…whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name ... · David & Margaret Hirsch KELSEY...
Transcript of …whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name ... · David & Margaret Hirsch KELSEY...
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
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