Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast
216 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 224 ratingsJoni and Friends shares encouraging conversations about finding hope through your hardships, along with practical ways to include people with disabilities in your church and community.
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Episodes
Walking with God through Schizophrenia – Tara Groff
May 20, 2021 07:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBTara Groff is a wife and homeschooling mother who has experienced God’s sustaining love as she's lived with schizophrenia for more than 30 years. This week on the podcast she is sharing how mental illness has impacted her life and relationships, including her relationships with God and the church. Tara talks candidly about the day-to-day manifestations of schizophrenia and treatments she has pursued to manage her symptoms. “Schizophrenia is not going away. The list of dreams lost, goals ...
Growing Up with a Neurodegenerative Disease: Friedrich's Ataxia – Stephanie Magness
May 13, 2021 07:00 - 12 minutes - 11.1 MBLike most young women, Stephanie Magness wanted to be like everyone else; she wanted to fit in with her classmates and have fun at school. But when she learned in 7th grade that she had scoliosis, she was taken on an unexpected decade-long journey of misdiagnosis. At age 22 genetic testing confirmed that Stephanie’s symptoms were caused by Friedrich’s ataxia (FA), a rare neurodegenerative disease that has no cure. This week on the podcast, Crystal is talking with Stephanie about her FA diag...
How to Pray for Our Country on National Day of Prayer
May 06, 2021 07:00 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MB"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." – 2 Corinthians 3:17 Today marks the 70th annual National Day of Prayer. As people across the country set aside time to intercede for our nation, Joni and Friends is leading this special time of prayer under the theme “Lord Pour Out Your Love, Life, and Liberty.” On this episode of the podcast, we invite you to pray along with Joni Eareckson Tada, Pastor Shawn Thornton, Steve Bundy, and other special guest...
Chronic Pain and Healing – Tera Bradham DeNeui
April 29, 2021 07:00 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MB"It might not be physical, but God has healing for you. Press into that healing journey and see what it looks like for you. Then surrender the results to God.” On our last episode of the podcast, Tera Bradham DeNeui shared about how her swimming trajectory dramatically shifted after she suffered an undiagnosed shoulder injury. Instead of training to reach the Olympics, Tera walked through seven challenging years of chronic pain and spiritual darkness. But God was at work amid her challenges...
Pain is a Gift – Tera Bradham DeNeui
April 22, 2021 07:00 - 21 minutes - 19.9 MB"God completely changed my life through pain. I ended up finding true freedom which is not being bound by the world’s circumstances… God doesn’t waste pain, but we have to give it to him." This week on the podcast Crystal is talking with inspiring speaker and author Tera Bradham DeNeui. As one of the fastest 12-year-old swimmers in the country, Tera had her sights set on competing in the Olympics. But her swimming trajectory dramatically and unexpectedly shifted after she suffered an undiag...
Living Joyfully with Dystonia – Abigail Brown
April 15, 2021 07:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MB“Dystonia is like being imprisoned in a body with a mind of its own… but I wouldn’t trade the hardest times for the deep relationship I have gained with the Lord.” This week Crystal is talking with Abigail Brown, a young woman who lives with joy in Christ as she faces the challenges and limitations of dystonia. As a 3-year-old, Abigail contracted Rocky Mountain spotted fever which was misdiagnosed by her doctors and caused brain damage. Although her parents were told that she would have a ...
When Your Child with Autism Becomes an Adult – Emily Colson
April 08, 2021 07:00 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MB“It’s been my hope and my desire for Max to be a mighty man of God... and that’s exactly what God has done." How do family dynamics shift when a child with autism becomes an adult? For special needs parents, worry about your child’s future can begin at any age. What will happen when my child ages out of the school system? How will they transition to adult services, college, or work? This week on the podcast Emily Colson is talking about her son Max’s transition from boyhood to adulthood, a...
Changing the World One Heart at a Time – Emily Colson
April 01, 2021 07:00 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBApril is Autism Awareness Month and we’re celebrating with a special podcast conversation featuring author and speaker Emily Colson. Emily and her 30-year-old son Max who lives with autism are on a heart-filled mission for you! Like many families living with disability, their world shifted in an instant when the pandemic shut down all systems of support. But as they faced a new normal during a challenging quarantine, Emily prayed: “How can we be a blessing to someone else every day?” With...
Chronic Illness and the Church – Jennifer Ji-Hye Ko
March 25, 2021 07:00 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBHow can the church best walk alongside someone living with a chronic illness? Jennifer Ji-Hye Ko is a writer and poet who has remained tenacious amid her various physical and mental illnesses. She joined Crystal on season 2 of the podcast to talk about the healing process of lament, and is returning to share about her relationship with the church as she lives with chronic conditions. The needs of someone living with a long-term illness are unique, and the day-today challenges can often fee...
How God Meets Us in Suffering – Vaneetha Risner
March 18, 2021 07:00 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MB“I don’t understand why all these hard things keep happening, and sometimes I wonder why God doesn’t just fix it. But I have to trust that he is doing something bigger… and one day we’ll see it.” When Vaneetha Risner’s infant son died due to a doctor’s error, she felt devoid of purpose and feeling. Hadn’t she suffered enough? Multiple childhood hospitalizations due to polio, years of being bullied, the heartache of her husband’s unfaithfulness, and losing three babies to miscarriage—wasn’t ...
Carrying Grief – Bekah Bowman
March 11, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBIt’s not that she’s not grieving, it’s that she’s put her hope in someone that won’t disappoint. Something greater is happening in her grief. On our last episode of the podcast, Bekah Bowman shared about finding beauty and goodness in the middle of unthinkable loss. As a coach's wife and mother to two young boys, Titus and Ely, Bekah served as a children's pastor and teacher until Batten disease came knocking at her door. This week, she is talking about her journey with grief as she walke...
Can't Steal My Joy: Facing Unexpected Heartbreak – Bekah Bowman
March 04, 2021 08:00 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBHow do you stay grounded when your life path takes an unexpected turn? Is it possible to hold pain in one hand and joy in the other? This week on the podcast, Bekah Bowman is sharing her journey of finding beauty and goodness amid unthinkable loss and grief. Bekah is a coach's wife and mother to two boys, Titus and Ely. She served as a children's pastor and teacher until Batten disease came knocking at her door. Facing the heartbreak of a fatal diagnosis for both children, Bekah journeyed t...
The Heart Behind Joni's House – Joni Eareckson Tada
February 25, 2021 08:00 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBMore than one billion people live with disability worldwide, and COVID-19 has only aggravated their struggles. Hunger, unemployment, and lack of medical care have left many people in need of hope. This week on the podcast, we’re kicking off season 3 with a special conversation between Crystal Keating and Founder of Joni and Friends, Joni Eareckson Tada. Listen as they discuss the staggering needs of families with special needs and how a brand-new ministry initiative was birthed out of the pa...
Welcome to Season 3 of the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast!
February 18, 2021 08:00 - 1 minute - 1.76 MBWe’re so excited to kick off season 3 of the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast! Over this past year, we’ve all faced unexpected changes, many leading to uncertainty about health, employment, and caregiving. And throughout the pandemic, Joni and Friends has heard from many struggling with loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Aren’t we all in need of real hope? This season on the podcast, Crystal Keating is sharing hope through hardship and bringing you real conversations about disability, o...
More Than a Wheelchair – Jason Holden
December 17, 2020 08:00 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MB“Around the world, one of the biggest challenges people living with disabilities are facing is access to services…they’re being left behind.” While the global impact of COVID-19 has distressed communities around the world, people living with disability have been hit the hardest. Shutdowns have impacted workforces, transportation systems, and supply chains creating serious consequences, especially in developing countries where families have limited access to basic food and medical care. To...
Ministry During COVID-19 and Hurricane Season – Leslie Dozier
December 10, 2020 08:00 - 20 minutes - 19 MB“COVID-19 has not stopped us from sharing the love of Jesus.” During the pandemic, Joni and Friends has been hard at work finding creative ways to serve families living with disability. In Louisiana where multiple hurricanes have pounded the state, our team has been able to support people who have faced critical challenges, even beyond the restrictions of COVID-19. Today on the podcast, Leslie Dozier, Area Director of Joni and Friends Louisiana, is sharing about the ministry taking place i...
Learning to Lament – Jennifer Ji-Hye Ko
December 03, 2020 08:00 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MB“Lament is simply pouring out your anxieties and pain to God…in the expectation that God hears you and He is willing to do something about it.” 2020 has been a year of heightened heartache. Unpredictable circumstances, isolation, and extreme loss have left many people wondering how to process their grief through the lens of Scripture, and in relationship to God’s goodness and sovereignty. This week on the podcast, Crystal has invited Jennifer Ji-Hye Ko to join her in focusing on the bibl...
Finding Freedom Through Forgiveness – Vaneetha Risner
November 26, 2020 08:00 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MB"What God gives us in suffering is more than he takes away." Vaneetha Risner contracted polio as an infant, was misdiagnosed, and lived with widespread paralysis. In and out of the hospital for ten years, she faced bullying after each hospital stay. When she became a Christian, Vaneetha thought things would get easier, and for a time they did: carefree college days, a dream job in Boston, and an MBA from Stanford where she met and married a classmate. But life unraveled again. She had four...
God’s Grace in Chronic Illness – Mireille Blanchard
November 19, 2020 08:00 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MB“God is sovereign and still good. Even when I think we are in some sort of holding pattern, He always makes a way through.” At just 18 years old, Mireille Blanchard developed a severe blood clotting disorder that was unknowingly triggered by her acne medication. When ER doctors discovered more than 36 blood clots lighting up the scan of her lungs, Mireille wasn’t sure if she would live to see the next morning. Today on the podcast, she is sharing about her battle with chronic illness and t...
How to Manage Stress and Avoid Burnout – Dr. Jay Fine
November 12, 2020 08:00 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MB“Troubled times causes great anxiety in our hearts... It reveals our weakness and false hopes. It can lead us to desperation, but it can also turn us toward God and teach us where to find real food for our souls.” Has the isolation and anxiety of the past few months caused you to become COVID-weary? As we approach winter, many people are battling lethargy, malaise, and depression. During this prolonged season of isolation, it can be difficult to tune our own levels of stress. And as familie...
Coping with a New Normal – Dr. Jay Fine
November 05, 2020 08:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MB“Be honest with your emotions. Ask for help. A diagnosis is a detour, a change in the map. It’s not the end of the map. It’s a new journey to a different destination.” How do you cope when you are faced with an unexpected diagnosis or a sudden life-altering disability? What do friends and family members need to understand about how their loved ones might be feeling as they learn to live with a new normal? This week on the podcast Crystal is talking with Dr. Jay Fine, a Christian counselor ...
Coping with a New Normal – Jay Fine
November 05, 2020 08:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MB“Be honest with your emotions. Ask for help. A diagnosis is a detour, a change in the map. It’s not the end of the map. It’s a new journey to a different destination.” How do you cope when you are faced with an unexpected diagnosis or a sudden life-altering disability? What do friends and family members need to understand about how their loved ones might be feeling as they learn to live with a new normal? This week on the podcast Crystal is talking with Jay Fine, a Christian couns...
Disability and Belonging – Jenny Hill
October 29, 2020 07:00 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MB"When you’re not sure what to offer, your very presence can be a gift." People of all abilities need community, a place to fully belong and share our gifts with others. But loneliness, especially exaggerated by the isolation of COVID-19, is one of the difficult realities faced by many adults with disabilities. Today on the podcast, Crystal is talking with author and educator Jenny Hill. Born with mild spastic cerebral palsy, Jenny didn’t experience the healing she prayed for as a girl, but...
Marriage Story: A Couple with Dwarfism Navigates Life's Detours with Faith – Angela Muir Van Etten
October 22, 2020 07:00 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MB"Marriage is hard, but it's not too difficult for God to make it work." Even the best marriages require intentional effort to thrive. So, what happens when a relationship is complicated by dwarfism, discord, and discrimination? Last week, Angela Muir Van Etten talked with Crystal about her passion for raising awareness and advocating for people with dwarfism and disability. Today, Angela is back on the podcast to share her marriage story: how God took two people with numerous challenges a...
A Voice for People with Dwarfism and Disability – Angela Muir Van Etten
October 15, 2020 07:00 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MB"When something is happening that shouldn't be, you look around and think, 'Who’s going to do something?' It's then you realize, 'God’s given me the skills to do this.'" Do you feel compelled to take action when you encounter ignorance and inequity? For Angela Muir Van Etten, she has made it her lifelong mission to raise awareness and advocate for people with dwarfism and disability. Standing at three-feet-four-inches, she a gentle, yet firm voice as she advocates for biblical standards of ...
Joni and Friends Survey
October 08, 2020 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.22 MBThank you for listening to this special message from Joni Eareckson Tada. We know this season of isolation has not been easy for families impacted by disability. The pandemic has challenged us to find new ways to serve families like yours. So now, want to hear from you! We have created a brief survey so that we can better understand how to serve you and other families dealing with the same realities you face each day. We want to expand our programs to meet your needs, and your opinions...
Is God Listening? – Dave Deuel
October 01, 2020 07:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MB“Suffering can feel like a darkness that blinds us to God’s presence. In the dark, you can stand next to someone and not even know they are there. Suffering can do that to us spiritually. Although God is always close by, we can feel alone.” What do you do when you beg God to help you and it seems like nothing changes? You ask for relief, but circumstances remain overwhelming. You plead for reasons, and it feels like God is silent. Is God listening? Today on the podcast, Crystal is sittin...
God Does His Best Work with Empty – Nancy Guthrie
September 24, 2020 07:00 - 45 minutes - 42 MBIt’s amazing how heavy the weight of emptiness can feel, and how much room something that isn’t even there can take up in our souls. Whether due to loneliness, disappointment, loss, or even a search for purpose, emptiness can seem like our greatest problem. But that’s not how God sees it! When God looks into the empty places of our lives, he sees his greatest opportunity. This week on the podcast, author and teacher Nancy Guthrie is sharing why emptiness has never been, and never will be, a...
How to Be More Inclusive – Joshua Fast
September 17, 2020 07:00 - 27 minutes - 24.7 MB“If you want to understand how to be more inclusive, get to know someone with disabilities. Get out of your comfort zone.” Last week on the podcast, Joshua Fast shared about raising Malakai, his 6-year old son who was born prematurely and diagnosed with myotonic dystrophy and cerebral palsy. But for Joshua and his wife Nicole, it was during Malakai’s 4-month hospital stay that they saw their church community come around them to provide the life-giving support that strengthened the Fasts as ...
An Unplanned Journey – Joshua Fast
September 10, 2020 07:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBWhen Joshua and Nicole Fast became pregnant with their son Malakai, they were thrilled to be growing their family. But when Malakai was born prematurely and diagnosed with myotonic dystrophy and cerebral palsy, they struggled to understand what life would look like for their son and their family. “What are we going to do?” Today on the podcast, Crystal is talking with Joshua about the joy that Malakai has brought to their family and how their struggles have taught the Fasts lessons that ...
How Does Fear Affect Your Body? – Dr. Sam Kojoglanian
September 03, 2020 07:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MB“You may think, ‘I’m ok. I’m going to sit here and watch the news over and over again,” but it’s affecting your entire body… When our spirit dips into God’s Word, it redirects the mind and the body; there is calmness, goodness, peace, and even health.” Did you know that fear can impact your whole body? What you think and what you speak can actually alter your body physiologically. So, what are the effects of living in a prolonged season of uncertainty, stress, and anxiety as we face COVID-1...
Patience That Leads to Perseverance – Joni Eareckson Tada
August 27, 2020 07:00 - 27 minutes - 24.7 MB“Perseverance is so key. It means staying the course, not deviating, holding fast…and especially remaining patient. Patience over time leads to perseverance. And perseverance leads to character.” When it comes to character-building, wouldn’t we all love to have a quick fix? But that’s not the way God works. It is a slow process. Through a series of small victories in suffering, our perseverance is strengthened and character is built. Today on the podcast Crystal is sitting down with Joni ...
Thriving with Spinal Muscular Atrophy During COVID-19 – Tracey Motoda
August 20, 2020 07:00 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MB“We have the hope of heaven, something bigger… so we don’t grieve and sit in fear. We refocus our hearts on God and what he has promised us.” August is Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Awareness Month! Today on the podcast Crystal is talking with her good friend, Tracey Motoda, about SMA and how this rare genetic disease impacts Tracey’s everyday life. During these past few months of uncertainty, Joni and Friends has heard from many people with disabilities who are experiencing heig...
Thriving with Spinal Muscular Atrophy during COVID-19 – Tracey Motoda
August 20, 2020 07:00 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MB“We have the hope of heaven, something bigger… so we don’t grieve and sit in fear. We refocus our hearts on God and what he has promised us.” August is Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Awareness Month! Today on the podcast Crystal is talking with her good friend, Tracey Motoda, about SMA and how this rare genetic disease impacts Tracey’s everyday life. During these past few months of uncertainty, Joni and Friends has heard from many people with disabilities who are experiencing heightened fe...
Vulnerability and Community When You Live with Chronic Illness – Kimberli West
August 13, 2020 07:00 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MB“You may feel alone, like you shouldn’t talk about what is going on, but the worst thing you can do it isolate yourself… When you’re honest and vulnerable, it’s incredible how many places it will take you.” Previously on the podcast, Kimberli West talked about her unexpected battle with invisible chronic illness. She shared how she’s seen God’s hand at work in her hardship. As a young woman with an on-the-go lifestyle, Kimberli had ignored her physical symptoms illness. The day she found he...
How Vulnerability Builds Community When You are Living with Invisible Chronic Illness – Kimberli West
August 13, 2020 07:00 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MB“You may feel alone, like you shouldn’t talk about what is going on, but the worst thing you can do it isolate yourself… When you’re honest and vulnerable, it’s incredible how many places it will take you.” Last week on the podcast, Kimberli West talked about her unexpected battle with invisible chronic illness and how she’s seen God’s hand at work in her hardship. As a young woman with an on-the-go lifestyle, Kimberli had ignored her symptoms until she ended up passed out in the emergency ...
How to Thrive with Invisible Chronic Illness – Kimberli West
August 06, 2020 12:26 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MB“I used to say to God, ‘Why me? Why did this happen to me?’ as most people do, but now I have changed that to ‘Why did he choose this for my life to live out his purpose? Why am I special?’” Kimberli West was young and always on the go until unexpected illness upended her life. After ignoring her subtle symptoms, Kimberli's wake-up call came when she found herself passed out in the emergency room. Kimberli's doctors diagnosed her with severe ulcerative colitis, inflammatory joint disease, a...
Thriving with Invisible Chronic Illness – Kimberli West
August 06, 2020 12:26 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MB“I used to say to God, ‘Why me? Why did this happen to me?’ as most people do, but now I have changed that to ‘Why did he choose this for my life to live out his purpose? Why am I special?’” Kimberli West was young and always on the go until unexpected illness completely changed her life. After ignoring her subtle symptoms, Kimberli passed out at the emergency room where she was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis, inflammatory joint disease, and chronic anemia. But at barely 30 years ...
A Deeper Healing – Joni Eareckson Tada
July 30, 2020 07:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MB“God has taught me that he wants to display his power in my life in far more glorious ways than if I were to jump out of this wheelchair.” -Joni Eareckson Tada Today marks an extraordinary anniversary for Joni Eareckson Tada: 53 years since she took a dive that redirected the course of her life. Becoming a quadriplegic without the use of her hands at age 17 brought unexpected struggles… a battle with depression, suicidal thoughts, and desperate prayers for healing. Do I not have enough fait...
How to Become a More Accessible Church – Bret Welshymer and Ryan Faulk
July 23, 2020 07:00 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MB“On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable…” –1 Corinthians 12:22 Do you have a plan for welcoming and including any person that comes through the door of your church? Today on the podcast, Crystal is joined by Bret Welshymer and Ryan Faulk to talk about how we can each be the heart and hands of Jesus to people who are marginalized because of a disability or chronic health issue. So often, barriers that prevent everyone from feeling welcomed are unkno...
Why Giving is the Good Life – Randy Alcorn
July 16, 2020 07:00 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MB“To open up your hands and freely give to help others is the key to a happy life.” Is it possible to live a life that pleases God and helps others, but is also the best for us? Last week on the podcast, Crystal was joined by Randy Alcorn for an insightful time of Q&A about heaven. Today Randy is back on the show to talk about generosity and the contagious gladness of giving. As we face uncertain times, it can be easy to focus on our challenges and overlook God’s provision as the ultimate ...
Questions and Answers About Heaven – Randy Alcorn
July 09, 2020 07:00 - 32 minutes - 29.3 MBWe all have questions and speculations about what heaven will be like, but what does the Bible really have to say about eternity? Does scripture tell us what we will do there, or provide answers to heart-wrenching questions such as what happens to a believer who commits suicide or where do babies go when they die? Today on the podcast Crystal is joined by Dr. Randy Alcorn, founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries and the author of more than 60 books, for an insightful time of ...
Building a Strong Marriage Under the Weight of Caregiving – Jim and Deanna Achilles
July 02, 2020 07:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB“The fight for time for each other was almost impossible to win. And it just kept getting more difficult with time.” –Jim Achilles How do you prioritize your marriage when you're managing the life and death care of a terminally ill child? Last week on the podcast, Crystal talked with Jim and Deanna Achilles about raising Ryn, their daughter who has lived with a terminal diagnosis of A-T for 20 years. As Ryn has faced diabetes, cancer, and other major health challenges associated w...
Parenting a Child with a Terminal Diagnosis – Jim and Deanna Achilles
June 25, 2020 07:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBWhen Jim and Deanna Achilles’ daughter was diagnosed with the progressive disease Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T) at 8 years old, they received heartbreaking news: there is no cure. With no way to stop degeneration, Jim and Deanna were introduced to disability and left walking the line between life and death. Two decades later, Ryn Achilles has outlived doctors’ predictions and is now 28 years old. But A-T has been unrelenting. Today on the podcast, Jim and Deanna are talking openly ab...
A Father's Encouragement – David Smith
June 18, 2020 07:00 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MB“Dads really need men to walk shoulder to shoulder with them and say, ‘I am here for you. You can be vulnerable with me. It’s ok to not always be strong. I am here to help.’” This week on the podcast, David Smith is joining Crystal to share his story and a powerful word of encouragement to other special needs dads. As a dedicated pastor and husband, David – like many men – saw himself as a ‘fixer.’ When he and his wife Heather decided to start a family, they followed God’s call to adopt thr...
A Biblical Understanding of Justice for the Oppressed – Pastor Kempton Turner
June 11, 2020 07:00 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MB“A great definition of justice is love in action… Real love takes action. Real love touches hurting people.” What does the Bible have to say about God’s heart for the oppressed? Is there instruction for how we should respond in the face of injustice? In Micah 6:8 we read, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Today on the podcast, Crystal has invited Pastor Kempton Turner, mi...
Inclusion for Individuals with Special Needs – Dr. Rebekah Dyer
May 28, 2020 13:09 - 26 minutes - 23.8 MB“Many families of children with disabilities seek support from a faith community more than anything else in their community. Their priority in seeking a church is not always a place where they feel they can grow spiritually, but rather a place that will accept their child.” –Dr. Rebekah Dyer As regions of the United States begin lifting social distancing restrictions, we all have an opportunity to rethink how we connect with one another. Are we really offering an inclusive environment at ou...
The Ups and Downs of Marriage Through Disability and Loss – John and Sue Meyer
May 21, 2020 07:00 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MB“Why us? We don’t know what the future holds, but to know that we as a couple have been there and lost a child, and are we’re still functioning… to carry that with us is not just Rachel’s legacy, but it’s a legacy of God’s ministry in our lives.” Journeying together through ministry, disability and loss, John and Sue Meyer have found themselves in a “new normal” at different points of their marriage. But with each new challenge, they have clung to Christ as their foundation and strength. A...
A Quarantined Caregiver – Sib Charles
May 14, 2020 07:00 - 25 minutes - 22.9 MB“The Lord is teaching me so much. I feel like this is a chance for a reset on so many levels… What really matters is being at peace with my husband, myself, and most importantly my God.” As we continue in this time of unexpected isolation and social distancing, many people who serve in caregiving roles are feeling a new weight of responsibility. To protect the health of their loved ones, family caregivers who typically rely on help from outside the home have had to quickly move into the rol...
National Day of Prayer
May 07, 2020 09:54 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MBToday is National Day of Prayer. During this unprecedented time, aren’t we recognizing our dependence on God and how important it is cry out to Him in our time of need? The theme for this year’s observance is taken from Habakkuk 2:14, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” With so many people facing fear and isolation, we have an opportunity to join our voices together and call upon the name of the Lord. On this special episode...