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It's uncommon to hear a customer sing out a hymn in the middle of the bustling lunch rush at a Marriott hotel in suburban Chicago. But then again, Joni Eareckson Tada is no common customer.
As Joni and I finish our chat over salads at the hotel's restaurant, she surprises me by asking if we could sing my favorite hymn, Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," before we say good-bye. Joni's in town with her husband of 22 years, Ken, for a fundraising event for Joni and Friends (JAF), her organization that ministers to the disabled community worldwide. As we join voices over the hum of the noontime lunch crowd—Joni's ringing out clearly and confidently—the unintended poignancy of the lyric, "Our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing," almost moves me to tears.
That's because if anyone should know about mortal ills prevailing, it's Joni, 54. At 17, Joni, an athletic, horse-loving teen, dove into shallow water, hit a rock, and became paralyzed from the neck down. For the last 37 years she has endured the physical consequences of quadriplegia: the daily pain; the frail bones weakened by lack of use; the ever-looming danger of bladder infections; the potential for pressure sores or a collapsed lung; and total dependence on caregivers for the most intimate of bodily functions. Yet despite unremitting paralysis, Joni has transcended the limitations of her life in a wheelchair to become an acclaimed artist and singer, author of more than 30 books (including her recent autobiography, The God I Love, with Zondervan), sought-after speaker, radio host of a nationally broadcast five-minute radio program, passionate disabilities advocate, and world traveler. As we speak, Joni's gearing up for a trip this fall to connect with ministry partners in Ethiopia, Thailand, and India.
According to Joni, 49 million people in the U.S. today are affected by disabilities—and only 5 percent of them attend church. Joni created Joni and Friends in 1979 to provide encouragement and resources for this largely unreached people group. JAF, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, offers five-day Family Retreats at regional camps to provide a much-needed break for those grappling with the demands of emotional, physical, and mental disabilities. Field offices seek to increase disability awareness within the local church through speakers and tailor-made materials. And JAF's international outreach, Wheels for the World, refurbishes discarded wheelchairs, ships them to Third World countries, and delivers them to those who never could afford the precious gift of mobility on their own.
In addition, Joni has become an outspoken advocate for life. The credibility granted her through her personal experience and her faith enables her to address key bioethical concerns that impact the rights of the disabled and our society at large. Here Joni talks to TCW about life in a wheelchair, the purpose of suffering, the need for community, and the challenge for Christian women to engage our culture.
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