MINISTRY NEWS JULY 2021

The Power of is onJ displayesus at our Marriage Getaways! In sharp contrast with our culture, the Bible teaches that the essence of marriage is a sacrificial commitment to the good of the other. That means that love is more fundamentally action than emotion. “ TIM KELLER any people look at photos of Ken and me and say, “Look Oh, how Jesus is needed! When couples cast their cares on at them, they’re always smiling… what a happy couple!” him, they find hope, strength,and a deeper love for Christ and MIn one sense, they are right. Ken and I are very happy. each other. The grace of Jesus empowers a husband and wife to But our smiles do not come easily. Even now, after almost 40 years keep love at the center, even when disability feels overwhelming. of life together, the joy in our marriage is vigorously hard-fought ” Can you see why Joni and Friends Marriage Getaways are for. Ken and I may casually say to one another, “I love you,” but my essential? Where else will these isolated families hear the Gospel quadriplegia keeps demanding that we prove it. of our Savior?! Marriage-love is proved in the middle of the night when When you support our Marriage Getaways, you are helping Ken must get up for the fourth time to help me cough or blow couples discover strength in Christ through their most devastating my nose when I’m sick. For other families with special needs, weaknesses. Disability may expose how desperate needs are, but marriage-love is proved when dad comes home tired from work a Marriage Getaway shows couples where true marriage-love is yet drops everything to tend to their disabled child so mom can found… always in our Lord Jesus. take a breather. Husbands and wives are constantly dealing with insurance hassles, back pain, feeding tubes, burn-out, hospital visits, shortage of help, toileting routines… and when it comes to their child with a disability, behavior challenges, school absence, and sibling rivalry. It’s constant… it’s isolating… and a threat to everyone’s sanity. Marriage Getaways Save Marriages & Strengthen Families!

hen Jeff and Ericka first heard about an instant first-time father to Ericka’s two our Marriage Getaways, their children. Then they had Sage, now 18, who has W marriage was hanging on by a thread. autism. Disability, divorce, and ongoing patterns “I was so done with him,” confides Ericka. “He of sin added heavy burdens to their relationship. said he was a believer, but his actions did not Jeff admits he was “distant as a husband.” And show it. I felt so unloved by him.” Ericka had Ericka recalls, “I’d made up my mind. I definitely already begun the legal process of divorce. wanted a divorce.” “I was on my way to losing her,” remembers But when Jeff learned about ourMarriage Jeff. “I prayed I would not get divorced again, but Getaway for couples impacted by disability, I was so convicted and felt unloved by Christ.” Yet he was determined to attend even if Ericka Jeff was committed to make this marriage work. refused. Surprisingly, she agreed to go, and Jeff and Ericka had both already been what happened there was nothing less than an divorced. When they got married, Jeff became all-out miracle. DJ, Darrell, Jeff and Sage know the joy of the Lord and the encouragement that comes from iron sharpening iron!

“It was amazing! Instantly, we connected with “I had never really looked at our marriage our coaches, Pastor Darrell and Donnell,” shares in a biblical way before,” shares Jeff. “But the Ericka. “After we prayed with them it was this Marriage Getaway saved our marriage and immediate feeling of trust, and we both let it all renewed our faith in God. I saw a big change out. It was like a switch flipped in us.” in our family when they saw the big change DJ, the youngest of Darrell and Donnell’s five in us. When they saw us run hard after God children, has Down syndrome. They understand in all things it changed our kids. It set an the very real challenges that come with being a example for them that they had never seen special needs family. They also clearly remember before. It was a trickle-down effect, and it still their first impressions of Jeff and Ericka. “They continues to this day.” were in real trouble,” recalls Donnell. “We were This year, Jeff and Ericka celebrate their 7th not at all sure their marriage could survive. It Marriage Getaway together where they now was heart breaking.” But Jesus had a bigger plan! serve on our Marriage Getaway leadership team. “We know that God used the Marriage Their testimony of God’s mercy, grace, and power Getaway and Pastor Darrell and Donnell to save is shared at every Marriage Getaway, giving our marriage! We were being loved on by Joni Christ-centered hope to other special needs and Friends. It’s where we were taught to trust couples in crisis. Thank you for praying for Couples experience absolute God first and to love each other more than we couples like Jeff and Ericka! Your love is holding miracles at Marriage Getaways! loved ourselves,” explains Ericka. special needs families together! Focusing on Marriages, Families and Jesus!

ary and Glenn have 14 biological and challenges that disability brings. Their adopted children; two have already opportunity to put in the time and attention Mgone home to be with the Lord. Six of needed to strengthen their marriage is often their children have disabilities and the emotional limited by the demands of their children challenges that come from abandonment and the with special needs. abuse of their birth parents. “It’s a big ordeal to “We are so tired at the end of the day that go anywhere,” shares Mary. there is no energy left to read, talk or pray Mary explains that couples parenting together. However, at the Marriage Getaway children with disabilities share struggles we had time to spend together, just the two like other marriages, but those struggles of us. Uninterrupted conversation with each are multiplied exponentially by the unique other and God.”

Glenn and Mary's 11-year-old daughter Peppy has Down syndrome. She benefits greatly from the strengthening of her parent's marriage! Shown here with her Family Retreat buddy, Peppy's smile shows her love for Joni and Friends and her love for the Lord!

At Marriage Getaway, Mary and Glenn were the retreat is over. Our online marriage support able to focus on each other and their marriage groups keep couples connected to each other as while developing the skills needed to keep their well as to the body of Christ. We are dedicated relationship strong and focused on Jesus. Since to doing everything we can to hold families returning home, they have shared that they impacted by disability together, and we praise understand each other better and process conflict God that you are, too! in new and Christ-honoring ways. Marriage Glenn and Mary now pray together daily, Getaways provide practical biblical tools to thanking God for the gift of each other and couples impacted by disability, all the while asking for the Lord’s help so they can love each connecting husbands and wives to a community other like Jesus, even when they don’t feel like it. of other couples parenting special needs children. Their marriage – and their beautiful family – is And the support Joni and Friends offers stronger because of Marriage Getaway and our through Marriage Getaways doesn’t end once ongoing marriage support groups! Left to right: Ellie, Jon, Meira, Mary and Glenn, Rosie, Peppy, Nicole, Edward and Jerry. Marriage Getaways keep whole families strong! Growing the Body of Christ From Mississippi  Molly is a single mom who knows all too well the fear, exhaustion One Wheelchair at a Time and isolation associated with having a child with disabilities. When she adopted her daughter Savannah from China, “She came home as a very malnourished two-and-a-half-year-old weighing under 20 pounds. Upon leaving China, Savannah’s diagnosis was cerebral palsy. However, we knew even while in China there was much more to her story. Once home she saw just about every specialist there was, and slowly we discovered  From Central Tennessee what a complex little puzzle she truly was. She was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Dup15q, autism, global Our Joni and Friends Tennessee team just got development delay, hypotonia, receptive and expressive language back from delivering wheelchairs and sharing the disorder, and sensory and feeding issues. I had a lot to learn!” Gospel in Guatemala. 13-year-old Ella received a new, custom-fitted wheelchair during ourWheels for “The life we live is hard many days. It's exhausting. Some days the World outreach, giving her and her mother new I don’t know what to do, or where to turn for help." Gratefully, reasons to smile! Molly turned to Joni and Friends for help, and she found a new Molly, Savannah and Savannah's community of support and encouragement at Family Retreat Family Ella is paralyzed from the waist down. She suffers from where Christ transformed her heart. Thank you for giving special Retreat buddy, Emmie. chronic pain and from constant bullying from the other needs families like Molly’s strength and hope in Jesus! children in her community. Before we visited her village, Ella felt she had no reason to smile.

Ella’s mother sells homemade pillowcases on the roadside. As a single mother without a support system, From Ohio  she was forced to bring Ella with her – carrying her on her back. The physical and emotional weight of their Trevor was born four months early with cerebral dire circumstances became almost too much to bear. palsy, an enlarged heart, underdeveloped organs, But the new wheelchair you sent Ella has given her a brain bleed, staph infection, and collapsed and her mother new hope for a brighter future! Their lungs. Now as a young adult, Trevor has become smiles light up the room, and now that Ella can safely a wonderful advocate for Joni and Friends Ohio. leave the house in her seat of dignity, she and her Trevor says that Joni and Friends has helped him mother are excited to start going to church! develop his leadership skills in disability ministry and has given him the tools and resources needed Ella and her mom weren’t the only ones who learned to succeed. Trevor showcases the vision of Joni about the love of Jesus at this Wheels for the World and Friends: A world where every person with a outreach. Every wheelchair recipient – and their family disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the – heard the Gospel, and 24 people accepted Christ as body of Christ. He now uses his gifts to give back their Lord and Savior! Because of you, more and more to the ministry he loves. people are being welcomed into God’s kingdom! Trevor and our Joni and Friends President, John Nugent pointing people to Christ!

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. “ 1 CORINTHIANS 12:27 ” Your Love Changes Lives – From North Carolina  Vicky Lynn has eight children; three with disabilities. She Around the Country & attends Family Retreat and Family Retreat at Home with her two youngest daughters, Joanna and Danielle, who both have Down syndrome. Around the World! Vicky Lynn explains, “It’s easy to get bogged down in everyday life. At Family Retreat, I am reminded to view  my life in the context of eternity.” For Vicky Lynn and her From Texas family, Joni and Friends has become a tremendous source of inspiration. We met 9-year-old Emmanuel and his dad, William, when they came to Joanna and Danielle have formed close relationships with our Wheels for the World outreach in families and volunteers that attend Family Retreat each Cuba. Emmanuel has cerebral palsy, year. They love all the Bible lessons, praise and worship, and without a proper wheelchair, he and fun activities. And ever since Family Retreat at Home, has been unable to leave his home. Joanna and Danielle have become part of Joni and Friends But all that changed when you sent North Carolina’s online story time hour each week. The our Joni and Friends Texas team to greatest highlight for Vicky, Joanna, and Danielle occurred Emmanuel’s village, providing him with the night Joni shared a story with the families during our Joanna and Danielle are all smiles with their the wheelchair he needed, a Bible and weekly story time! Family Retreat the Joni book in Spanish. friend, Charity! Through Joni and Friends, Joanna and Danielle have found As William watched his son beam with real friends, and they’re abundantly happy knowing there are people in their lives who love them. Thank you for joy over his new wheelchair, tears sending God’s love to special needs families all over the country and all over the world! filled his eyes. “I cannot believe it!” he exclaimed. “I will always remember this experience with you. Tell the people who sent this wheelchair that we are By this everyone will know that you are very thankful!” Now that Emmanuel has his own sturdy wheelchair, he my disciples, if you love one another. JOHN 13:35 can go to school, play in the park, and go to church!

Thank you for sending wheelchairs and the love of Christ to Emmanuel and to There are lots of exciting events countless other children like him! Thank you for showing him the true meaning of his happening in your area, too! name: God is with us! “ In addition to Family Retreats and Wheels for the ”World outreaches, She will give birth to a our Field teams are offering Respite Events,Support Groups, son, and they will call him Church Trainings and all sorts of Family Fun gatherings. Emmanuel, which means Visit joniandfriends.org/events today and ‘God is with us.ʼ find out how you can get involved! “ MATTHEW 1:23 ” ELAINE VAN DUSER MORRIS HONG CRAIG MILLER JOYCE A. SMALL Linda Walthall Linda Cheng Joan Speckman Richard Small KIRK DUVE BONNIE HOWELL SIERRA MILLER NOAH SMITH Honor a Loved One, Patrice Kreber Clouner Betty Nail Ervin & Jen Miller Duane & Mary Ann Eilert Ramond Howell JOE ECKMAN MARY MOORE RICHARD SMITH Ellen Ann Eckman ABBY HULL Robert Moore Edwin & Gail Brown Maples OLLIVE EHOFF MARTY MOREHART SHAYNE SMITH Transform a Life Milton Ehoff CATHY HUNT Jason & Jacqueline Pucheu Darlene Campbell James & Ella Hunt We gratefully acknowledge contributions given in memory or in honor of loved ones to further ministry in the disability ERNEST WARREN MORRIS NANCY M. STORM community. To give a gift in memory of a loved one or in honor of a special occasion, visit joniandfriends.org/donate Joan Vitale ROGER HUTCHINSON Wanda Curley Linda Gittoes Sheila Warren or contact Joni and Friends at 818.707.5664 DEBORAH GENSCH KATIE NELMS ALAN STRUCKMEYER Rev. Daniel Gensch PATRICIA IBBOTSON John Patterson Cathleen Ott Deana Schindel IN HONOR/ SUE OSTERINK ANNIE WELLINGER OLAF CARLSON BETTY GILBERTSON BRITTNEY OLTMER SCOTT SWAN Susan Mahoney Roger Wellinger Marri Thomas Lisa Johnson GRACE INGHAM Rose Mattern Don Smith Given By Melissa Angel JIM & BONNIE BETSY WENTHE JOSEPH CEIMO JIM GILCHRIST ROBERT OXFORD PILAR TAPIA LUCILLE V. BAILY PEARSON Julia Wang Ben & Gloria Mikelski John & Lois Gilchrist JOANIE ENGLISH Bob & Kay Leuang Rene Baez Jane Baily Glenn & Vickie Spann Sarah Jakkola Hailey Leuang MARK & SHEILA DAVID M. CERNUGEL MARIA GUZMAN LYNETTE TENACE BALES FAMILY CHRISTINE PERDUE WILLITS Beverly Bosak Patria Guzman CRAIG KOPPENHAFER SEYMOUR PHILLIPS Donna Hayes John Stroud Gerri Jaworski Marilyn Willits Judith Lewis Ron Sanderson JULIE COPELAND REBECCA HADAR GWEN THAYER NANCY BRADT DEVON, MILES & Mary Katherine Brown Donna Hayes DOUGLAS KROON HARRISON PRINS Steve & Karen Thayer Renee White AMAYA PROCTOR- Peter Kroon Debra Prins IN MEMORY/ ROBERT COPPOLETTA JOHN HADFIELD EDWARD TURNER CALEB BROWN UPDKYE Richard & Grace Hadfield LEROY & MARY BALTAZAR CARDENAS Shelia A. Turner Christian R. Updyke Given By Cameron Coppoletta Cynthia Klepal LANGKAMP RAMIREZ NOAH COX EVANGELINE HALL Kim Lohberg Frank & Karin Cardenas ABEL TYSON GLORIA & ANDY BUSH JUDY REDLICH RICHARD & THERESA Karen Harker Adam & Rachel Tyson Daniel & Jennifer Whyman Annette Thomason Bruce & Cynthia Elder AMES YVONNE LASALLE CARLITOS RAMIREZ NADINE HALL DORENE WITT URELL MECHELLE RUSSELL Catherine Gossage DANA CR AVEN Tracy Walker Maribell Ramirez ANNA CRYSTAL Sandra Hamilton Suvonne Hall Paula Haakenson CUEVAS Larry & Gretchen Dillon JANET ARBOGAST ALLESHA LEE DAVID REEVES Susan Cuevas Linda Wilson ROBERT & LILLIAN LEAH HALLAM Sandra Lee Jack & Jan Beauchamp SUE VOLLMER JAMES SKELTON Thomas & Margaret Barbara Frey Carol Ferguson AUNTIE VERA AYALA CUNNINGHAM Matt Cummings DANIEL JOSEPH Engel Aslakson CAROLE LEEVER Evelyn Chaidez Jennifer Deiuliis EVA WALL ACE CUEVAS ROBERT & EVA Tim Willenberg John Durso Susan Cuevas REBECCA CUSHING LAURA HARMON Laurel Willingham-McLain STENGER LAUREN ELIZABETH Judy Sheppard DANIEL MACFARLANE Jeffrey & Sara Hollinshead BABBITT Shea Lewis PAUL RUNION SCOTT WEBER NATHAN & Laurie MacFarlane Debbi Lico CHARLOTTE EVERETT Liz Babbitt KURT DAUFENBACH GRAM MARIE F. Kirk Weber FAMILY OF PETER HECKMAN ANDREW MANNO Deborah Rapoport STRAUCH SHERRIE BEETON Patrice Kreber Clouner CARRIE S BILL WHITWER Amber Haynes Doris Rasmussen Cheryl Lasselle STEVEN GONZALEZ Nancy Henry David Beeton CAROL DENDURANT Carol Matheny KARL HEINEMANN JOHNNIE MARSCH Carol Otero RONALD SWEET CHARLOTTE BELL Brittney Hansen BEN & SAM SAFFORD NORMA WILMOT Bob & Sue Heinemann Alan Marsch Loriann Safford MELISSA GRIFFITH Angela Drupp Tom Sterrett FRANK DENTZ Nanette Moore Craig & Marilyn Wilmot LUCIA MCDUFF Jeffrey Griffith JONI EARECKSON TADA GLADYS M. BELTMAN Kathy Keith RANELL SAILORS NANCY HURD MARY DONALD HEISE Judy Zanotti Norm Amend TITUS HARDY Lee Raymond Sherri Jones PETER DOIRON J. Brad Steward WYLIE STEPHANIE MIDURA Juana Cox Keith Hurf Stephen & Stephanie Hardy DELORES THOMAS DOROTHY BILLER Gary & Mary Abrams Glenridge Development, LLC Liz Babbitt RALPH HILLMER Joseph Dziobek Nancy Lester Priscilla Biller Stephen Hill GLENN LESTER MaryAnn Beaver Ann Furrow Carol Jasionowski Nancy Lester Sharon House TREY MARGARET BLUM Jill Brown LOUIS HOLLAND NICK & BARBARA Terry & Ruth Jones MARY LLOYD Kelsey Morris James & Margaret Brandon Joy Eusebio Barbara Holland MIKEZ Lewis Martin David & Mariellen Krajcik Stephen & Becca Johnson DR. GLADYS TSAO-WU Steve & Michelle Mikez Strategic Land Services Inc JOHN BODNARI Deborah Krajcik JOHN ESKIND Susan & Brett Testa MICHAEL & JENNIFER Erin Martinez Mirela Roibu Tim & Joan Lafferty HOLLINGSWORTH BROOKLYN MILLER Stephen Lewis JACK SANDERS LUKEL A’S BIRTHDAY DEZARAY VALDEZ LINDA BOYNTON William & Gloria Ervin & Jen Miller Kathleen Lukela Charlene Giffin Thomas Parisot Hollingsworth Julia Elliott Richard Boynton Robert & Lilli Revere COURTNEY MILLER TOMMY MARTIN AILEEN VELTHUIS Jean-Marie Semeraro DUANE HOLLOWAY Ervin & Jen Miller JOAN GRIFFIN SIMAO JANE BREINING Claire Schiada Diane Clements Patricia Whittaker Lelia McCauley Joseph & Melana Sorena Kathy Holloway Stonehouse Elementary TERRY MERKLE BERNADETTE ED BRUCE Social Committee Carol Otero WALTERS Joan Kasboski Matthew Woodhall Victor & Lisa Johnson WENDY MOODIE LIZA PAUL AVERY PATRICIA DUR ANT Carol Otero ANN M. WARD PO Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376 • 818.707.5664 • joniandfriends.org This newsletter is published by BRYANT Dennis Durant Joni and Friends, a not-for-profit organization accelerating Christian ministry in the disability community. Doris A. Rasmussen SHIRLEY NICHOLS Ana J. Bryant © 2021 Joni Eareckson Tada, publisher. All rights reserved. Permission to reproduce any material herein Gloria A. Nichols must be obtained in writing from Joni and Friends. Joni and Ken began Reading through the a new life together in Bible together each day marriage and ministry helps keep Joni and Ken’s on July 3, 1982. marriage strong!

Happy Anniversary KEN AND JONI!

Whether serving at one of our Retreats & Getaways, on a Wheels for Love is patient, love is kind. It does the World outreach, or through one of our many other Christ-centered not envy, it does not boast, it is programs, Joni and Ken love telling not proud. It is not rude, it is not others the Good News about Jesus! self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love “does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-8

39 years later, Ken and Joni continue to give us a beautiful example of the “marriage-love” described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. ” JONI & KEN AN UNTOLD LOVE STORY

Joni & Ken: An Untold Love Story By Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada "Ken and I are peeling back the curtain in this book to reveal some of the toughest years of our life together. Yes, it is definitely an untold story… but we hope the lessons we’ve learned will bolster others to stick with their vows, for better or for worse.” • Softcover • 192 pages $12

100% of all sales go directly to support disability ministry! TO ORDER: • Mail order form • Call toll-free: 800.736.4177 • Online: joniandfriends.org/store • Phone: Text ORDER to 818.707.5664