happen from some of our deepest woundings…good healing happens in community.”

What can the body’s healing process show us about repairing relational wounds? This week on the podcast Crystal is joined by Dr. Cymbeline T. Culiat, a scientist, entrepreneur, and co-author of the new book Designed to Heal: What the Body Shows Us about Healing Wounds, Repairing Relationships, and Restoring Community. 

Listen as Dr. Culiat provides a fascinating look at how the restorative processes of our physical bodies provide a model for healing the painful wounds of broken relationships and divided communities, including wounds within the church. Discover practical ways to address the need for reconciliation, wholeness, and function in our relationships with God, with one another, and within our communities.

Download Your Free Chapter of Designed to Heal
When you download chapter 1, you'll be entered to receive a free copy of the book.

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

How a Wheelchair Has Taken Me Places I Never Dared to Imagine – Jenny Smith09 Sep 202100:27:00

"When everything around me was changing, I knew that God wasn’t going to change. Without that truth, I don’t know where I would be today.”

Jenny Smith was a typical teenager—a gymnast who loved makeup, played in a band, and was active in her church youth group. But at 16 years old, she sustained a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed from the chest down. Now relying on others for her most basic needs, privacy and independence seemed like things of the past. But Jenny refused to give up, and over time she discovered that a wheelchair could take her places she’d never dared to imagine. This week on the podcast, listen as Jenny shares how you can live the impossible, even when life doesn’t go as planned.

 

Read Jenny’s book or visit her website to see her latest videos and updates.

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Fueled by Faith – Vicki Zoradi02 Sep 202100:21:00

On our last episode of the podcast, Vicki Zoradi shared the miraculous story of how God carried her through a life-threatening battle with severe septic shock. Although medical professionals gave her virtually no chance to live, God had a different plan. 

But despite beating the odds, inadequate blood supply to her extremities caused Vicki to lose both of her hands and feet. Now, fitted with prosthetic arms and legs, she is returning to share about God’s enduring love through loss and grief.

 

Visit Vicki's website to watch her story.

Vicki's new book, Tested by Fire...Fueled by Faith is now available! Request your free copy from Joni and Friends while supplies last.

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Tested by Fire – Vicki Zoradi26 Aug 202100:25:28

On her 60th birthday, shortly after receiving a Teacher of the Year award, Vicki Zoradi was diagnosed with an innocuous kidney stone. When the kidney stone became lodged between her bladder and kidney, she was rushed back to the hospital 36 hours later in severe septic shock. Medical professionals gave Vicki virtually no chance to live, but God had a different plan.

Despite miraculously beating the odds and surviving 35 days in the Intensive Care Unit, inadequate blood supply to her extremities caused her to lose both of her hands and feet.

Now, fitted with prosthetic arms and legs, Vicki is joining Crystal on the podcast for a two-part conversation about her miraculous story of loss and hope.

Subscribe to hear part 2 on our next episode!

 

Visit Vicki's website to watch her story.

Vicki's new book, Tested by Fire...Fueled by Faith is now available! Request your free copy from Joni and Friends while supplies last.

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Singing in the Dark – Ginny Owens19 Aug 202100:16:51

“Songs are our portable theology… There’s something about the way music gets into our hearts and minds that's different than all other mediums of communication."

We all experience darkness. Perhaps darkness has come for you in the form of a painful loss, a chronic illness, deep loneliness, or perpetual anxiety. Because we are all human, we understand what it means to battle with darkness. 

This week on the podcast, singer-songwriter and author Ginny Owens who has been blind since the age of three is back to shine light on finding hope through life's dark and challenging circumstances. Listen as she offers practical ways to cultivate rest in a busy world and tells of the spiritual power and perspective she’s found in the songs of scripture.

 

Hear Ginny Speak with Crystal about Contentment

Learn powerful ways of drawing closer to God through music and prayer in Ginny's new book, Singing in the Dark, and accompanying EP, Sing Hope in the Darkness. Order your copy.

Find Ginny on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Pursuing Contentment – Ginny Owens12 Aug 202100:20:25

“The bigger our vision of Jesus and the more confidence we have in who he is, the more our circumstances pale in comparison.” 

Is it possible to be content in any situation? When faced with circumstances outside your control, it can be easy to feel lost and hopeless. But you are part of a bigger story, and you have a purpose.

Blind since age three, singer-songwriter Ginny Owens has a unique approach to music and writing that have a way of helping us see more clearly and find hope in suffering. This week on the podcast, she is sharing about pursuing contentment as you live by faith and not by sight. After facing several harrowing struggles in her own life, Ginny discovered a deep contentment that changed her perspective on her challenges. Because although you don’t always get to choose your circumstances, you do get to choose the story your life tells.

“It is in the darkness that we learn who we are, and most importantly, we learn who God is.”

 

Learn powerful ways of drawing closer to God through music and prayer in Ginny's new book, Singing in the Dark, and accompanying EP, Sing Hope in the Darkness. Order your copy.

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Mental Health Challenges and Belonging in the Body of Christ – Dr. John Swinton05 Aug 202100:21:24

"What does the church bring to the table? We specialize in love and human kindness, manifested in Christ-like friendships."

Previously on the podcast, Dr. John Swinton shared how stigma affects those struggling with their mental health. During this insightful conversation, he shared practical ways to love our neighbors well. 

This week, Dr. Swinton is returning to expand on how the body of Christ can create a community of belonging for those facing mental health challenges. He offers up new ways of seeing one another in which difference and disability are embraced as a valid way of being fully human and fully alive to the possibilities of God. Because when we view each person as a unique individual, rather than defining someone by their diagnosis, we can create an environment of friendship and belonging.

“When Jesus, who is God, sits in the margins with those who are marginalized, the margins change.”

 

Related Podcasts:

Order Finding Jesus in the Storm: The Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Mental Health and Loving our Neighbors Well – Dr. John Swinton29 Jul 202100:27:09

“First recognize the person before you for who they are in Christ, not because of what they are going through… When a diagnosis is all you see, that’s when problems begin.”

How do stigma and the language we use affect those struggling with mental health? This week on the podcast, Dr. John Swinton is joining Crystal to discuss faith, mental health, and how to love our neighbors well. 

Listen as he shares the important difference between mental illness and mental health, and how listening to someone’s experience with the goal of understanding can better shape our response and care. Be encouraged by his practical strategies for helping our friends with various mental health challenges reconnect with the Lord and stay oriented to his Word.

 

Related Podcasts:

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Marriage Reflections22 Jul 202100:14:24

This week on the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast, find encouragement from three couples you'll recognize from previous episodes of the show. Discover the importance of good communication, respect, and gratitude in a marriage, especially when a disability is involved.

Mike and Tracey Motoda: When Tracey met Mike nearly 2 decades ago, she told him, "I use a wheelchair to get around, but I don't let that get me down!" And these words have been true for them as a couple over 13 years of marriage. As they rely on each other for different needs, they are a true team. 

Kevin and Jamie Stark: When disability is present in a marriage, effective communication is vital. For Kevin and Jamie, good communication is a beautiful expression of their love for one another. But what happens when it breaks down? Hear how the simplest apology can make a difference in building trust and guarding against bitterness.

Greg and Gina Hubert: When all 3 of their sons were diagnosed with autism, this couple discovered a brand-new way of life. For more than 25 years, they have navigated the ups and downs of disability and have found God's grace every step of the way. Listen as they share 3 relational areas for marriages to focus on in the midst of hardships!

 

Resources:

Watch Joni and Ken's Marriage Advice for Caregiving: As an inter-abled couple, caregiving has brought Ken and Joni Eareckson closer together. Joni shares that it's not out of duty that Ken takes care of her needs, but out of devotion to Jesus.

When Disability Challenges Your Marriage: Listen Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada share the importance of communication and offer practical advice for other couples in a caregiving marriage.

Love, Marriage, and Disability: Kevin and Jamie Stark share what it really means for any couple to say “for better, for worse…in sickness and in health…till death do us part.” 

Find a Joni and Friends Marriage Getaway near you!


Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Clinging to Jesus When You're in Pain – Heather Hart15 Jul 202100:10:56

“My pain does overtake me. But even when it does, God is still there.”

In 2017, Heather Hart felt like she was on top of the world. She was leading a women’s Bible study at her church and fulfilling her passion for writing. She was loving Jesus and living life to the fullest! Then one summer day, a migraine changed her life.

Over the past four years, through numerous hospital visits, tests, and medications, Heather has not been able to find a remedy for her daily pain. Last week, Heather joined Crystal to share about her struggle with excruciating chronic migraines.

This week on the podcast, Heather is returning to talk about clinging to Jesus through pain. Hear some of the practical ways she manages her migraines and be encouraged by how God has used Heather’s pain to draw her closer to himself.

 

Resources:

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Joni Eareckson Tada Shares Her Heart on the Transformational Power of Grace10 Oct 202400:08:38

What is grace and how can it change your life? In this installment of Joni Eareckson Tada’s “Heart of the Founder” series, Joni shares how grace has flowed through her life in a transformational way.

When Joni broke her neck in a diving accident and became paralyzed at age 17, she discovered grace like never before—as light piercing through the darkness of her despair and sin, bringing joy and healing to her life, and illuminating the path ahead. Now, decades later, Joni can personally attest to the mighty power of God’s grace—not only in her own life but in the kingdom work of Joni and Friends, which brings Gospel hope to people around the world. 

Joni invites you to lean on God’s grace, no matter what circumstances you face.

Sign up to receive Joni’s daily devotional, which will encourage you to depend on God’s grace and take joy in his presence.

Learn more about Joni and her story of God’s Amazing Grace in action.

Get your copy of Joni’s book, Songs of Suffering, which will guide you through difficult times with the help of Scripture, beautiful hymns, and devotionals filled with grace.

 

KEY QUESTIONS:

When have you experienced God’s grace at work in your heart and life?

How can you lean on grace today to step into God’s purposes?

Who in your life needs a taste of God’s grace (and how can you give it to them)?

 

KEY SCRIPTURES:

Hebrews 4:16: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Ephesians 2:8–9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Coping with Chronic Migraines – Heather Hart08 Jul 202100:17:06

“I can’t get through each day without Jesus. If I can’t do anything else because my head hurts too bad, it doesn’t hurt so bad that I can’t cling to him.”

Over the past 4 years, Heather Hart has enjoyed only one day without a migraine. As an active mother of 5, her life turned upside down in 2017 when her head began to hurt, and she was hospitalized with meningitis. But when her meningitis cleared up and she returned home, Heather’s headache continued. To this day, doctors have not discovered what causes Heather’s daily, mind-bending migraines.

Through her excruciating headaches, Heather’s prayer has been that God would use her pain for his glory. Now an internationally best-selling author, Heather is on the podcast to share how debilitating migraines have impacted her faith, family, and friendships, but how she’s experienced God’s care through her chronic pain.


Resources:

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Suffering, Healing, and Heaven – Jenny Hill01 Jul 202100:17:29

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." –Revelation 21:4

This week on the podcast, we are wrapping up our 3-episode Q&A series with Jenny Hill. Living with cerebral palsy, Jenny has shared about how to navigate painful situations and where to find hope in the midst of loneliness. Today, Jenny is completing her Q&A series with a powerful conversation about suffering, healing, and heaven.

“Pain and suffering are probably the most universal experiences we have with other people.” 

Listen as Jenny shares how suffering has deepened her friendship with Jesus and helped her realize she is part of a bigger story. Don’t miss her powerful imagining of what heaven will be like and how living with a disability has helped frame her thoughts on eternity. 

 

Resources:

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Loneliness – Jenny Hill24 Jun 202100:17:53

“There is a difference between isolation and loneliness. Isolation is when you are physically separated from everybody else, but loneliness can be most felt sometimes when you are with other people.” 

As we continue our Q&A series on the podcast, Jenny Hill who lives with cerebral palsy is returning to answer questions about coping with loneliness and finding your hope in Christ.

We all understand the pain of isolation, especially after this past year, but loneliness is more than being separated from friends. The ache is sometimes most felt when you are surrounded by other people. And the pain of loneliness can cut like grief when you realize you aren’t truly known, and you aren’t enjoying the same experiences as others.

But God promises to be with you. So what if in your loneliness you take the first step to create meaningful relationships? What if you look around and ask, “Who needs to be known? Who is not being included? How can we connect?” Listen as Jenny encourages you to look beyond yourself at who else needs to be known and flip the script on loneliness today. 

 

Resources:

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

How to Transform a Painful Situation: Being Stared At and Falling in Public – Jenny Hill17 Jun 202100:15:04

“Looking at another person can be a very hurtful experience or a very welcoming, affirming experience. We have a choice of what role we want to play in that.”

During our third season of the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast, we’ve invited listeners to send in your questions about disability-related topics and etiquette. Today we are kicking off a special 3-part Q&A series with Jenny Hill who joined us last season to talk about disability and belonging. Jenny is a speaker and author, she holds a doctorate in Education, and lives with mild spastic cerebral palsy.

On this week’s episode, Jenny is answering questions about painful situations—being stared at and falling in public—offering ways to transform these situations into positive learning opportunities. Hear how you can navigate uncomfortable circumstances with compassion as you see each person as whole, for more than their disability. And as you recognize that everyone is multi-dimensional, Jenny is sharing how you can tactfully talk with someone about their disability, especially in the early stages of a friendship.

Resources:

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

From Anger to Acceptance – Robert and Nelly Kapen10 Jun 202100:15:48

“It’s about being a light for the next person, realizing that my troubles will bless somebody one day.”

Robert was an active college student when an unknown virus caused a bilateral stroke that left him suddenly paralyzed and unable to speak. Previously on the podcast, Robert and Nelly Kapen shared their powerful story of God’s provision through quadriplegia, recovery, and marriage. But as navigating a life-changing disability is never easy, Robert’s journey to acceptance took time. Following his accident he faced numbness, anger, and depression until a reminder from John 9:3 helped move him to a place of acceptance. 

“‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.’” John 9:3

This week on the podcast, Robert and Nelly are back to share about finding hope and moving forward. Listen as they tell the importance of inviting help from family and their Christian community, and how they’ve been able to pour into others. If you are struggling with questions about your hardship or comparing your situation with others, be encouraged by Robert and Nelly’s story. Through the ups and downs, God is with you. Trust his perfect timing because he'll never allow you to be snatched from his hand. 

 

Resources:

Visit Robert's Website

Find Robert on Instagram  and Facebook

Do you feel like your prayers for healing have gone unanswered? Be encouraged by this powerful conversation with Joni Eareckson Tada about finding a deeper healing.

Read Beside Bethesda: 31 Days Toward a Deeper Healing. This devotional digs into the topics of contentment, unanswered prayer, transformation through suffering, and hoping in God.


Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

God’s Generous Provision through Paralysis, Recovery, and Marriage – Robert and Nelly Kapen03 Jun 202100:18:14

Robert Kapen was an athletic college student studying Parks and Rec and working part-time at an outdoor Young Life camp when his life turned upside down. In the summer of 2011, a mystery virus caused a bilateral stroke that left him suddenly paralyzed and unable to speak. With his mind fully functioning but no ability to move or communicate verbally, Robert felt trapped in his own body.

Over the next 8 years, Robert diligently engaged in speech, physical, and occupational therapies. When he was moved to a rehab facility located near the workplace of his friend, Nelly, she began visiting him regularly to brighten his day. As Robert’s communication developed from blinking to texting, his friendship with Nelly also blossomed into a relationship and eventually marriage. This week on the podcast, Robert and Nelly are sharing their story of God’s generous provision through seasons of disability, recovery, marriage, and caregiving. And as Robert approaches his 10-year anniversary of paralysis, he is thrilled that in God’s providence, he has found his voice to record his first podcast interview alongside Nelly!


Resources:

Visit Robert's Website

Find Robert on Instagram  and Facebook

Watch Joni and Ken's Marriage Advice for Caregiving: As an inter-abled couple, caregiving has brought Ken and Joni Eareckson closer together. Joni shares that it's not out of duty that Ken takes care of her needs, but out of devotion to Jesus.

When Disability Challenges Your Marriage: Listen Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada share the importance of communication and offer practical advice for other couples in a caregiving marriage.

Love, Marriage, and Disability: Kevin and Jamie Stark share what it really means for any couple to say “for better, for worse…in sickness and in health…till death do us part.” 

Find a Joni and Friends Marriage Getaway near you!


Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Growing Up with a Neurodegenerative Disease: Friedrich's Ataxia – Stephanie Magness13 May 202100:12:07

Like most young women, Stephanie Magness wanted to be like everyone else; she wanted to fit in with her classmates and have fun at school. But when she learned in 7th grade that she had scoliosis, she was taken on an unexpected decade-long journey of misdiagnosis. At age 22 genetic testing confirmed that Stephanie’s symptoms were caused by Friedrich’s ataxia (FA), a rare neurodegenerative disease that has no cure.

This week on the podcast, Crystal is talking with Stephanie about her FA diagnosis and the unexpected life transitions she’s made because of this progressive disease. Although losing some of her abilities related to walking and communication has not been easy, Stephanie has faced these challenges with the support of her community who have reminded her of God’s love in the most surprising of ways.

Friedrich's Ataxia Awareness Day is May 15. If you are facing a diagnosis of this rare disease, be encouraged by Stephanie's story. As she continues to adjust to life with a neurodegenerative disease, she takes comfort in the fact that God is in control and he his good. Even through her brokenness and the difficulties of FA, she can be used by him.

 

Resources:

Read more from Stephanie about the precious gift from her friend that allowed Stephanie to accept her inevitable transition to being a wheelchair user.

Find Stephanie on Instagram.
 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

How to Pray for Our Country on National Day of Prayer06 May 202100:26:41

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." – 2 Corinthians 3:17

Today marks the 70th annual National Day of Prayer. As people across the country set aside time to intercede for our nation, Joni and Friends is leading this special time of prayer under the theme “Lord Pour Out Your Love, Life, and Liberty.”

On this episode of the podcast, we invite you to pray along with Joni Eareckson Tada, Pastor Shawn Thornton, Steve Bundy, and other special guests as we lift up our country’s centers of influence, along with those most vulnerable. Download our prayer points to pray along!

Download Prayer Points

Read "Looking to God on National Day of Prayer" by Joni Eareckson Tada

 

Do you have a prayer request? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Chronic Pain and Healing – Tera Bradham DeNeui29 Apr 202100:21:02

"It might not be physical, but God has healing for you. Press into that healing journey and see what it looks like for you. Then surrender the results to God.”

On our last episode of the podcast, Tera Bradham DeNeui shared about how her swimming trajectory dramatically shifted after she suffered an undiagnosed shoulder injury. Instead of training to reach the Olympics, Tera walked through seven challenging years of chronic pain and spiritual darkness. But God was at work amid her challenges, using the gift of pain to reveal his purposes and give her a deeper healing.

Now with a personal understanding of true freedom and victory in Christ, Tera is on a mission to minister to others dealing with chronic pain. New limitations and physical pain can often bring feelings inadequacy, even within the church. Through Tera’s ministry, Heal, she is building a community of advocates and working alongside the local church to help support people in chronic pain. Because while physical pain and limitations can pull our eyes off Christ and onto our suffering, it can also remind us of our need for him. Be inspired by Tera’s encouragement to move to a place of worship even during unwanted circumstances. 

 

Resources:

Visit Tera’s Website

Learn More About Heal Ministry

Find Tera on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Resources for Coping with Chronic Pain and Illness 

Joni's Message: A Deeper Healing

Joni and Friends Internships

Church Training Resources to include people of all abilities. 

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Pain is a Gift – Tera Bradham DeNeui22 Apr 202100:21:44

"God completely changed my life through pain. I ended up finding true freedom which is not being bound by the world’s circumstances… God doesn’t waste pain, but we have to give it to him."

This week on the podcast Crystal is talking with inspiring speaker and author Tera Bradham DeNeui. As one of the fastest 12-year-old swimmers in the country, Tera had her sights set on competing in the Olympics. But her swimming trajectory dramatically and unexpectedly shifted after she suffered an undiagnosed injury that led her through seven years of chronic pain and spiritual darkness.

Listen as Tera shares how God completely changed her life through pain, shifting her perspective from fighting pain as an enemy to seeing it as a gift. Hear how Tera discovered true freedom as God used chronic pain to refine his purposes in her life. Be encouraged to discover the same victory in Christ and freedom in your own life today!

 

Resources:

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

How to Help Children Through Trauma03 Oct 202400:27:37

Get your copy of Darby’s Children’s book, Something Scary Happened (Comfort for Children in Hard Times)

Get your copy of Darby’s booklet, When Children Experience Trauma: Help for Parents and Caregivers

Learn more about Darby and her work

Darby Strickland is a Christian counselor who works with individuals and families facing a variety of issues. She was trained at Westminster Theological Seminary where she obtained a Masters of Divinity specialized in Counseling.  

If you are a parent, grandparent, or caregiver counselor Darby wants you to know that you are just the right person to help the child or children in your life when they experience trauma. After a child endures a distressing event, a parent’s (or grandparent’s or caregiver’s) shepherding can play a vital role in the healing process—providing love and security. You can help the children you love to navigate their fears, guide them through their distress, and assist their recovery. The struggling child in your life does not need you to be an expert in trauma; they need you to engage with them as they suffer, pointing the way toward hope and healing.

 

KEY QUESTIONS:

What are the signs that a child is coping with past or present trauma?

Do you know how to provide what your child (or a child you love) needs when they’ve gone through a traumatic experience?

How can you lean on God to develop the patience, confidence, and compassion to meet the children you love in their suffering?

 

KEY SCRIPTURE:

Psalm 23:

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Living Joyfully with Dystonia – Abigail Brown15 Apr 202100:28:36

“Dystonia is like being imprisoned in a body with a mind of its own… but I wouldn’t trade the hardest times for the deep relationship I have gained with the Lord.” 

This week Crystal is talking with Abigail Brown, a young woman who lives with joy in Christ as she faces the challenges and limitations of dystonia. As a 3-year-old, Abigail contracted Rocky Mountain spotted fever which was misdiagnosed by her doctors and caused brain damage. Although her parents were told that she would have a full recovery within a year, their lives were turned upside down when it became apparent that Abigail would never talk with her mouth again.

Listen as Abigail shares her story with the help of her communication device, and encourages anyone who is feeling alone, left behind, or hopeless, that you are not alone. Because even when life doesn't make sense, God has a plan and you have a purpose.

Read Abigail's Blog


Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

When Your Child with Autism Becomes an Adult – Emily Colson08 Apr 202100:29:59

“It’s been my hope and my desire for Max to be a mighty man of God... and that’s exactly what God has done."

How do family dynamics shift when a child with autism becomes an adult? For special needs parents, worry about your child’s future can begin at any age. What will happen when my child ages out of the school system? How will they transition to adult services, college, or work?

This week on the podcast Emily Colson is talking about her son Max’s transition from boyhood to adulthood, and how through each season of life God has supported their family. Because even as Max became an adolescent, Emily began to fear graduation, wondering what would happen without their provided services and routines. But with the support of her church, Emily has learned to celebrate each victory as she’s navigated issues in the adult world and found meaningful activities for her son (including a new ministry of encouragement birthed during the pandemic).

With paying jobs, volunteer work, and a day program, Max’s days have been full. And both Emily and Max have discovered how much he is needed by his employers and the church. Be encouraged by Emily’s conversation and how God answered her prayer that Max would grow to be a mighty man of God.

 

Resources:

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Changing the World One Heart at a Time – Emily Colson01 Apr 202100:24:14

April is Autism Awareness Month and we’re celebrating with a special podcast conversation featuring author and speaker Emily Colson. 

Emily and her 30-year-old son Max who lives with autism are on a heart-filled mission for you! Like many families living with disability, their world shifted in an instant when the pandemic shut down all systems of support. But as they faced a new normal during a challenging quarantine, Emily prayed: “How can we be a blessing to someone else every day?”

With this prayer, she and Max began to paint. As Max painted beautiful joy-filled hearts on yard signs, he and Emily began delivering these encouraging hearts across their community. Now months later, listen as Emily shares God’s creative answer to her prayer and how the blessing of Max’s heart ministry has reached further than she could have imagined.


Resources: 

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Chronic Illness and the Church – Jennifer Ji-Hye Ko25 Mar 202100:28:43

How can the church best walk alongside someone living with a chronic illness?

Jennifer Ji-Hye Ko is a writer and poet who has remained tenacious amid her various physical and mental illnesses. She joined Crystal on season 2 of the podcast to talk about the healing process of lament, and is returning to share about her relationship with the church as she lives with chronic conditions.

The needs of someone living with a long-term illness are unique, and the day-today challenges can often feel isolating. Be encouraged as Jennifer talks through her experience and offers a practical framework for how to step into someone’s suffering. Because within the body of Christ, the complex diversity of people living with disabilities reveals the complex beauty of God.


Resources:

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

How God Meets Us in Suffering – Vaneetha Risner18 Mar 202100:42:08

“I don’t understand why all these hard things keep happening, and sometimes I wonder why God doesn’t just fix it. But I have to trust that he is doing something bigger… and one day we’ll see it.”

When Vaneetha Risner’s infant son died due to a doctor’s error, she felt devoid of purpose and feeling. Hadn’t she suffered enough? Multiple childhood hospitalizations due to polio, years of being bullied, the heartache of her husband’s unfaithfulness, and losing three babies to miscarriage—wasn’t there a limit to how much pain one could endure? What happened to the abundant life God promised? And could she survive whatever might come next?

In her new memoir, Walking Through Fire, Vaneetha details her courageous journey toward wholeness amidst a world of brokenness. And to celebrate the release, she hosted a special conversation with friends to talk about their personal experiences with suffering and how God has met them in it. This week on the podcast, Vaneetha is sharing her conversations with Joni Eareckson Tada, Paul David Tripp, Katherine Wolf, and Randy Alcorn, each of whom has walked through fire. 

If you are in the midst of unbearable circumstances today, be encouraged by these conversations. God is with you and he is using your suffering for something bigger than you may be able to see right now. It will not be wasted. When all seems lost, God can truly bring you to a place of abundance.

Resources:

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Carrying Grief – Bekah Bowman11 Mar 202101:01:29

It’s not that she’s not grieving, it’s that she’s put her hope in someone that won’t disappoint. Something greater is happening in her grief.

On our last episode of the podcast, Bekah Bowman shared about finding beauty and goodness in the middle of unthinkable loss. As a coach's wife and mother to two young boys, Titus and Ely, Bekah served as a children's pastor and teacher until Batten disease came knocking at her door. 

This week, she is talking about her journey with grief as she walked through the fatal diagnosis for both of her sons. Hear how she’s learned to hold both pain and joy simultaneously, and how God has used Bekah’s community to minister to her when she’s been unable to support herself.

If you are journeying with grief today, subscribe to the podcast. Be encouraged by Bekah’s conversation about experiencing Jesus in a whole new way in the middle of brokenness and loss. 


Resources:

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Can't Steal My Joy: Facing Unexpected Heartbreak – Bekah Bowman04 Mar 202100:25:38

How do you stay grounded when your life path takes an unexpected turn? Is it possible to hold pain in one hand and joy in the other? This week on the podcast, Bekah Bowman is sharing her journey of finding beauty and goodness amid unthinkable loss and grief.

Bekah is a coach's wife and mother to two boys, Titus and Ely. She served as a children's pastor and teacher until Batten disease came knocking at her door. Facing the heartbreak of a fatal diagnosis for both children, Bekah journeyed through dark valleys of death and grief. But it's been in these deeply broken places that she’s experienced Jesus in a whole new way.

If you are in a season of mourning or struggling with the heaviness of life, hear where Bekah has found hope and joy. Be encouraged to see wholeness in cracks, courage in the broken-hearted, and bravery in the act of letting go.

 

Resources:

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

The Heart Behind Joni's House – Joni Eareckson Tada25 Feb 202100:19:28

More than one billion people live with disability worldwide, and COVID-19 has only aggravated their struggles. Hunger, unemployment, and lack of medical care have left many people in need of hope. This week on the podcast, we’re kicking off season 3 with a special conversation between Crystal Keating and Founder of Joni and Friends, Joni Eareckson Tada. Listen as they discuss the staggering needs of families with special needs and how a brand-new ministry initiative was birthed out of the pandemic.

Joni first gives an update on her recovery from COVID-19 and shares how this personal challenge has made her even more eager to provide complete, Christ-centered care to people living with disability. Learn how Joni and Friends is on the frontlines showing the love of Jesus as we meet vital needs through Joni’s House!

Learn More About Joni’s House

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Welcome to Season 3 of the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast!18 Feb 202100:01:55

We’re so excited to kick off season 3 of the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast! Over this past year, we’ve all faced unexpected changes, many leading to uncertainty about health, employment, and caregiving. And throughout the pandemic, Joni and Friends has heard from many struggling with loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Aren’t we all in need of real hope? 

This season on the podcast, Crystal Keating is sharing hope through hardship and bringing you real conversations about disability, offering practical ways to include people with special needs in your church and community. And along with her encouraging conversations, Crystal will be inviting some of our special guests to answer your questions related to disability. If you have a question or a topic you’d like hear discussed on the podcast, please send Crystal a message at podcast@joniandfriends.org.

And next week to kick off season 3, Crystal will be joined by our Founder and CEO, Joni Eareckson Tada! Listen in to hear an update on Joni’s health and recovery following a diagnosis of COVID-19, as well as the brand-new Joni and Friends ministry initiative that has been birthed out of the pandemic.

Subscribe today and invite a friend to join us every Thursday for the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast!

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

More Than a Wheelchair – Jason Holden17 Dec 202000:15:30

Around the world, one of the biggest challenges people living with disabilities are facing is access to services…they’re being left behind.”

While the global impact of COVID-19 has distressed communities around the world, people living with disability have been hit the hardest. Shutdowns have impacted workforces, transportation systems, and supply chains creating serious consequences, especially in developing countries where families have limited access to basic food and medical care. 

Today on the podcast, Jason Holden, VP of Global Operations at Joni and Friends, is sharing about the critical challenges being faced by people impacted by disability worldwide. As families face hunger, lack of medical supplies, and deeper isolation, Joni and Friends has shifted our ministry focus to meet these vital needs. Hear how we’re leveraging international partnerships to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of people living with disability and provide ongoing support and community through the body of Christ.


Worldwide people impacted by disability are facing hunger, medical shortages, and isolation. This Christmas you can send vital support that will transform lives. Your gift of $125 provides basic medical care, food, hygiene supplies, and spiritual care for a family living with disability for one month. Give the Perfect Gift! 

“If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” –James 2:16

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Joni Eareckson Tada Shares Her Heart on Chronic Pain26 Sep 202400:08:17

Millions of people throughout the world struggle with chronic pain. And in the United States alone, an estimated 20% of adults experience chronic pain. That’s around 51 million people! 

So if you’re listening today, there’s a chance that you live with chronic pain, just like Joni. If you are suffering in an ongoing way from physical pain, grief, isolation, or relational strife, it can be overwhelming! It’s why Joni invites you to turn to God in your pain, leaning on Bible promises and drawing on grace. When you do, the Lord can use your pain to draw you closer to him.

Get your copy of Joni’s book, Songs of Suffering, which includes 25 hymns with accompanying devotions and photography designed to spark hope in hardship. Opening with a special message from hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty, this book is a source of comfort for anyone who needs biblical encouragement, prompting readers to seek refuge in the Lord and rejoice in his goodness.

Pain and chronic illness can erode your joy like acid, and can lead you to question God and his power. Join Joni in taking a close look at what the Bible says about pain and the sovereign providence of God in her 14-page pamphlet, Pain and Providence.

You can find more resources for coping with chronic pain and illness on the Joni and Friends ministry website.

 

KEY QUESTIONS:

How can you invite Jesus into your suffering?

Who around you suffers from chronic pain (and how can you encourage them today)?

 

KEY SCRIPTURES:

2 Corinthians 4:8: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.”

Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Ministry During COVID-19 and Hurricane Season – Leslie Dozier10 Dec 202000:20:43

“COVID-19 has not stopped us from sharing the love of Jesus.”

During the pandemic, Joni and Friends has been hard at work finding creative ways to serve families living with disability. In Louisiana where multiple hurricanes have pounded the state, our team has been able to support people who have faced critical challenges, even beyond the restrictions of COVID-19.

Today on the podcast, Leslie Dozier, Area Director of Joni and Friends Louisiana, is sharing about the ministry taking place in her region. Hear how she’s been able to engage local churches to offer ongoing care, support, and discipleship during this challenging season. Subscribe to the podcast to be inspired by her heart for building networks of support to share the hope of the Gospel with people impacted by disability across the state of Louisiana!

This Christmas, send the hope of Christ and practical help to individuals and families impacted by disability. Give the Perfect Gift! 

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Learning to Lament – Jennifer Ji-Hye Ko03 Dec 202000:37:56

“Lament is simply pouring out your anxieties and pain to God…in the expectation that God hears you and He is willing to do something about it.”

2020 has been a year of heightened heartache. Unpredictable circumstances, isolation, and extreme loss have left many people wondering how to process their grief through the lens of Scripture, and in relationship to God’s goodness and sovereignty.  

This week on the podcast, Crystal has invited Jennifer Ji-Hye Ko to join her in focusing on the biblical practice of lament. Jennifer, who lives with a number of chronic conditions, is walking through the cleansing and healing process of crying out to God through seasons of deep grief. If you are feeling weighed down today by emptiness or loss, be encouraged by Jennifer’s insight and guidance for the important practice of lament. 


Resources:

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Finding Freedom Through Forgiveness – Vaneetha Risner26 Nov 202000:28:42

"What God gives us in suffering is more than he takes away."

Vaneetha Risner contracted polio as an infant, was misdiagnosed, and lived with widespread paralysis. In and out of the hospital for ten years, she faced bullying after each hospital stay. When she became a Christian, Vaneetha thought things would get easier, and for a time they did: carefree college days, a dream job in Boston, and an MBA from Stanford where she met and married a classmate.

But life unraveled again. She had four miscarriages and her son died because of a doctor's mistake. Vaneetha was later diagnosed with post-polio syndrome, meaning she would likely become a quadriplegic. And when her husband betrayed her, he moved out and left her to raise two adolescent daughters alone. 

Today on the podcast, Vaneetha is talking with Crystal about the grace God has given her to forgive those whose harmful choices radically altered the course of her life. As a modern-day Job, her story of loss, suffering, questioning, and anger has become a life filled with incomprehensible peace and joy. Sharing from her new book Walking Through Fire: A Memoir of Loss and Redemption, hear how she’s made sense of her ongoing hardships and how they have drawn her closer to Christ. Be encouraged by her courageous journey toward wholeness amidst a world of brokenness!

Order Walking Through Fire

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

God’s Grace in Chronic Illness – Mireille Blanchard19 Nov 202000:31:45

“God is sovereign and still good. Even when I think we are in some sort of holding pattern, He always makes a way through.”

At just 18 years old, Mireille Blanchard developed a severe blood clotting disorder that was unknowingly triggered by her acne medication. When ER doctors discovered more than 36 blood clots lighting up the scan of her lungs, Mireille wasn’t sure if she would live to see the next morning.

Today on the podcast, she is sharing about her battle with chronic illness and the emotional repercussions she’s faced over the past decade. Hear how Mireille has seen God’s grace in her health, marriage, and community of support, and be inspired by her advice for creatively supporting people on societal margins.

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org
Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

 

*Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Join us in answering the call in Luke 14:21-23... until his house is full! 

Founded by author and international disability advocate Joni Eareckson Tada, the ministry provides Christ-centered care that serves needs and transforms hearts through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, and Retreats and Getaways. Joni and Friends also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses and internships through the Christian Institute on Disability. Find more encouragement through Joni's radio podcast, daily devotional, or by following us on Facebook,  Instagram, and YouTube.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

How to Manage Stress and Avoid Burnout – Dr. Jay Fine12 Nov 202000:29:57

“Troubled times causes great anxiety in our hearts... It reveals our weakness and false hopes. It can lead us to desperation, but it can also turn us toward God and teach us where to find real food for our souls.”

Has the isolation and anxiety of the past few months caused you to become COVID-weary? As we approach winter, many people are battling lethargy, malaise, and depression. During this prolonged season of isolation, it can be difficult to tune our own levels of stress. And as families are challenged by limited support services, stress can lead to burnout – circumstances simply don’t allow for needed rest and recuperation.

This week on the podcast, psychologist Dr. Jay Fine is back to talk about how to manage stress and avoid burnout, especially during this challenging season. Recognizing that we are all impacted physically, emotionally, and spiritually during a prolonged time of strain, he is sharing common stress symptoms, how to identify your stressors, and tools for avoiding burn out.

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org

Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

Follow Joni and Friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Help other people find this podcast by leaving us a 5-star review!
 

*Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. For more than 40 years, the ministry has grown to serve thousands of people impacted by disability worldwide: Joni and Friends has delivered more than 180,000 wheelchairs and Bibles through Wheels for the World and provided Christian care to 63,000 special needs family members through Family Retreats. The organization also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses through the Christian Institute on Disability. For more encouragement, download the Joni and Friends radio podcast in English or Spanish, and view inspirational videos on the Joni and Friends website.

www.joniandfriends.org*

 

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Coping with a New Normal – Dr. Jay Fine05 Nov 202000:30:46

“Be honest with your emotions. Ask for help. A diagnosis is a detour, a change in the map. It’s not the end of the map. It’s a new journey to a different destination.”

How do you cope when you are faced with an unexpected diagnosis or a sudden life-altering disability? What do friends and family members need to understand about how their loved ones might be feeling as they learn to live with a new normal?

This week on the podcast Crystal is talking with Dr. Jay Fine, a Christian counselor and psychologist who specializes in working with families impacted by disability. As an adoptive father to 3 children - two living with disability - God has used Jay’s 38 years of practice and personal experiences to provide the hope of Christ and practical tools to many families facing various hardships.

Be encouraged today by his wisdom and advice for adjusting to a new normal when disability is involved. Be inspired to “do something” as you cope with whatever new challenge you might be facing!

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org

Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

Follow Joni and Friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Help other people find this podcast by leaving us a 5-star review!
 

*Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. For more than 40 years, the ministry has grown to serve thousands of people impacted by disability worldwide: Joni and Friends has delivered more than 180,000 wheelchairs and Bibles through Wheels for the World and provided Christian care to 63,000 special needs family members through Family Retreats. The organization also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses through the Christian Institute on Disability. For more encouragement, download the Joni and Friends radio podcast in English or Spanish, and view inspirational videos on the Joni and Friends website.

www.joniandfriends.org*

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Disability and Belonging – Jenny Hill29 Oct 202000:36:13

"When you’re not sure what to offer, your very presence can be a gift."

People of all abilities need community, a place to fully belong and share our gifts with others. But loneliness, especially exaggerated by the isolation of COVID-19, is one of the difficult realities faced by many adults with disabilities.

Today on the podcast, Crystal is talking with author and educator Jenny Hill. Born with mild spastic cerebral palsy, Jenny didn’t experience the healing she prayed for as a girl, but she has learned to walk in the tension of God’s goodness and the challenges of cerebral palsy. In this conversation she shares honestly about her experiences with envy, grief, and loneliness, and where she has discovered healing for her soul. Jenny also offers tangible ways to share friendship with adults living with disability and the importance of sharing your story to create hope and community for others along life’s journey.


Resources:

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org

Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

Follow Joni and Friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Help other people find this podcast by leaving us a 5-star review!
 

*Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. For more than 40 years, the ministry has grown to serve thousands of people impacted by disability worldwide: Joni and Friends has delivered more than 180,000 wheelchairs and Bibles through Wheels for the World and provided Christian care to 63,000 special needs family members through Family Retreats. The organization also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses through the Christian Institute on Disability. For more encouragement, download the Joni and Friends radio podcast in English or Spanish, and view inspirational videos on the Joni and Friends website.

www.joniandfriends.org*

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Marriage Story: A Couple with Dwarfism Navigates Life's Detours with Faith – Angela Muir Van Etten22 Oct 202000:28:02

"Marriage is hard, but it's not too difficult for God to make it work." 

Even the best marriages require intentional effort to thrive. So, what happens when a relationship is complicated by dwarfism, discord, and discrimination?

Last week, Angela Muir Van Etten talked with Crystal about her passion for raising awareness and advocating for people with dwarfism and disability. Today, Angela is back on the podcast to share her marriage story: how God took two people with numerous challenges and grew them into a faithful couple who have honored him. 

Standing at 3 feet, 4 inches, Angela and Robert’s common height wasn’t enough to hold their marriage together. When workaholism, a failing business, and a breakdown in communication put their relationship on the brink, they needed help! In today’s conversation, hear where Angela and Robert sought help and how they’ve been able to face life’s challenges head-on with love and faith. Their now 35-year marriage is a truly a picture of God’s power being made perfect in weakness!

Learn more about Angela Muir Van Etten

Read  more about Angela and Robert’s love story in  Angela's new book, Pass Me Your Shoes: A Couple with Dwarfism Navigates Life’s Detours with Love and Faith.
 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org

Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

Follow Joni and Friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Help other people find this podcast by leaving us a 5-star review!
 

*Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. For more than 40 years, the ministry has grown to serve thousands of people impacted by disability worldwide: Joni and Friends has delivered more than 180,000 wheelchairs and Bibles through Wheels for the World and provided Christian care to 63,000 special needs family members through Family Retreats. The organization also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses through the Christian Institute on Disability. For more encouragement, download the Joni and Friends radio podcast in English or Spanish, and view inspirational videos on the Joni and Friends website.

www.joniandfriends.org*

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

A Voice for People with Dwarfism and Disability – Angela Muir Van Etten15 Oct 202000:39:58

"When something is happening that shouldn't be, you look around and think, 'Who’s going to do something?' It's then you realize, 'God’s given me the skills to do this.'"

Do you feel compelled to take action when you encounter ignorance and inequity? For Angela Muir Van Etten, she has made it her lifelong mission to raise awareness and advocate for people with dwarfism and disability. Standing at three-feet-four-inches, she a gentle, yet firm voice as she advocates for biblical standards of integrity and justice.

As a dual citizen of New Zealand and the United States, Angela qualified as a lawyer and served as national president of Little People organizations in both countries. Today on the podcast, she is sharing her story and how her passion for advocacy has grown. 

Be encouraged by Angela’s conversation with Crystal and inspired to speak up for integrity and justice!  

Learn more about Angela Muir Van Etten

 

*October 15th is Joni Eareckson Tada 's 71st birthday! Celebrate with Joni!

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org

Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

Follow Joni and Friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Help other people find this podcast by leaving us a 5-star review!
 

*Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. For more than 40 years, the ministry has grown to serve thousands of people impacted by disability worldwide: Joni and Friends has delivered more than 180,000 wheelchairs and Bibles through Wheels for the World and provided Christian care to 63,000 special needs family members through Family Retreats. The organization also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses through the Christian Institute on Disability. For more encouragement, download the Joni and Friends radio podcast in English or Spanish, and view inspirational videos on the Joni and Friends website.

www.joniandfriends.org*

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Joni and Friends Survey08 Oct 202000:02:26

Thank you for listening to this special message from Joni Eareckson Tada.  

We know this season of isolation has not been easy for families impacted by disability. The pandemic has challenged us to find new ways to serve families like yours. So now, want to hear from you!  

We have created a brief survey so that we can better understand how to serve you and other families dealing with the same realities you face each day. We want to expand our programs to meet your needs, and your opinions matter to us.

If you are part of a family living with disability, please take a few minutes to complete this brief survey.

Thank you for sharing your input!

www.surveymonkey.com/r/joniandfriends 

 

Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

Follow Joni and Friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
 

*Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. For more than 40 years, the ministry has grown to serve thousands of people impacted by disability worldwide: Joni and Friends has delivered more than 180,000 wheelchairs and Bibles through Wheels for the World and provided Christian care to 63,000 special needs family members through Family Retreats. The organization also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses through the Christian Institute on Disability. For more encouragement, download the Joni and Friends radio podcast in English or Spanish, and view inspirational videos on the Joni and Friends website.

www.joniandfriends.org*

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Finding Hope in the Mourning: A Conversation with Author Emily Curtis19 Sep 202400:25:34

How do you help someone who is grieving? Or, if you’re experiencing grief yourself, what do wish others knew about what helps—and what just makes things worse? Poet Emily Curtis joins Stephanie Daniels to talk about bringing hope to those who are grieving. inspire you with biblical insight and heartfelt encouragement for facing grief.

Emily is the compiler and author of the bestselling book Hope in the Mourning. Featuring real life testimonies and a foreword by Joni Eareckson Tada, this book offers hope to the hurting heart and will equip you to confidently minister to the grieving. Learn what to say, what not to say, and how to effectively serve those in the deepest, darkest valleys.

Get your copy today!

 

Emily Curtis lives in North Carolina with her husband, Brent, and their four children, Micah, Avia, Malachi, and Alayah. She has a passion for ministering to hurting people and learning how to love them as Christ would. She serves at Twin City Bible Church in the nursery and music ministries. She enjoys homeschooling, writing poetry, singing, and playing piano.

 

KEY QUESTIONS:

  • What encouragement does the Bible offer for when we suffer deep loss?
  • What well-intentioned “encouragements” can actually weigh down a grieving heart?

 

KEY SCRIPTURES:

  • Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
  • Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

 

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Is God Listening? – Dave Deuel01 Oct 202000:30:50

“Suffering can feel like a darkness that blinds us to God’s presence. In the dark, you can stand next to someone and not even know they are there. Suffering can do that to us spiritually. Although God is always close by, we can feel alone.”

What do you do when you beg God to help you and it seems like nothing changes? You ask for relief, but circumstances remain overwhelming. You plead for reasons, and it feels like God is silent. 

Is God listening?

Today on the podcast, Crystal is sitting down with Dave Deuel to talk about God’s attentive ear in the midst of unplanned, life-changing situations. Father to Joanna who has Down syndrome and is now in her 30s, Dave and his family have walked through challenging seasons of disability and mental illness. Listen as he shares how suffering has shaped his understanding of God, and he offers practical ways that you can press into Christ in the midst of your hardship.

Read Dave's minibook: Is God Listening?
 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org

Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

Follow Joni and Friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Help other people find this podcast by leaving us a 5-star review!
 

*Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. For more than 40 years, the ministry has grown to serve thousands of people impacted by disability worldwide: Joni and Friends has delivered more than 180,000 wheelchairs and Bibles through Wheels for the World and provided Christian care to 63,000 special needs family members through Family Retreats. The organization also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses through the Christian Institute on Disability. For more encouragement, download the Joni and Friends radio podcast in English or Spanish, and view inspirational videos on the Joni and Friends website.

www.joniandfriends.org*

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

God Does His Best Work with Empty – Nancy Guthrie24 Sep 202000:45:51

It’s amazing how heavy the weight of emptiness can feel, and how much room something that isn’t even there can take up in our souls. Whether due to loneliness, disappointment, loss, or even a search for purpose, emptiness can seem like our greatest problem. But that’s not how God sees it! When God looks into the empty places of our lives, he sees his greatest opportunity.

This week on the podcast, author and teacher Nancy Guthrie is sharing why emptiness has never been, and never will be, a problem to God. With insights from her brand-new book, God Does His Best Work with Empty, she tells how throughout the narrative of Scripture, God is always working to fill up emptiness with his presence. Be encouraged by this hopeful conversation about how your emptiness can be also filled, because God really does do his best work with empty—as he fills it with himself.

 

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org

Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

Follow Joni and Friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
 

*Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. For more than 40 years, the ministry has grown to serve thousands of people impacted by disability worldwide: Joni and Friends has delivered more than 180,000 wheelchairs and Bibles through Wheels for the World and provided Christian care to 63,000 special needs family members through Family Retreats. The organization also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses through the Christian Institute on Disability. For more encouragement, download the Joni and Friends radio podcast in English or Spanish, and view inspirational videos on the Joni and Friends website.

www.joniandfriends.org*

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

How to Be More Inclusive – Joshua Fast17 Sep 202000:27:01

“If you want to understand how to be more inclusive, get to know someone with disabilities. Get out of your comfort zone.”

Last week on the podcast, Joshua Fast shared about raising Malakai, his 6-year old son who was born prematurely and diagnosed with myotonic dystrophy and cerebral palsy. But for Joshua and his wife Nicole, it was during Malakai’s 4-month hospital stay that they saw their church community come around them to provide the life-giving support that strengthened the Fasts as they encountered a series of unexpected challenges.

This week, Joshua is back to talk about how his unique journey inspired him to establish a ministry that helps other special needs families find similar support as he teaches church leaders how to better include people living with disability. Through Priceless Youth Ministry, Joshua is demonstrating the value of all people and creating opportunities for everyone to encounter God through fellowship, worship, and the teaching of God’s Word. Listen to learn about the creative ways he is breaking down barriers and helping churches make their existing ministries more accessible, and how you can too!

Learn about Priceless Youth Ministry

Questions or comments? Email Crystal at podcast@joniandfriends.org

Support Joni and Friends to help make this podcast possible.

Follow Joni and Friends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
 

*Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. For more than 40 years, the ministry has grown to serve thousands of people impacted by disability worldwide: Joni and Friends has delivered more than 180,000 wheelchairs and Bibles through Wheels for the World and provided Christian care to 63,000 special needs family members through Family Retreats. The organization also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses through the Christian Institute on Disability. For more encouragement, download the Joni and Friends radio podcast in English or Spanish, and view inspirational videos on the Joni and Friends website.

www.joniandfriends.org*

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

 

Follow Joni and Friends on  Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

 

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

 

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

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