Rejoicing in Hardships

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe.”

Philippians 2:14-15

Andy Bush may not be able to ‘voice’ the Bible verse above, but he lives it. The first time Andy wheeled onto the campus of Family Retreat, we knew this young man had a heart for evangelism – he did “everything without complaining or arguing,” and so, he “shined like a star in the universe.” Despite his cerebral palsy, Andy’s winning smile and sparkling eyes drew people to him. They were curious about his happy disposition and why he showed such strong faith. Perhaps some expected him to complain, but Andy knew there was a bigger picture…

It was evangelism. This young man’s passion was for other people to know Jesus the way he did.

As others hung out with him, Andy’s quiet, yet powerful witness for Christ was “blameless and pure… without fault.” No cynic or skeptic could be around him very long without capitulating to Christ – Andy Bush seemed to understand that nothing makes the world sit up and take notice of God more than when it observes believers rejoicing in their hardships. No wonder he won so many people to Christ!

What a strategy for evangelism! Simply “Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may…shine like stars in the universe.” This is the reason Joni and Friends is heaven-bent on giving the Gospel to every person living with a disability. We understand the big picture; we know that God’s most influential evangelists in this crooked and depraved world may well be people with disabilities like Andy Bush. And so, evangelism drives every outreach at Joni and Friends – it’s the core of everything we do!

“Nothing makes the world sit up and take notice of God more than when it observes believers rejoicing in their hardships.”

So, I ask you to please do three things. First, let Andy’s example inspire you to shine like a star in our dark world. It means no complaining. Next, pray that when we give the salvation message of Jesus, it will bear plentiful fruit for Christ’s kingdom. Finally, I will boldly ask you to give financially – we need your gifts to keep spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that many more disabled people will become evangelists like Andy Bush!

It’s a crooked world out there… so let’s make the most of every opportunity to change it for the sake of our wonderful Savior!

–Joni Eareckson Tada