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ShareThe Perfect Gift
6-year old Victoria spent every day sitting beside the dirt road while her mother sold the few vegetables she grew. Because Victoria has cerebral palsy, she is unable to walk or attend school. Her mother has no money for a wheelchair – such a thing costs more than she earns in a year. For six years Victoria waited – until your love sent a miracle that changed everything! Joy broke over mother and daughter as Victoria was seated in a new Regency Pediatric Wheelchair. “This wheelchair you have given us is a manifestation of God’s word and His love coming true,” Victoria’s mother said. “You have lifted us from shame and placed God’s love on our lives!” Little Victoria now attends school in her village, where the astonishing story of her wheelchair is being shared with curious neighbors, friends, family members and...
Bursting with Joy!
Every summer all across the country, people of all ages pour into Family Retreats —all with one thing in common: a great big heart full of love to give away. They’re called Short Term Missionaries—STM’s—and their job is simple: to serve a family with disability in the love and strength of Jesus that brings transformation to everybody involved—including themselves! Joe is a fireman, a strapping young man with absolutely no disability experience. He arrived at Family Retreat ready to serve—but a little nervous, too. After a day of training, Joe was paired with Brandon, who has Angelman’s Syndome and is non-verbal. Flexibility, patience, love, and yet more flexibility followed for five days as Brandon and Joe learned to communicate and love each other. Up and down hills they roamed, often Joe carrying Brandon on...
Christmas is Coming!
As the hustle and bustle of Christmas approaches, we love to remember John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God gave us the greatest gift of all, Jesus… and we, in turn, give his love to others! That’s the reason for this wonderful season – it’s why we joyously share gifts with loved ones. And so, in the spirit of God’s generous love, Joni and Friends is happy to offer beautiful Christmas gifts, Christmas books for all ages, and Joni’s brand new Christmas cards that’ll point your friends and family to the Lord. And the best part? With each purchase, you are helping share the amazing message of salvation in Jesus Christ to special-needs families. Thank you for giving the Christmas message year round to children and adults with disabilities! We wish you a joyous celebration of our Savior’s birth!
A Message Just for You!
In developing nations, when a child is born with disability, the family often loses everything – status, connection, even family ties are severed by the belief that the child has brought shame to the family. But your love has opened the doors of hope for 8 year-old Jessica and her mother Stella in Ghana. Your gift of a wheelchair was the miracle that enabled Stella to resume her small roadside business and take Jessica to school! Watch this video to meet Jessica and see her contagious joy after receiving the precious gift of mobility!
Thanks from My 63-year old Heart!
On this last day of October, I am 'over the top' with thanksgiving to God for all of you who participated in my "Birthday Gift" with a gift of $63!! Together, more than $7,400 was raised, and this means many more kids with disabilities, and adults, too, will receive a wheelchair, the Word of God, and a chance to hear the Good News of Jesus! And it wouldn't be happening, were it not for you. "May the Lord repay you for what you have done," says Ruth 2:12, "May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel." And that, friend, was written for you!
From Aiden and Mya’s Dad
“Men like me work and do our jobs. They don’t talk about what’s going on in their lives. But at Family Retreat, Bible study and small groups with other men give dads a chance to bond. We let down our guard. We talk about what good things having a child with a disability brings out. We so easily forget the positives because we live with constant therapies, doctor’s appointments and the hard work it takes to pay for all these things...
Abandoned Children Find their Heavenly Father through Your Love
Thousands of disabled children and teens, like Feyrilla in Peru, are learning about the love of their Heavenly Father through the gifts of a wheelchair and a Bible sent by you. Abandoned at birth by her parents because of her cerebral palsy, Feyrilla has been raised by her grandmother who is poor and elderly. “I feed Feyrilla, I lift and carry her,” said her grandmother, Micolasa. “It is very hard.” But now Feyrilla has grown too heavy for Micolasa to carry any longer. Feyrilla has not been out of the house in over two years, yet the light and hope in her eyes has not gone out. Not long ago, 17 year old Feyrilla received a beautiful, custom-fitted wheelchair from Wheels for the World. It was a gift that will bring her into the light and sunshine once again as surely as it ushered in the love of her Heavenly Father. Life-changing words of Scripture were read to Feyrilla and Grandma Micolasa. “Today we have seen the love and care of God,” said Micolasa. “We learned that even though we suffer behind closed doors, God has seen us and shown us His care through you. I have many, many thanks in my heart... words will never be enough.”
10 Things You Can Say to a Friend With a New Disability
When someone is hit with disability, it can be a scary time filled with questions and new challenges. But that’s the time when it’s most important to show your love and support! Have you ever wondered, what’s the right thing to say? Here are 10 things you can say to a friend with a new disability...
A Lifeline of Joy and Restoration
Richard and Simone Moore have three young children that keep them running—especially 6-year-old Ana, who has Down syndrome. “We are ‘on’ all the time,” says Simone. “We live exhausted all year.” Under that kind of pressure, the fabric of even the strongest marriage is worn thin. “We can be so stressed that we sometimes turn on each other,” Richard shares. It’s a story every family with disability understands. The Moores...
Let's Celebrate Joni's 63rd Birthday!
My wife may be the youngest soon-to-turn-63 woman I know, and I can hardly believe her birthday, October 15 is just around the corner. Joni and I are both amazed that she’s breaking all spinal-cord injury statistics – she never expected to see this many birthdays. Who knew God would take the broken pieces of one young girl’s life and turn them into a powerful ministry to people with disabilities all over the world! To celebrate God’s goodness, Joni and I are giving a birthday gift of $63 (a dollar for each year!) to Joni and Friends. How honored we would be if you would join us in the birthday fun – 63 years, a $63 gift, and countless lives changed for Christ. There couldn’t be a greater way to honor my wife. Thank you! –Ken Tada
