Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast

Carole Reitsma, loving wife to her husband Scott, and devoted mom to her adult son Scotty (who is now an ordained minister), came to faith at a young age, and in the midst of ongoing abuse. Through it all, God has shepherded Carole, leading her to wholeness through grace, and into ministry to others. She has been a pastor alongside her husband in an inner-city church, and for more than twenty-five years has provided Christ-centered counseling as a licensed marriage and family therapist. She is passionate about teaching Christians how to live authentic and emotionally healthy lives, rooted in the everlasting love of Jesus. Get your copy of Carole’s book, Relationship Road: Authentic, Emotionally Healthy Christianity Learn more about Carole’s work at Relationship Road, helping people find a fulfilling relationship with Jesus. KEY QUESTIONS: Do you ever feel distant or burned out in your relationship with God? How has your pain prepared you to meet someone else in their suffering? KEY SCRIPTURES: John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Lamentations 3:22–23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” 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.

Jesus tells us our earthly possessions won’t last. We will outlive them, or they will outlive us. You can’t keep your things forever, and you can’t take them with you. However, according to Jesus, you can send your treasure on ahead. And that’s by giving of your treasure and thus setting your heart on the things that matter eternally. So how do you make the kind of investment Jesus recommends? Here are some places to start: volunteering with Joni and FriendsAs Randy puts it, “to open up your hands and freely give to help others is the key to a happy life.” So today, entrust your heart and your treasure to God, the Giver of all good gifts. Cling to Jesus, feasting on his promises and sharing them with others. Because every time you open your hands to give, or go out of your way to serve, you step into the good and happy life God designed you for. Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries and a bestselling author of more than 60 books, including The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving. KEY QUESTIONS: What makes you truly happy and satisfied? How can you invest in things that matter eternally? When have you experienced joy as you served or gave to someone else? KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:19–21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 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.

Stephanie Daniels welcomes her good friend and colleague Mary Grace Burkey back to the podcast for a heartfelt conversation about two significant topics: marriage and disability. Mary Grace shares her story of meeting her husband Chad at a Joni and Friends Warrior Getaway, which supports Veterans and their families. Chad sustained a traumatic brain injury while serving overseas, which left him with a disability. When they decided to get married, Mary Grace became not only Chad’s wife, but also his caregiver. In this episode, Mary Grace shares about her marriage, caregiving, and how disability has challenged her and Chad to depend on Jesus in their weakness as they grow closer to one other. November is National Family Caregivers Month. Across the United States, nearly 53 million people serve as caregivers to family members, friends, and others in need of care. If you or someone you know is a caregiver in need of support, you’re not alone. Here are some resources that will meet you with encouragement and help: Joni and Ken and Tada share Secrets to Good Caregiving: Spiritual Taproots and Practical Steps and a behind-the-scenes look at their marriage in Joni and Ken: An Untold Love Story. Listen to “The Caregiver’s Journey: Surviving to Thriving” on the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast. Read the Care for the Caregiver devotional. Consider attending a Joni and Friends Marriage Getaway or Warrior Getaway to meet the specific needs of your family. KEY QUESTIONS: How can you provide respite and encouragement to a caregiver in your life? How can your church and community care for military families when a serviceman or woman returns home from duty? KEY SCRIPTURES: Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 2 Timothy 1:7: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 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.

Stephanie Daniels welcomes her friend and co-worker, Mary Grace Burkey, to the podcast for a deep look at the unique needs of military families—and what you can do to support them. With 25 years of experience serving with Joni and Friends, Mary Grace began as a volunteer and now oversees our Texas-area Retreats & Getaways. Organizing multiple Warrior Getaways every year, she shares valuable insights into their life-changing benefits—respite, spiritual renewal, and healing—not just for Veterans, but for their entire families. Who in your life has served, or is currently serving, in the U.S. military? Many individuals live with the effects of visible and invisible injuries as a result of their military service. At Joni and Friends, we hold Warrior Getaways to honor and give back to these brave Veterans and their families. Consider attending a Joni and Friends Warrior Getaway Sign up to volunteer at a Warrior Getaway Give to Joni and Friends to welcome more families to Warrior Getaway and our other Christ-centered programs and outreaches! KEY QUESTIONS: What obstacles keep Veteran families from feeling known, connected, and at welcomed within the body of Christ? How can you and your church extend a warm welcome to military families and effectively meet their needs? KEY SCRIPTURES: Psalm 46:1–3: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 147:3: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” 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.

Do you have questions about God’s will for your life? Are you facing circumstances—suffering, disability, uncertainty—that lead you to the end of your rope? For these struggles, and all life’s moments and questions, the Bible is God’s gift to you and all believers. Joni invites you, right now, to let the Holy Spirit lead you deeper (or maybe for the first time) into the Word of God. Pray that he will meet you as you listen for his voice and seek out his will in and through your life. Join Joni and Ken on the adventure of reading through the Bible! Sign up to get our free Bible reading plan and monthly reflections from Joni. You can also sign up to receive Joni’s Scripture-rooted daily devotional. KEY QUESTIONS: Do you have a daily Bible-reading routine? How have you experienced God speaking to you through his Word (the Bible)? What does it mean that the Bible is “the sword of the Spirit” (and how can you faithfully wield its awesome power)? KEY SCRIPTURES: 2 Timothy 3:16–17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work!” Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.” 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.

Ron Sandison shares his story of growing up on the autism spectrum and offers encouragement for those navigating life with autism. Leaning on Jesus, and with the support of his family, Ron has built a fulfilling and purposeful life. Now, as an author, professor, husband, and father, Ron provides insight to parents raising children with autism, spreading the important message that all children can flourish and mature through the love of their families and the love of Jesus. Ron works full time in the medical field and is a professor of theology at Destiny School of Ministry. He also has a Master of Divinity from Oral Roberts University and has memorized over 15,000 scriptures, including 22 complete books from the New Testament. Purchase one of Ron’s books: A Parent's Guide to Autism: Practical Advice. Biblical Wisdom. All children can flourish and mature through love. A Parent’s Guide to Autism offers interviews from experts and teaching on helping children respond to bullying, as well as practical wisdom, biblical knowledge, and life experiences from Ron Sandison. Views from the Spectrum: A Window into Life and Faith with Your Neurodivergent Child Views from the Spectrum is a celebration of autism, faith, and the possibilities at their intersection. Providing guidance for parents longing to connect their children with God's love, this book is complete with anecdotes, scientific research, parenting tips, prayers, devotions, and more. KEY QUESTIONS: Do you seek to understand others before seeking to be understood by them? What do children need to grow into faithful, healthy adults? How can you offer encouragement to an individual or family living with autism? KEY SCRIPTURE: Genesis 50:19–21: “But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: KEY SCRIPTURES: Romans 12:15: “Psalm 34:18: 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.

This episode features the stories two beautiful young women, Vicki and Liz. Though they never met, God wove their lives together through a beloved purple wheelchair and the power of his grace. Vicki lived with profound disabilities. She also exuded joy and made others happy everywhere she went. When she died unexpectedly the day after Mother’s Day at 27 years old, Vicki’s parents were heartbroken beyond belief. They held on to Vicki’s beloved purple wheelchair, too grieved to let it go. But as God brought healing to their hearts, he also brought Vicki’s parents a beautiful idea: to donate their daughter’s wheelchair. According to the World Health Organization, the majority of people who need assistive technology—such as a wheelchair—have to do without. Through our Wheels for the World program, Joni and Friends changes the lives of individuals and families living with disability by hand-delivering wheelchairs and Bibles to people in need. Each year Joni and Friends collects thousands of used wheelchairs, which get restored to like-new condition by incarcerated men and women in prison-based restoration centers. Working on the wheelchairs allows these individuals to make a difference for others and experience redemptive purpose in their own lives. By the time a wheelchair is restored, delivered, and custom-fitted to its new owner, it carries with it more than one story of God’s grace in action. You can join Joni and Friends in serving people with disabilities at home and around the world. Join a Wheels for the World outreach team Volunteer locally with Wheels for the World Donate a used manual wheelchair KEY QUESTION: Where can you take a step of faith by extending generosity or support to someone you know who is suffering? KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy 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.

Michael Hingson, blind since birth, was born in Chicago to sighted parents who believed in raising their son with a can-do attitude. Treated like all other children in his family, Michael rode a bike, did advanced math in his head, and learned to read and write. He later went to college receiving a bachelor’s and master’s degree in physics along with a secondary teaching credential from the University of California at Irvine. Michael then enjoyed a nearly 30-year career working for high tech companies spending most of his time in management roles. Michael’s life changed dramatically on September 11, 2001, when he and his guide dog, Roselle, escaped from the 78th floor of Tower One in the World Trade Center moments before it collapsed. Soon after, Michael and Roselle were thrust into the international limelight where Michael began to share his unique survival story and 9-11 lessons of trust, courage, heroism, and teamwork. Mike has served as The National Public Affairs Director for one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the nation, Guide Dogs for the Blind. Currently Michael lives in Victorville, California with Alamo, his eighth guide dog and his rescue feline, Stitch. Get your copy of Michael Hingson’s book, Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust Check out Michael’s Unstoppable Mindset podcast Learn more about Michael’s life and work KEY QUESTIONS: How can you lean on God today to overcome fear and move forward? Who in your church, workplace, or neighborhood might need assistance during a crisis or natural disaster? What can you do to be part of their team in these circumstances? KEY SCRIPTURES: Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 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.

Don’t miss this installment of Joni Eareckson Tada’s “Heart of the Founder” series where Joni digs into the topic of healing. Imagine you’re an athletic, ambitious teenager looking forward to starting college. It’s a hot day at the beach. On a whim, you plunge into the water and your neck snaps as your head hits the sandy bottom. Life will never be the same… After her diving accident, Joni recalls fervently asking God for healing—to walk again and regain use of her hands; to get out of bed on her own. Poring over stories of Jesus miraculously healing people, Joni waited for her miracle healing. But God had something different in mind for her. Joni had good reason to believe that God would heal her after her accident. She looked at Scriptures like Matthew 7:9–11 where God promises good gifts to his children. Wasn’t a healed spine a good gift? Why, more than five decades later, still in a wheelchair living with quadriplegia, can Joni attest to the fact that God has deeply healed her? It’s because, over years of Bible reading and trusting in Jesus, Joni began to see the heart healing and powerful purpose God intended for her—all while living with paralysis. Joni still hasn’t walked again, squeezed her husband’s hand, or gotten up in the morning on her own. But a deep and lasting healing is hers, through the power of the Lord Jesus. KEY QUESTIONS: Where in your life do you need healing? Might God want to heal you in a way you don’t expect, or maybe wouldn’t choose? KEY SCRIPTURES: Matthew 7:9–11: “‘Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!’” Isaiah 55:8–9: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways.’” 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.

Philip Yancey, a renowned author and avid investigator of the mysteries of the Christian faith, joins Crystal Keating for a deep and honest conversation you won’t want to miss. No stranger to wrestling with doubt and suffering, Philip often writes about encountering God in our pain. In this episode he shares about his latest book and opens up about his own recent hardships, including diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease and cancer. He points to the life-giving truth while God may not remove our suffering, he is always faithful to redeem it. Philip Yancey is a best-selling author of more than 25 books, which have sold more than 17 million copies and been published in 50 languages. His works share from his personal experiences and exploration of the most basic questions and deepest mysteries of the Christian faith. Yancey’s recent release, Undone: A Modern Rendering of John Donne's Devotions, tells of John Donne’s confrontations with God, and combines Donne’s timeless reflections with present-day commentary. In his memoir, Where the Light Fell, Yancey reveals secrets of his turbulent childhood and teen years. Serving as a type of prequel to all his other books, this memoir takes the reader on a journey from that strict fundamentalism of his youth to Yancey’s dedicated search for grace and meaning. In piecing together his fragmented personal history and his search for redemption, Yancey gives testament to the enduring power of our hunger for truth and the possibility of faith rooted in grace instead of fear. Yancey recently revised his best-loved What’s So Amazing About Grace?, a startling exploration of grace at street level, revealing it to be the healing force we need and the key to transforming a broken world. Philip Yancey and his wife live in the foothills of Colorado, where they enjoy mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, bicycling, and other pursuits in the Rocky Mountains. Find more from Philip Yancey at www.philipyancey.com 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.

Rachel LeMaster lives with both Turner syndrome and a traumatic brain injury. But she doesn’t let her troubles keep her from pursuing God’s call on her life. In the midst of following Christ’s example, encouraging and serving others, she met her husband, Caleb. Now the two live out their Christ-centered mission to love one another and those around them, all for the glory of God. As Rachel says, “to live is to give!” Watch Rachel’s 2012 interviewResourcesvolunteer with Joni and Friends KEY QUESTIONS: KEY SCRIPTURES: Genesis 50:20: “Romans 8:28: 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.

At age 23, Rachel Bailey (now Rachel Bailey LeMaster) was finishing a college certificate in nutrition and personal training. Living with a genetic condition called Turner syndrome, Rachel had weathered experiences of bullying and exclusion, but she found purpose and strength through her faith and community. Seeking ways to share the Gospel through her life, Rachel hoped to serve as a missionary one day. But all her plans got upended in 2011 when a truck smashed into her car on her way to work, causing catastrophic injuries including internal decapitation (the severing of the skull from the spine). Tune in to hear Rachel’s conversation with hosts Crystal Keating and Stephanie Daniels, exploring Rachel’s story of trauma, resilience, and discovering fresh drive to serve others in need of hope and healing. While the kind of trauma Rachel Bailey LeMaster suffered in her car accident normally results in paralysis or death, she has made a stunning recovery, which she attributes to the grace of God and the quick, skillful action of the first responders and medical professionals. Since the moment Rachel awoke from her month-long coma, she has sensed God’s nearness and trusted him to see her through. Today she shares her powerful testimony of faith, resilience, and hope in Christ with many. Turner syndromeWatch Rachel’s 2012 interviewResources KEY QUESTIONS: KEY SCRIPTURES: Ephesians 2:10:Proverbs 3:5–6: 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.

Tune in as host Crystal Keating talks with Stephanie Daniels, who is sharing the mic this season. Stephanie opens up about poignant aspects of her story, including the challenges navigating the disabilities of aging parents, and coping with the onset of an autoimmune disease, all while seeking God’s guidance. Don’t miss this encouraging episode that will inspire you to praise God in all circumstances and tap into the deep, peaceful joy that comes from trusting Jesus. Crystal Keating has been part of Joni and Friends for over 10 years helping the ministry answer thousands of calls, letters, and messages about disability and holding fast to hope in Jesus through life’s greatest hardships. Crystal and the Response Team offer resources, share encouragement from God’s Word, and connect those in need with Christ-honoring, disability-friendly churches. 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. Stephanie Daniels serves as Community Engagement Specialist at Joni and Friends and she is always ready to share words of biblical encouragement on the Joni and Friends social media accounts. She has a heart for worship and is passionate about encouraging, equipping, and empowering the body of Christ. Stephanie hopes the podcast will encourage everyone who hears it and inspire each listener to lean even more deeply into Jesus. Send a message to Crystal and Stephanie! KEY QUESTIONS: KEY SCRIPTURES: Psalm 96:1–3:John 16:33: 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.

Don’t miss this installment of Joni Eareckson Tada’s “Heart of the Founder” series, as she shares about her experience serving on the National Council on Disability, contributing to the drafting and passage of the groundbreaking 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. Hear Joni’s reflection on the power of the law compared to the power of the Gospel: while the law can change discriminatory structures, the Gospel is the only thing that can change hearts, bringing about culture change that provides true belonging for people living with disability. KEY QUESTIONS: RESOURCES: Resources to help your church5 Steps to Starting a Special Needs MinistryIrresistible Church training series minibooks EPISODE SOURCES: Children with disabilities are up to three times more likely to be bullied than their peersAdults with autism are more likely to report lonelinesscampaigns against the use of derogatory language against special education students85% of churches don’t have any level of special needs ministry 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.

Joel Vander Molen is a disability awareness speaker, web developer, and substitute preacher living in Iowa. When Joel was involved in a motor vehicle accident as a small child, he received a high-level spinal cord injury and became unable to breathe without assistance, losing feeling and control over anything below his shoulders. With faith in God and steadfast help from loved ones, Joel completed school and went to college, even living independently in his own dorm room. Through his decades as a quadriplegic, life hasn’t been easy, but he has learned to look to God first, trusting him in all circumstances. Get a copy of Joel’s book, The Quad Life: Unexpected Times Abound, Reliance on God a Must “God has allowed me to serve him in ways my parents and I never imagined. He has enabled me to show that anyone can be active if they choose to be. I have been given opportunity to speak with many children and adults and help them learn different perspectives, and I was able to write an entire book, just by using a mouth stick.” – Joel Vander Molen KEY QUESTIONS: KEY SCRIPTURES: Matthew 19:26:2 Corinthians 1:3–5: 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.