MARCH 2019

“ ”…whoever welcomes

a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.

Matthew 18:5

W hen I reflect on 40 years of Joni and Friends’ outreach, I’m breathless with wonder at God’s faithfulness. I started this ministry because

I was stirred by the command of Jesus in Luke 14 to “Go out, find the disabled, the lame and the blind… and bring them in.” God had brought me into His fold, and I couldn’t wait to help bring others with disabilities before the Throne of Jesus.

And so, in 1979, with a big vision, lots of prayer, and help from friends like you, Joni and Friends was on its way. At first, we literally went from church to church, giving disability-ministry training to congregations like yours. As we grew from those humble beginnings, we kept asking the Lord to show us more creative ways to reach the disabled with His hope and help.

That’s how Wheels for the World was started 25 years ago – we realized that giving a desperately-needed wheelchair would soften people’s hearts to the Gospel of

Christ. I remember long ago serving with Wheels in West Africa. I met Abujah, a grandmother who crawled in the dirt because her legs were paralyzed. She cried when she was fitted to her new wheelchair. But then, when she heard the Good News and embraced Jesus as her Savior, she pressed my hand between hers and kept repeating, “Thanks to God… thanks to God… thanks to God!”

That grandmother’s story represents thousands of disabled people like her who, over the decades, have received Christ into their hearts, as well as practical help. But there are countless more who need to be reached, people who are crying out in desperation, “Help me, please… I am without hope!” They are isolated in remote corners of the world, not knowing if they have strength to face tomorrow — all they see are lonely days ahead. Would you please join me in helping to change that? Let’s partner with the Spirit of Jesus to fill the ranks of heaven with these dear ones who need Christ!

Life doesn’t have to be hopeless. You can be used by God to give disabled people the perfect gift – a wheelchair (mobility made just for them) and the Good News (salvation purchased for us all). You can be used by the Lord to connect them to caring Christians who have learned how to embrace them into the church family.

On our 40th anniversary, I’m so grateful to God for you. You, too, have been stirred by the command of Jesus in Luke 14… through your prayers and gifts, you are touching the lives of people like Abujah! From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I pray you and I can keep serving the Lord Jesus together for decades to come!

“”

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees

that give way; say to those with fearful hearts,

‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come…

He will come to save you.’ Then will the lame leap

like deer…Isaiah 35:3-6

Joni’s First Trip to Ghana

“She pressed my hand between hers and kept repeating, ‘Thanks to God...thanks to God...thanks to God!’”

Joni sang with a Gospel choir on her 1994 Wheels for the World trip to Ghana.

“ ”Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity,

we should do good to everyone— especially to those in the family of faith.

Galatians 6:10

5-year-old Amezash is used to seeing her world from the ground. Born with a disability, Amezash cannot walk or use her legs and her mother, Akli, carries her

around on her back.

Akli and her husband love and care for Amezash dearly, but a wheelchair costs more than a year’s salary! They felt defeated knowing they could never afford one for their precious daughter.

Now, because of your prayers and generosity, Amezash and her family have much to smile about and praise God for today. You sent a wheelchair and a Bible in their language to Amezash! Akli told us, “My daughter will not crawl anymore. We will try to take her to a special needs school now, so she can learn.

Thank you for the help that you’ve given to my daughter. We appreciate the wheelchair and Bible you sent.”

You are Still Transforming Lives in Ghana Today!

Thousands of disabled children and their parents are crying out for help right now. God does not ignore their cries and neither can we. Hope Overflowing: 100,000 by 2020 is a bold Joni and Friends initiative to deliver wheelchairs and the Gospel to 100,000 disabled children and adults by the year 2020!

Visit joniandfriends.org/100kby2020 to change a life today!

Amezash learns to move in her wheelchair for the very first time!

Akli said proudly, “My daughter will not crawl anymore.”

Now, thanks to your gifts of a wheelchair and a Bible, Amezash has much to smile about!

You’re Changing Lives… Collecting One Wheelchair at a Time!

God can lead you in amazing ways to serve disabled people worldwide! Meet, Bernie Punte, who heard about

our ministry on the radio. After learning about Wheels for the World, he asked himself, “What have I done in my life to serve others?” He decided to travel with us overseas as a wheelchair mechanic on a Wheels team.

For Bernie, serving on the Wheels team was life-changing. It was a chance to make a real impact on the lives of needy, disabled people, giving them not only wheelchairs but Bibles and the message of salvation. When we sensed his enthusiasm, Bernie was asked if he would also like to collect wheelchairs for Joni and Friends.

That was fourteen years ago, and Bernie continues to faithfully collect wheelchairs in the Baltimore area and beyond. As a Chair Corps volunteer, Bernie has made great friends with all sorts of leaders from community organizations and businesses. He’s building relationships and sharing seeds of the Gospel. Bernie has collected thousands of wheelchairs and serves as a mechanic every year with Wheels for the World.

Serving on outreaches and fitting restored wheelchairs for people affected by disabilities moves Bernie’s heart. It energizes him to keep on collecting wheelchairs because every year he sees new people whose lives are changed by the gift of mobility and hope in Jesus. God led him all this way… so that he could be used of the Lord to bring people to Jesus.

Watch Bernie’s story at joniandfriends.org/bernie

March is Wheelchair Collection MonthSince 1994, you’ve delivered over 165,000 wheelchairs in 19 different countries worldwide! This month, you can serve with Wheels for the World by joining the efforts of your nearest Joni and Friends location. Search your garage and basement, and check with your neighbors and community to find any unused wheelchairs and bring them by your local collection site! Every wheelchair you bring will be refurbished and sent with a Bible to someone in need across the globe.

Visit us at joniandfriends.org/chair-corps or call 818.707.5664 to find a collection site near you!

IN HONOR/Given ByDAVID & LINDA ACKERSON

Walter Anderson

ISRAEL ALVARADOJolene Sheahan

JON ANDAZOLAJennifer Honig

JAN B.Lynn Rowbotham

BOB & MARGIE BARBERRuth Gaver

BO & SAMANTHADonald & Barbara Post

MARK S. BOYNTONBecky Barnett

STEVE BOYONTONBecky Barnett

CAROL BURGERWes Burger

CALEBCynthia Klepal

ANACECELIA CAMPOSJolene Sheahan

SAMUEL CAPOZZIGuy Benfante

EMILY CARLINTom & Karen Carlin

KAREN CARLINDonna Krizman

JUSTIN CASEMary Ann Case

EMERY & MICHELLE CAUBLERick Cauble

GLEN R. COPPPriscilla Copp

JIM & ANN COWARTAmy Cowart

KEN COWLEYDenise Cowley

BEN & COURTNEY CRANDALLMichael & Sharon Post

MARY JANE CUNNEENRobin Brockway

DON & SALLY D’ALESSANDROClaud & Lynne Moorman

JIM & NANCY DALYChip & Joanna Mason

MICHELLE MADELINE DALQUISTLinda Jeffrey

BRETT & AERA DEVRIESHelen De Vries

NICKIE DEVRIESHelen De Vries

ELVA DOWNINGMarcela Mercado-Henson

JACK & LAUREL DRAPERHelen De Vries

JESSICA EBERSOLELuke & Kelsey Jebb

JON EBERSOLEDavid & Margaret Hirsch

KELSEY ELMOREPhyllis Lowe

JOSHUA ESLERJoseph & Christina Esler

PAUL & DEB FACULJAKTim & Mary Keane

MICHAEL FERNANDESWilliam Fleming

DAVID FIELDSPeggy Dible

BONNER FINKTravis & Heather Griffin

SKYLER FISHERRead Gendler

PAT FLEERMonica Fleer

RUBY FOLGERBetty Abrahamsen

KEN & PAT FRENKEJames & Letta Taylor

EVAN GARRETSONKathleen Johnson

KEN & PAT GRANVILLEDeneva Henry

THE GREEN FAMILYDoug & Carolyn Green

BLAKE, MICHELLE, BRETT & BRYCE HAMILTON

Peter Shih

DAVID & BEVERLY HARPERR. David Winson

MARY INEZ HARRELLMary Corprew

CAROL HARRISAndrea Carman

JACK HEFFNERRobert Forsythe

RALPH & KARYN HENLEYTim & Nita Rampey

CLIFF & ARLENE HESTERMANDavid Paluch

THE HICKS FAMILYJoelene Holmes

MICHAEL & NICOLE HOEFERTom & Bette Strough

THE HOWARD FAMILYKeith, Joy & Jordan Nance

CONNOR M. HUTHKathleen Keefe

LORD JESUS CHRISTSam & Amy Gambina

JOHANNAH, MIAH, GABY & CARISJake & Sarah Wetzel

PAUL JOHNSONBryon Ellison

ZACH & JOSH JOHNSONSydney Johnson

JONI & KENRoland DubayTodd LipeDebra MarineEllen Ann Wanek

MR. & MRS. RJ KILPATRICKPete & Gretchen Delacruz

REV. BRUCE KINGJill Pittman

CHAD & JAMIE KIRKLEYAmanda Northrup

LARRY & LORRIE KLEVOSTim & Nita Rampey

BEN LAMB & FAMILYJames Lamb & Family

BRYAN LEDFORDRichard & Judy Ledford

STEVE LEEKeith Johnson

STEVE & SUE LEHENBAUERElizabeth Trotter

JOHN & CATHY LEWISMatthew Lewis

DARIO LIEVANOSTeena Davis

PETER M. LIMJames & Cathy Hoffmeier

BREANNA LOWARYLisa Thompson-Ross

HUGH & PAT MAETZOLDPhylis Brashears

MR. & MRS. GENE MARTINJulia H. Martin

LARRY & KRISTEN MASONChip & Joanna Mason

MIKE WATTS & BETH MASSENGALE

Lee & Erin Colquitt

WINSTON MAYCynthia Thomas

ELSA MAZZITTIRodney Hayes

ELISE McDANIELChristin McDaniel

ROGER McDONALDBecky Barnett

RAY McGLOTHLIN, JR.Tim & Nita Rampey

CLARICE MEYERCalvin Meyer

GARY MEYERSteven Meyer

EDWARD S. MITCHELL IVJane Mitchell

MONTY MONTGOMERYGail Garland

BILL & SHARON MOOREPriscilla Sullivan

ETHAN, BENJAMIN & PETER MURDOCK

David Murdock

JUDY NELSONWilliam Nelson

HISASHI NIKAIDOH FAMILYSusan Moyer

ERIC & DANNA OLIVERTim & Nita Rampey

CAROL OTEROHelen Oda Abe

SCOTT & CARYL PARKERTim & Nita Rampey

GENE & SUE PIGNATARODana Viers

JASON, SAM & XAVIER POSTMichael & Sharon Post

SHIRLEY M. PRUETTETamara Heacock

DAVID RAMPEYTim & Nina Rampey

ROBIN RAMPEYTim & Nina Rampey

DORIS A. RASMUSSENJason & Joy DornDorthea Thomson

PHILIP & JANE RICHARDSMike & Roxanne Hrinko

GARY & PATTY RIENHARDChip & Joanna Mason

ISAAC SAKZENIANAran Sakzenian

NANCY SANDOSusan Miller

SARA & CHARLIELinda Harding

ANDREW SEAGOTaylor FerrellWalter McKellar

CYNDY SEIBOLDGinny Warren

JILL SHARPE & FAMILYLinda Harding

JOSEPH & MAUREEN SHAWAshish Farmer

CLAIRE SHEPARDSusan Shepard

LAURA SHOWMANTheresa Hansen

TERESA SILVAEugenia Marrone

RAHUL SINGHLeah Stamer

THE SONESCorrie Moncrief

ED STANDFORDKeith & Cathy Winslow

LOU & JEN STEPHENSSea Foam Sales Company

THE STRONGSCorrie Moncrief

JEFF SUTTONRobert Powell

NIMMI SWAMIDASSJayanth SwamidassVijay Swamidass

GWEN & KAREN THAYERCindy Brown Kinloch

WIL & MARILYN THIELMANPatricia Sing

RON TUCKERBecky Barnett

CARE TUKKristian & Molly DeKruif

MARY JANE TYLERTruly Pompei

ARLENE W.Robert Giuliano

ROBERT WALTERNicholas Szary

JERRY WEISSMANBarbara BresinRenee Brotman

DEAN WILLIAMDannielle Shenberger

BETH WILLSNancy Nelson

MR. & MRS. ROBERT D. WOODARDRobert E. Woodard

WOUNDED VETERANSTony & Carol Lombard

MR. HUNG YU YIUSamuel Yiu

MRS. CHOI KAM YIUSamuel Yiu

ZOLTANBrittney Mangum

Honor a Loved One, Transform a Life

We gratefully acknowledge contributions given in memory or in honor of loved ones to further ministry in the disability community. To give a gift in memory of a loved one or in honor of a special occasion, visit joniandfriends.org/donate or contact Joni and Friends at 818.707.5664

Continued on next page

PO Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376 • 818.707.5664 • joniandfriends.org This newsletter is published by Joni and Friends, a not-for-profit organization accelerating Christian ministry in the disability community. © 2019 Joni Eareckson Tada, publisher. All rights reserved. Permission to reproduce any material herein must be obtained in writing from Joni and Friends.

IN MEMORY/Given ByKYLI MARGARET ABBINANTI

Andy & Jodi Abbinanti

DONNABELLE AITONPaul Vernon

CALVIN ALDRINKC. Joe Sturz

LORETTA ANDERSONAudrey Catterton

JOHN BASSETTJames Bassett

CALEB J. BATSONMary Batson

JEANNE BEGLEYJo Skibby

L. BINAISADarin & Namakula Edwards

RONNY BLACKAlpha Black

JOHN BONAROTIDaniel Bonaroti

NATHAN LEVI BROOKSDennis & Kathleen Brooks

LEO & ELEANOR BROWNRoberta Drake

ANDREW BURGHERJoseph E. Lowne, Jr.

PAUL BUURSMADirk & Harriet BuursmaMartin & Mary Hollebeek

EARL BYERSML & Rana Shytle

JOHN R. CAMPBELLDeborah BellowsLeonora CampbellMegan CarvalhoCarolyn HindleLawrence & Ellen HindleVirginia PearsonMark & Tracy PearsonSuzanne Vaughan

SETH & ELI CARRELErin Neuenschwander

RONALD L. CARROLLDavid & Jennifer Patrow

REBECCA CARSONJanice Carson

DAVID SHALOM CHASTAINBetty Chastain

EMILY CHOUJohn Chou

HENRY CHUNCalvert Chun

PAUL & MARYANN COLICHIOJoanne Iorio

JOHN COUCHArdys Couch

ALICE COULTERMargie Hatter

JACK CRISSWELL, HUSBANDDiane Criswell

JOAN CRONBAUGHBen Young

KERI ROSE DAHMENRon & Sheryl Thompson

ANN R. DICKERMANJohn & Gertrude Rothermel

MARY DILLONSherri Hagenbuch

WESLEY DRANNJohn & Arline Drann

LISA ASHLEY EUREMary Corprew

ELEANOR FAWCETTSusan Fawcett

STEVEN P. FERGUSONLinda Powell

GARY PAUL FRANZ, JR.Gary & Carol Franz

LAWRENCE FRICKEYPaula Frickey

TERESA GALVISLuis Enriquez

FRED GREENEMartha Greene

DR. BUTCH GUESTLaura Partain

TIRZAH GUTWEINPamela Huber

MR. & MRS. CLARENCE HARBAUGH

Jeffrey & Sara Hollinshead

CARLY MAY HARRISBrian McDonell

MILDRED HAUPTYvonne Sullivan

GARY HAYES, BROTHERMiles Hayes

HERBERT HELLWEGERuth Hellwege

BETHANY J. HIGGINBOTHAMJoseph Higginbotham

HAZEL G. HOGGRobert & Anne-Marie Hogg

MR. & MRS. ROBERT HOLLINSHEAD

Jeffrey & Sara Hollinshead

DAVID HOOKERCindy Hooker

MIKEY F. HORVATHDonna Horvath

JONAH S. HOWARDTimothy & Janice Howard

STEVEN A. HUNTERMark Hunter

YUNCHIN HWANGHue-Hwa Hwang

CAROLYN IRMINGERJeannette Keith

CONNIE JACOBSSusanne Smith

ASTRID JOHANNESSENEdward Shuman

HAZEL JOHNSONRuth Johnson

BARBARA JONES, MOTHERKaren Bourgeois

ERMA L. JONESRichard & Evelyn Buchanan

KAREN JONESBarbara AndersonKatherine AshbrookDonald BenbowWalter & Constance BertrandJosh & Krista BodmanSandra BolceWilfred DesaulnierSandra DietrichFrank & Eileen GallensteinBeth HesselingDavid & Pamela JonesCurtis & Sarah LeonardKyle LicheyKenneth & Marilyn MetzgerGeorge & Betsy OkresikHanson PereseMike PhippsReal & Patricia PoirierSteven & Mary Jo SimpsonJohn Spelman, Jr.Rodney & Gail VarnerChristine Winebrenner

PAPPY KEISERBlair Logsdon

TOM KELLEYJayne Kelley

DIANE KEMPFRichard & Barbara Hanson

LESLIE KENDRICKDonna Hubbard

MICHAEL KENNEYLori Kenney

JOY KRANNICKRonald & Pamela DeTroye

SETH & STEPHEN KREULRobert & Karen Maharrey

PETE & JOEY LAFFERTYJanice CaravaglioChristopher ChaseRonald & Stacey KastensCarolin SanchezKaren Sousa

KAREN LARSONDonald & Sue Schieche

FAYE WINSLOW LASSITERMary Corprew

MURIEL LATTAAllen LattaAnn Matthews

DAWNA LEONGBob & Jeanne Pitman

VICKI D. LINDSEYAndrew Lindsey

TOM LOCKERNancy Locker

DOROTHY MANNINGPaula Harris

KRISTEN MAXWELLMarcia MackMarilyn MaxwellMegan RichardsDenis & Connie Stenwick

BUCK & JOANN McCLARYSusan Reinert

EPY McCLUSKEYPhilip McCluskey

RUTH MERRILLMeadow Merrill

SARA MILLERBarbara Boland

SETH MILLERRuth Hellwege

WARREN MILLERRick & Donna Clayton

WILLIAM A. MILLERRick Clayton, Jr.

ROGER MOOREWayne Smokay

JOHN & RITA MORANJohn Moran

MARY MORGANRamon & Shelley Lopez

MY MOTHERLane Estep

DR. ROYCE A. MULLRussell Mull

DR. CHUCK MUSFELDTPeter & Sharon Stoterau

EVA NAKATODarin & Namakula Edwards

A. NAMYANZIDarin & Namakula Edwards

ERIC NELSONRoger & Barbara Nelson

BEN NOBLENancy Theroux

ANNALIESE M. NOELLBarb Noell

MAX E. OSBORNEJennie Osborne

CHUCK PIERSONCharles Webb

HARRISON PRINSDebra Prins

NANCY REJHOLECDavid & Harriet BaxterWendie BentonCarol PeggRegional Mental Hlth. Cntr.Dolores Samples

DAVID L. RETTMANNRuth DawKent & Teresa GibsonRaymond & Elaine HoadleyCharles & Lorraine KimmelKaren LionGrace RobertsGarland & Roberta Shinn

ERIC REYESRosa Reyes

PATRICIA RODRIGUEZArt & Norma Rodriguez

LARRY ROOTGlenda Root

LOUISE P. ROWESandy Hughes

JOHN RUSSELLJohn Eubank

EDWARD H. RYONOS. Jane Ryono

DIANE SABOLSusanne Smith

ROGER SANBORNHelen Hutchins

CALVIN SANDERSBrad Hopkins

TOMMA KEITH SARGENTConnie MacCubbinJohn & Margaret HunnMarilyn Smithpeters

MICHAEL SAWAYDASarah Sawayda

MISTY SCHROEDERMichael & Kathleen Lischer

W. SEKATAWADarin & Namakula Edwards

KEN SIEBELINKGeorgia Siebelink

WILLIAM SNYDERMary Carol Snyder

THE SPEAKMAN FAMILYMary Sutherland

LAUREN STAINBROOKLynne Stainbrook

PAUL STAMERLeah Stamer

DAN STERKENCharles Marting

LaVONNE STINNETTPeter & Sharon Stoterau

LUCILE SUMERWELLJacque Schaafsma

EVELYN BOYD TAYLORMary Corprew

FLORENCE “DOVEY” WESTCharles & Elisabeth Culp

CHARLES ANDREW WHITE, SR.Joy White

DARLEAN WILKINSPaula Harris

BETTY JO WILSONPatricia Wilson

DANA WOODRUFFBarbara Moore

FOUFOUK PANG YAMMarylyn Pang Yam

Throughout the pages of this gift book, you’ll find stories and insights about the goodness of God and His hope. An everlasting hope that will increase

your confidence in Jesus as you find peace within yourself and your circumstances. Complemented by breathtaking artwork from Joni Eareckson Tada and illuminated Scripture from Jill DeHaan, Infinite Hope will encourage you to experience a fuller, deeper love for Christ—the Blessed Hope.

Size 8.75 X 8.75 • 144 Pages

$15 BK171

Every purchase you make from Joni and Friends goes to support disability ministry!

Experience Joni’s Artin a Book to Treasure and Inspire

TO ORDER: • Mail order form • Call toll-free: 800.736.4177 • Online: joniandfriends.org/store • Phone: Text ORDER to 818.707.5664

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