Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast
207 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★★ - 220 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.
We've wrapped season 5, but we'll return with new conversations in 2024!
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Episodes
Understanding Trauma – Darby Strickland
March 12, 2020 07:00 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBWhen someone goes through a deeply distressing or disturbing experience, their wounds can last long after the initial encounter. The trauma of a physical, emotional, or even spiritual wound can have a deep impact and often has a messy way of expressing itself. So how can someone carrying a deep wound find hope and healing? Today Crystal is talking with Christian Counselor Darby Strickland about understanding trauma. Darby, who specializes in counseling abuse in marriage, works with individ...
Spiritual Recovery for a Special Needs Mom – Diane Dokko Kim
March 05, 2020 08:00 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBWhen parents first learn that their child has a disability, their hearts and hopes are often broken. But their faith doesn’t have to be. On this episode of the podcast, Crystal Keating is sitting down with Diane Dokko Kim. Diane is the mother of two sons, one of whom is on the autism spectrum, and author of the book Unbroken Faith: Spiritual Recovery for the Special Needs Parent. She’s sharing her journey as a special mom, the personal and spiritual crises she faced following her son’s diagn...
Creating an Inclusive Environment – Greg Greer and Jamia Cinelli
February 27, 2020 08:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBEveryone is indispensable to the body of Christ, regardless of our abilities or giftings. So how can we create an inclusive environment where all people are welcomed and embraced into the fabric of the church, home life, and community? Is there anything that you can do to bridge the gap between the isolation that is often created because of disability and the community of a vibrant, inclusive church? Today, Crystal Keating is sitting down with guests Greg Greer and Jamia Cinelli to discuss s...
Hope Through Hardship: Walking with Your Loved One through Cancer – Randy Alcorn
February 20, 2020 08:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBWhen you receive the unexpected news that your loved one has cancer, how do you hold on to hope? On the podcast, Crystal talks with Randy Alcorn, founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries and author of more than 50 books including The Treasure Principle and New York Times Best Seller Heaven. Randy shares candidly as the loving husband to his wife, Nanci, who has been battling significant colon cancer since 2018. Randy and Nanci have spent years ministering to fund missions, sponsor pro-life...
Keeping Love Alive Through Seasons of Disability – Greg and Gina Hubert
February 13, 2020 08:00 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBIn the midst of challenging circumstances, how can you have a thriving marriage? Are there practical ways to strengthen your love for your spouse? This week on a special Valentine’s episode of the podcast, Crystal is chatting with Greg and Gina Hubert, a couple who’s been married for more than 30 years. When Greg and Gina first said “I do,” they didn’t expect that their family would be impacted by disability… that all three of their children would be diagnosed with autism. But as they’ve w...
A Community Approach to Inclusion – Ashley Hall
February 06, 2020 08:00 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBThe Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast has returned for a second season, bringing you real conversations about disability and sharing hope through hardship! Today, Crystal Keating is kicking off season two with Ashley Hall, a Joni and Friends ministry partner who serves in Uganda training teachers, church leaders, and other service providers on how to include people with disabilities. Prior to ministry service, Ashley worked in special education in Southern California. With a heart to serve ...
We All Have Gifts to Share – Emily Colson
December 19, 2019 03:57 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MBEvery person has important gifts that need to be shared with others and the church, but many families face real challenges with finding acceptance and a place to serve. Today on the podcast, Crystal is sharing a powerful message of hope from Emily Colson, daughter of the late Chuck Colson and mother to Max, her adult son who has a diagnosis of autism. Emily’s perfect world turned upside down following a painful divorce when Max was just a baby. As Max grew, challenges with autism became in...
A Response to Depression – Dr. Todd Stryd
December 12, 2019 04:59 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBWith Christmas around the corner, does it seem like everyone else is oozing holiday cheer? While the rest of the world is wrapped up in red and green, you’re the only one feeling blue? December is presented as a month of celebration and belonging – a time of happiness, when everything goes right. But so often that is just not the case. For many people, the holidays intensify feelings of loneliness, grief, or depression. And instead of feeling happy, we’re reminded of the way things are not, ...
The Impact of a Wheelchair – Jasmine and Joey Tell
December 05, 2019 04:26 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBLast week on the podcast, Crystal talked with Jasmine and Joey Tell, a young couple who is working to transform the lives of people impacted by disability in Thailand. Today, Jasmine and Joey are back on the show to share more about their ministry and the impact that providing a wheelchair has on a person in need of mobility, as well as their family, their community, and their church. Hear how a wheelchair given in Jesus’ name is the perfect gift – how wheelchairs are opening doors for the G...
Following God’s Call in Thailand – Jasmine and Joey Tell
November 28, 2019 05:00 - 39 minutes - 36 MBIt’s remarkable to see how God will use our experiences and challenges to reveal His plan and move our hearts toward His purpose. This week on the podcast, Crystal is sitting down with Jasmine and Joey Tell, a young couple with an incredible story of answering God’s call to serve people with disabilities in Thailand. Listen as they share personal stories of God’s restoration, some of the typical challenges for people with disabilities in Thailand, and how God has called them to empower the l...
For Better or Worse: When Disability Challenges Your Marriage – Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada
November 21, 2019 06:00 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBAfter 37 years of marriage, Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada know firsthand the challenges that a married couple can face when disability involved. Today on the podcast, listen as they share stories from their own relationship and how they live out their husband and wife roles in a caregiving marriage. Because caregiving is not a detour for their lives; it is the main road that God has set out for them. Listen as they share the importance of trust and communication, and offer practical advice for...
Schizophrenia – A Personal Story
November 19, 2019 03:59 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBFollowing Crystal’s last podcast episode featuring a conversation with Dr. Todd Stryd about caring for someone with schizophrenia, we’re sharing the personal story of a Christian woman who lives with schizophrenia. Her testimony was originally given at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation Conference in 2018 following Dr. Todd Stryd’s message on Schizophrenia, Psychosis, and Scripture – Finding Certainty in Chaos. Listen as she shares honestly about the confusion she faced as a...
Caring for Someone with Schizophrenia – Dr. Todd Stryd
November 14, 2019 05:00 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBNovember is National Family Caregivers Month and this week on the podcast we’re continuing the conversation about caregiving with a focus on how to care for someone with schizophrenia. If you have a loved one afflicted with schizophrenia, you may have wondered about the way forward. Today, Dr. Todd Stryd who serves as a faculty member and counseling coordinator at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation is sharing a road map for how to live with hope and compassion in the midst of ...
Encouragement for Caregivers – Peter Rosenberger
November 07, 2019 04:00 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MBNovember is National Family Caregiver’s Month, a time to recognize the dedication of family members who provide around the clock care to their loved ones. Today on the podcast, Crystal is chatting with Peter Rosenberger, a dedicated husband and caregiver for more than 30 years to his wife, Gracie. As he’s cared for Gracie who lives with disability and extreme pain, he’s learned so much about perseverance, love, and relationships. As someone who speaks “fluent caregiver,” he’s offering a life...
Part 2: The Scars That Have Shaped Me – Vaneetha Rendall Risner
October 31, 2019 04:00 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBThis week, Crystal is continuing her conversation with Vaneetha Risner, a special guest who has experienced the powerful presence of God through a lifetime of suffering. If you missed last week’s episode with Vaneetha, you can listen to part 1 to hear her share of God’s faithfulness through a debilitating disease, multiple miscarriages, the death of a child, abandonment, and an unwanted divorce. In today’s conversation, Vaneetha shares honestly about the newer challenges she faces of living ...
Part 1: The Scars that Have Shaped Me – Vaneetha Rendall Risner
October 24, 2019 04:00 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBThis week on the podcast, Crystal is talking with a special guest who understands suffering. With the diagnosis of a debilitating disease that led to 21 surgeries by the time she was 13, years in the hospital, and bullying from classmates, Vaneetha Risner encountered extraordinary pain early in life. She then experienced multiple miscarriages as a young wife, the death of a child, abandonment, and an unwanted divorce. And through it all, Vaneetha discovered the goodness of God and His divine...
Discovering a New Community Through Disability – Nicole Pollastrini
October 17, 2019 03:00 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MBNicole Pollastrini is back to the podcast! Last episode, Nicole shared how her daughter’s unexpected diagnosis of Down syndrome impacted her family. Today she’s talking about the community she found through her daughter’s special needs. The diagnosis of disability for Sage opened Nicole’s world to new people facing similar challenges. This community of other parents raising children with special needs gave Nicole and her husband the support they needed to parent Sage. Hear how her involvemen...
My Baby Has Down Syndrome – Nicole Pollastrini
October 10, 2019 01:10 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBIn honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Crystal is talking with Nicole Pollastrini, a wonderful mama to three kids. When Nicole and her husband first decided to grow their family, it wasn’t on their radar that their daughter Sage might be born with a disability. Listen as Nicole walks through the thoughts and emotions that she experienced following her daughter’s diagnosis of Down syndrome, and how her outlook has changed over the past three years. Don’t miss this open conversation about ...
When You Hear the Words "You Have Cancer" – Amy Brands
October 03, 2019 01:42 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and according to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer sometime during her lifetime.* Today Crystal is talking with Amy Brands, a young woman for whom this topic hits very close to home. As a busy 34-year-old mother to a school-aged daughter, Amy was stunned to hear her doctor say the words, “You have cancer.” Listen as she shares her personal breast cancer journey and the advice she would offer to other women w...
A Life-Changing Internship – Kristin Hamer
September 26, 2019 01:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBKristin Hamer is back on the podcast this week to talk about what it means to incorporate all people in the body of Christ. In a previous conversation, Kristin shared about her disability and her journey of finding contentment and purpose in her visual impairment. Along her journey, one of the influences in her growth was the opportunity to serve as a Joni and Friends Cause 4 Life intern. Listen as Kristin shares about her life-changing experience serving people with disabilities around the...
Sensory Processing Challenges – Jeannie Wronski
September 19, 2019 01:00 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBThis week, occupational therapist Jeannie Wronski is back on the podcast to continue our conversation about helping individuals with disabilities thrive. Jeannie will tell you that sometimes when children appear to have a behavioral issues, they may actually have a sensory processing challenge. Listen as she talks through how children with sensory processing challenges perceive the world and the strategies that she uses to help them feel safe and welcomed. She’ll also be sharing some of the ...
Making the Gospel Accessible – Carrie Jones and Gina Spivey
September 12, 2019 01:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MB“All people can and should learn the Scriptures. The Bible matters to everybody. We owe it to our friends, no matter what the disability, to open up the Word of God for them and help them be able to receive it.” –Gina Spivey This week on the podcast Crystal has invited Carrie Jones, a special education teacher, and Gina Spivey, a special needs pastor, to talk through ways we can make the gospel accessible to everyone. With a passion to help kids of all abilities engage and participate in th...
Why I Love Being An Occupational Therapist – Jeannie Wronski
September 05, 2019 01:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBOn the past few episodes of the podcast, we’ve been discussing ways to help families thrive – not just meeting the physical needs of a child with a disability, but also the emotional needs of the whole family. This week, Crystal is speaking with Jeannie Wronski who has a fascinating career as a pediatric occupational therapist. Although her work is centered on the physical aspects of a child’s development, Jeannie loves building relationships with the families she serves and using her career...
Sharing Love Abundantly – Jolene Philo
August 29, 2019 03:38 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MB“When we speak of children with special needs, we know there is great diversity in the needs and abilities… But nothing is more important than meeting the emotional need for love. Just as the child’s body craves food, so the child’s spirit craves love. When their love tanks are full, children respond more fully to the rest of life.” On our last episode of the podcast, we heard from Dr. Gary Chapman about how the five love languages can strengthen your marriage and family life… especially w...
The 5 Love Languages for Parents Raising Children with Special Needs – Dr. Gary Chapman
August 22, 2019 00:05 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB“The demands of caring for children who have medical conditions, developmental or cognitive delays, disabilities, behavior issues, are on the autism spectrum, or have other special needs can stress marriages to their breaking point. That’s the bad news. The good news is that care giving parents who know about and implement the love languages say they are a simple and effective way of filling a spouse’s love tank and reinforcing the glue that bonds them together.” Dr. Gary Chapman Raising k...
Depression and Anxiety When Life Is Going Well / Fostering and Adopting When Disability is Involved – Chris and Emily Norton
August 15, 2019 00:05 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MB“I went through a time where I lost who I was – a deep depression where everything felt so hard. It was a struggle just to get through the day and I was at a point where I was wishing that I wasn’t here anymore… because of how hard days felt, even though I wasn’t living a hard life. It was the mental health that I was struggling with.” -Emily Norton On our last episode of the podcast we talked with Chris and Emily Norton, a couple who is anything but ordinary. Paralyzed in a college footba...
The Seven Longest Yards – Chris and Emily Norton
August 08, 2019 00:05 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBFor Chris and Emily Norton, walking across the stage at his college graduation seemed like an impossible goal. Paralyzed in a football game his freshman year, Chris was given a three percent chance of moving anything below the neck again. But he trained relentlessly. With his then-fiancé Emily by his side, Chris’ triumphant 10 steps were seen by millions around the world! Little did they know, this was just the beginning of Chris and Emily’s incredible journey. Three years later, Chris joyf...
Perseverance in Suffering – Joni Eareckson Tada
August 01, 2019 00:05 - 40 minutes - 36.6 MB“Suffering is intended to make our souls brave.” It’s a broken world. We all have weaknesses and limitations. Disability. Illness. Loneliness. Heartache. Suffering comes at us in different shapes and sizes. Living through 52 years of quadriplegia, battling two rounds of breast cancer, and dealing with chronic pain, Joni Eareckson Tada knows a lot about suffering. But she also knows about courage and persevering through hardship! Today on the podcast, listen as Joni shares about perseveranc...
When You Discover Your Calling – Adam Rinehart
July 25, 2019 01:57 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBGod may use unexpected situations or experiences in your life to reveal His purpose for you – sometimes even giving you a new calling. Today on the podcast, Crystal is chatting with Adam Rinehart who serves as Associate Director, Special Needs Ministry at Calvary Community Church in Southern California. Now Adam didn’t expect to have a full-time career in disability ministry, but listen as he shares how God used a few important experiences to open his heart to serving families impacted by di...
Losing Sight, Gaining Vision – Kristin Hamer
July 18, 2019 00:05 - 41 minutes - 38 MBWhen disability strikes, it can be easy for someone to wonder, Why me? What’s the purpose of my disability? At 8 years old, Kristin Hamer received the diagnosis of a genetic eye disease. And as her sight grew progressively worse, she did her best to hide her loss of vision; she didn’t want to accept it. But when her visual impairment reached the point that she was no longer able to be self-sufficient, Kristin had to confront her disability head on. She had to learn how to depend on others an...
Battling Chronic Pain and Insomnia – Jimmy Peña
July 11, 2019 05:04 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MB“Pain is disorienting. It changes you in ways that you never saw coming. Chronic pain, the kind that you think about all the time, becomes a part of who you are… There’s not always a smile behind the smile, but there’s a reason for my smile.” Dealing with a chronic condition such as pain or illness is a battle faced by many people – a battle often fought alone. Struggling with daily pain can be disorienting; it can be debilitating, but it can also drive you to Jesus. At the height of his ...
Who Am I? Rediscovering Your Identity After Loss – Jimmy Peña
July 04, 2019 00:05 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MB“It was kind of a shock… I had been training 4-5 days a week since I was 18. Fitness, lifting, activity… that was it for me. My identity was all wrapped up in physicality, training, and ability.” When someone is talented and works hard, it can be pretty easy for them to begin finding identity in their abilities or success. But what happens when all of that is stripped away? Where do you find your identity when everything you thought you could control like your health, your strength, and goa...
Sharing the Gospel with Teenagers Living with Disability – Tobias Haglund
June 27, 2019 00:05 - 43 minutes - 40 MBHow do you communicate the love of Christ to students who have special needs? Don’t miss this week’s episode of the podcast as Crystal chats with Tobias Haglund about his ministry with teens and young adults living with disability through Young Life Capernaum. Through this Young Life program dedicated to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, young adults are given the chance to see Christ’s love while they experience adventure, develop fulfilling friendships, and challen...
Typical Siblings: When Your Sister or Brother Has a Disability – Dennis Spivey and Jessica Johnson
June 20, 2019 07:05 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBTypical Siblings: Joys and Challenges We know that disability impacts the entire family, but sometimes we can miss the impact that it has on the typical siblings of a brother or sister with special needs. Today Crystal talks with Dennis Spivey and Jessica Johnson about the joys and challenges that have shaped them as siblings and what they think you should know about siblings. If you are a typical sibling, know that your challenges are shaping you and your life will be blessed and positivel...
An Even Better Identity – Doug Mazza
June 13, 2019 07:05 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBNo father is ever prepared to hear that his child will be born with a disability. This unexpected reality can lead to confusion or even anger, but it can also change the direction of a father’s life and his family. This week on a special Father’s Day episode of the podcast, Crystal is sitting down with Doug Mazza who served as President and COO of Joni and Friends for 20 years. Doug had been a driven and very successful businessman in the automotive industry prior to the birth of his third s...
Coping with Grief and Loss – Halley Mastrolonardo
June 06, 2019 07:05 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MBWhether it’s the result of an unexpected diagnosis, a life-changing disability, the end of a marriage, or the loss of a loved one, grief can arrive suddenly… and it can take up residence without an invitation. Although we will all encounter loss and grief at some point, we aren’t meant to walk through it alone. God is near in the midst of pain and sadness, and as a friend to someone who is grieving, your prayers and presence can help provide comfort. Today, Crystal is talking with her friend...
Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month – Chris Pearson
May 30, 2019 07:05 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBDid you know that Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month is May 15 - June 15? Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics and vocalizations… and it’s a disability that’s not always discussed. This week, Crystal has invited Chris Pearson back to the podcast to talk about the daily impact of Tourette syndrome on his life. Chris shares about the challenges he faced as a child, how he manages his symptoms today, and his advice for anyone who is struggling with Toure...
Bringing Hope to Haiti - Mike Gaura and Chris Pearson
May 23, 2019 07:05 - 39 minutes - 91 MBIn Luke 14, we are called to go out quickly into the streets and alleys to bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. Sometimes that can mean stepping far outside of your comfort zone to reach people with disabilities living in extreme isolation. This year, our Wheels for the World team traveled to Haiti where on a shortened outreach due to civil unrest, we were able to provide a record number of wheelchairs and Bibles to people in desperate need! This week, Mike Gaura and Chr...
"Don't Miss This Slice of Heaven" - Arielle Mitchell and Jase Magarifuji
May 16, 2019 07:05 - 40 minutes - 92.7 MBMany weeks of the year, families impacted by disability can struggle with isolation and acceptance, they can feel worn down by routine appointments and the daily needs of life with a disability. But each summer, there is a place for families with special needs to be rejuvenated and refreshed in God’s Word… in an accessible space that fits the needs of the entire family. Joni and Friends Family Retreats are not just a week of fun, they are a week for all families, regardless of ability, to be...
The Importance of Community - Cynthia Berry
May 09, 2019 07:04 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBNo one is an island. We all need community. And for a family impacted by disability, having a community of support to share encouragement and help meet real needs can change everything. On today’s Mother’s Day episode of the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast, Crystal talks with Cynthia Berry, a woman who has faced a series of challenges: she’s a single mom, an African American woman, and mother to a child with special needs. Through each challenge, Cynthia has found her lifeline of help and ...
The Lionheart Spirit: Redemption and Hope - David Francisco and Kristi Platillero
May 02, 2019 07:03 - 34 minutes - 32 MBWhen disability strikes unexpectedly and the plans you’ve made for your life are suddenly interrupted, how do you hold on to hope? Where do you find courage to face your new reality? Three years ago, while musician David Francisco was riding his bike, he was hit by a distracted driver and suffered a spinal cord injury. When it seemed he might be facing permanent paralysis, David thought he had lost everything: mobility, a career in music, even the opportunity to have a relationship. But he c...
Starting a Buddy Ministry - Candy Nixon and Sib Charles
April 25, 2019 07:13 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBIf you are looking for how to welcome families impacted by disability in your church, creating a buddy ministry is one of the best ways to begin! A buddy ministry is more than a program, it’s about building relationships. And serving as a buddy to an individual with disability provides friendship, discipleship, and Kingdom-belonging for the whole family. Listen as Crystal chats with disability ministry leaders Candy Nixon and Sib Charles about the impact that a buddy ministry has on special ...
Engaging Volunteers at Your Church – Bret Welshymer and Lauren Garner
April 18, 2019 07:05 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MB“People are people and everybody has a place in the church family. When you get to know somebody, you can help them to be a part of the family. If you never take the time to get to know them, that’s not going to happen.” -Bret Welshymer Everyone who comes through the church doors should feel welcomed and be included. But when a new family at your church includes children or adults with disabilities, how do you gather and train volunteers to meet their unique needs? Today on the podcast, Cr...
Invisible Disabilities: Fibromyalgia - Hallie Sheaffer
April 11, 2019 07:21 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MB“For a lot of people who deal with chronic pain it’s like constantly walking in a state of storm… and for someone who only sees sunshine and clear skies, they can’t even comprehend that it’s storming.” Not all disabilities are visible. While on the outside someone may look as if everything is fine, a disability can sometimes be hiding. And for someone living with an invisible disability such as chronic pain or illness, this challenge may leave them feeling misunderstood or unseen. Today, C...
Finding Courage When There Are No Answers: A Father’s Perspective - Steve Bundy
April 04, 2019 07:03 - 49 minutes - 45.3 MBLike most parents, Steve Bundy was not expecting his child to be born with a disability. Following Caleb’s diagnosis of partial chromosome deletion, Steve felt so alone – he didn’t know where to turn or who would understand. On this week’s episode, he shares a father’s perspective on a road that few parents would choose to travel. But, as Steve eventually discovered, it's a road that has a destination. He talks with Crystal about the hardest, most painful, and most joyful years he could have...
How to Plan a Respite Event for Families Impacted by Disability - Gina Spivey and Bret Welshymer
March 28, 2019 07:39 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MB“Respite is for the parents and for the kids. It’s for the whole family to really have an opportunity to just come to a church and know that the church genuinely wants them to be there.” -Gina Spivey, Disability Ministry Leader Families or caregivers who have children with disabilities are often isolated, exhausted, and grieving. It's so invaluable when there is a place for kids to just be themselves, for caregivers to have a break, and for the church to serve well. Listen as Crystal Keati...
An Unexpected Diagnosis: Moving from Fear to Hope - World Down Syndrome Day with Shauna Amick
March 21, 2019 07:53 - 51 minutes - 47 MBWhen Shauna arrived at the doctor’s office for her four-month ultrasound, the question on her mind was what color to paint the nursery. But after an unexpected diagnosis of Down syndrome, she and her husband left with more questions than answers. “I pinched myself. I literally pinched myself. The one and only time I’ve done that in my life. Because it was so surreal. This is not supposed to be happening to me. This is not supposed to be happening to my baby.” Where do we turn when it seems...
Steps You Can Take to Include People with Disabilities in Your Church - Liz Babbitt and Lauren Garner
March 14, 2019 08:39 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MBOne of the places where families impacted by disability should feel most welcomed is at church. But when it comes to building an inclusive environment, people and churches often struggle with where to begin. Today on the podcast, Crystal talks with two ministry experts, Liz Babbitt and Lauren Garner, who discuss what it means to really welcome someone with a disability. Listen as they talk through some of the barriers and challenges you may be facing at your church, and the first steps you c...
You Can Help Solve the Global Mobility Crisis Right from Your Community - Wheelchair Collection Month with Elizabeth Kelly
March 07, 2019 09:23 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBMore than 70 million people around the world are in need of a wheelchair, but only 10% have access to one.* During March, Joni and Friends is celebrating Wheelchair Collection Month to bring awareness to this need and help solve the global mobility crisis. Today, Crystal Keating talks with Elizabeth Kelly who oversees wheelchair collection for the Joni and Friends Wheels for the World program. Elizabeth shares how God redeems thousands of broken and discarded wheelchairs every year, turning ...
Mutual Friendship When Disability is Involved - How to move from just ministering to someone to doing life together
February 28, 2019 09:52 - 29 minutes - 27 MBThere’s a difference between ministering to someone who has a disability and really doing life with them. While barriers like staircases and narrow doorways may keep someone with a physical disability from entering a space, there are other barriers that keep them from genuine, deep friendship. How can we take steps to tear down walls that isolate someone from community when they have a disability? How can we build true mutual friendships? Today on the podcast, Crystal Keating is talking abou...