Ministry Update from Our President
Our kingdom ministry will not stop…
“The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Psalm 121:7-8
While we are rightly concerned about the health of our loved ones during this global pandemic, we can take great comfort in the words of Psalm 121, verses 7 and 8. “The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Every morning, our Joni and Friends staff members gather together virtually in order to pray. We pray for the families we serve, and we pray for you. We thank God repeatedly for the selfless ways you partner with us in order to stand in the gap for children and adults living with disability all over the world, and we are trusting the Lord to keep you safe, healthy and strong during these unprecedented times.
And while COVID-19 has created new challenges every week, our ministry teams continue to operate at full steam thanks to your prayers and support.
- Teams have just returned from Ukraine, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and El Salvador where Jesus was proclaimed. In Guatemala alone 514 people heard the Gospel and 34 people committed their lives to Christ!
- Our restoration centers located in prisons across the U.S. continue to restore collected wheelchairs to like new condition so they can be ready for distribution.
- Just last week wheelchairs were received in Guadalajara, Mexico for distribution which continues through our in-country partners not only there, but also in places like Peru, El Salvador and other countries as their governments allow.
- Our in-country partners consistently comply with our exceptionally high standards, including custom fitting each person receiving a wheelchair so that their new wheelchair is perfect for their unique disability, sharing the Gospel, providing Bibles in their own language, and connecting them to a local church.
- God is showing us new ways to serve people affected by disability. For example, Joni and Friends – through a partnership with Samaritan’s Purse – is providing wheelchairs to support the World Medical Mission relief in both Los Angeles and New York.
- Your generous support is providing medical equipment that allows those on the front lines to transport people who are ill, elderly or otherwise affected by disability during these uncertain times. You are shining forth the compassion of Christ!
Families living with disability know the strain associated with being isolated from society. They deal with deep levels of social isolation 24/7 all year long. And the coronavirus threatens to push them further and further into the margins of society. But our Crisis Response Team – alongside your prayers and giving – is standing in the gap for these very special families. Every day we hear from people all over the world through emails, Facebook messages, phone calls and even texts. Many of these people have absolutely no one… and often nowhere to turn.
But we are here for them, sharing hope through this hardship, and giving them the Good News of Jesus! Thank you for filling the gap alongside us. Because of you, these special needs families are being connected with Christ-honoring churches. Your prayers and donations are alleviating their fears, pain, anxiety, and loneliness. You are pointing people back to God!
The demand to support families affected by disability is great and it’s only getting greater as a result of COVID-19. That’s why today, I’m asking for your support so we can continue to serve the most underserved people on the planet – children and adults with disabilities.
Just $18.33 a month sends a wheelchair and the hope of Christ to someone desperate for Jesus. Your immediate help is needed, because during this pandemic, children still need wheelchairs and they still need the Gospel.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership in this crucial ministry, and for your steadfast and sacrificial generosity. In closing, my prayer for you is found in Numbers chapter 6, verse 26:
May the Lord watch over you and give you peace.
John Nugent
President / COO
Our Kingdom Ministry Will Not Stop…
The coronavirus cannot stop the love of God, and we are counting on you to help us support special needs families spiritually and practically. Just $18.33 a month sends a wheelchair and a Bible to those who need it most – children and adults living with disability. Give today and transform lives for eternity!
