JANUARY 2016
“Whoever
welcomes a
child like this
in my name
welcomes me.”
–Matthew 18:5
C elebrating 40
years of
J oni ’ s A utobiography
“Family Retreat
Has Been an
Oasis for
Our Family”
Steve Estes and Joni
studying together decades ago.
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” –Psalm 77:11
Families come in need of spiritual strength and
encouragement at Family Retreat. Jeris and Natalia
Tillman found just that. “This time together at Family
Retreat has been much needed, beneficial, and a time
of healing for our family,” Jeris told us.
When the Tillman family first arrived to Retreat,
they didn’t know what to expect or how people would
react to Titus, their 7-year-old son with autism.
Would others accept Titus or stare at him when he
had a meltdown? Would their feelings of exhaustion
and isolation be magnified in this new environment?
These were just some questions that filled their minds.
Instead, their Retreat experience was filled with
encouragement and acceptance from others. “We felt
so comfortable and didn’t have to explain our son’s
meltdowns to anyone. We never once felt judged,” said
Natalia.
As a young father, Jeris works 14-hour days while
Natalia stays home and tends to their son’s needs. He
told us, “Natalia and I don’t have much time together
as a couple, and I don’t get to spend a lot of time with
my son either. This past week, we’ve been able to enjoy
time as a family and experience God’s love through
our interactions with others. Family Retreat has been
an oasis for our family.”
Thank you for allowing God to use you to restore
families through Christ’s love at Family Retreat!
W
hat God has done through my 1967 diving accident is, to me, a miracle. When I
remember how He rescued this quadriplegic out of misery and despair, I’m overwhelmed. I’m
also thankful that, for decades, I’ve been able to share
that story through the Joni book.
Back in the 70s when I was asked to write it, my friend
Steve Estes warned, “Joni, just remember that your
testimony won’t change people’s hearts. Only the Word
of God can do that. Be sure to always point people to
the Bible when you share your story.” He was right. So
I was careful to “salt and pepper” my story with plenty
of scriptural references.
Now, more than 40 years after its release, Ken and I
continue to give the Joni book to everyone we meet
– students, nurses, grandchildren of friends, teachers,
businessmen, or anyone facing a life-altering injury.
There’s so much anxiety and uncertainty today; so
much fear about suffering. But whatever the trial,
the Joni book is a wonderful way to point people to
the life-changing Word of God. So join my husband
and me in celebrating the 40th anniversary of the
Joni book by giving it to those who need the power
of God’s Word in their life – and don’t forget, all
proceeds go directly to support the great programs
here at Joni and Friends!
A New Generation Stands on the Foundation of Your Faithfulness
You Send the Message of Christ
With Every Wheelchair
When you send a Bible and a wheelchair overseas to a child with a disability,
the spiritual impact is life-changing for every member of the family! Recently,
Seraphina brought her daughter Monica to receive a wheelchair at our Wheels
for the World distribution. Feeling hopeless and exhausted, Seraphina knew
she could never afford a wheelchair for her daughter. Their poverty was too
great and owning a wheelchair seemed like an impossible dream.
That afternoon, she watched as
our team of physical therapists
and mechanics tenderly and
perfectly fit Monica to her very
own pediatric wheelchair. The
Gospel was shared by a local
pastor, and both mother and
daughter eagerly prayed to
receive Christ into their lives.
“God has done great things
for us; He has made us new
today,” said Seraphina. “He
used my child’s disability to
bring us to Jesus.”
Your gifts and prayer made it
possible for one girl’s disability,
one wheelchair and the
Gospel to bring a mother and
daughter to Christ. Thank you!
“But Jesus said,
‘Let the children
come to me… For
the Kingdom of
Heaven belongs to
those who are like
these children.’”
–Matthew 19:14
God Uses Your Faith to Bring a Family to Jesus
Each time you step out in faith, God uses your
obedience and prayers to transform lives. Let me share
with you a story of 7-year-old Maydalis from Cuba.
She was born with a disability and is unable to walk.
Her parents Yolanda and Anastasio take care of her
every need but they don’t have enough money to buy
a wheelchair for her. They’re just too expensive and
can sometimes cost up to a year’s salary!
Maydalis and her parents came to our Wheels for the
World outreach, and that day, your faithful prayers
yielded fruit. They were shown love and care as our
Wheels team brought a brand new pediatric wheelchair
for Maydalis. Her parents could scarcely believe what
they were seeing. Questions filled their minds… who
would love someone they never met? Who would
come so far, across barriers and boundaries to give this
wheelchair to a poor family like theirs? Their cheeks
were wet with tears as they recognized the source of
that great love. “You’ve come all the way from the
U.S. to show us the love of God,” they told us.
Thank you! The wheelchair you provided for Maydalis
restored her dignity and freedom. And your prayers
and ministry partnership gave the best gift of all: the
Gospel that transforms lives was shared with this
family. A local pastor told them, “Joni and Friends
wants you to have this Bible. God wants to give your
family an abundant life only found in Him.” With
thankfulness and humility, Maydalis and her parents
all bowed their heads and accepted Christ into their
lives that day.
Your Gifts Live to Serve Others
IN MEMORY/Given By
(continued)
We gratefully acknowledge contributions given in memory or in honor of loved ones to further ministry
in the disability community. To give a gift in memory of a loved one or in honor of a special occasion,
visit www.joniandfriends.org/donate, or contact Joni and Friends at (818) 707-5664, ex. 1740.
JOE LAFFERTY
Pete Lafferty
Tim and Joan Lafferty
IN HONOR/Given By
JAYCEE HOFFMAN
Barbara Webber
MATTHEW STOUDT
Bryan and Sharon Stoudt
HOWARD AND LEOTA CALDWELL
Bob Caldwell
GARY RAYMOND LANT
JAF Donor Relations Team
LOUISE ADAMS
Allison Finch
AMY HOLTZMAN
John and Nancy Ray
JONI EARECKSON TADA
Francie Lorey
MR. and MRS. PETE
ALEWINE FAMILY
Georgia Alewine
CONNOR M. HUTH
Kathleen Keefe
GEEN VAN DEUSEN
Bizzie
CLARENCE CLIFFORD and
GRACE WALLS BLACK
Jerry and Charlise Black
MURIEL LATTA
Diane Roberts
John and Donna O’Connor
ROSALYN WALKER
Joe Walker
NELLIE CAYTON
Land of Legend Antique Tractor
Club
HOLLIS, IVER and LEO BABBITT
Doug and Liz Babbitt
JESUS, OUR SAVIOR
Vaughn Grace
Troy Ingle II
Nancy Liu
Alva Morris
BRIANA LYNCH
Robin Innes
SARAH WARF
Ben and Cindy Warf
BILL, ARLENE and DOUG CROUDY
Carolyn Guerdet
M. CHRISTINE BACH
Susan K. Roberts
JUDAH KROENKE
Marcia Kroenke
ROBIN WEAVER
Sally D’Alessandro
NOAH JAY COX
Tammy Cox
THE BAKER FAMILY
Tremper and Alice Longman
THERESA KOHL
Ellen Robison
TIMOTHY WIERINGA
Melody Martinez
MY DAD
Ron Eddy
ANN BLANDIN
Erica Bishop
TIM KUNZIER
David Brick
Edward Downes
FOONG VAN PANG YAM
Marylyn Pang Yam
CAROLYN DIXON
Elaine Eckel
GERRY ZUK
John and Marilyn Nugent
JANE DWYER
Gerald Dwyer
IN MEMORY/Given By
DEBRA FEY
Allen and Estella Vis
ESTHER ALLEBACH
Kari Diamond
Sharon Wonders
A.T. FURR
Martha Furr
ROCCO AMARADIO
Tony and Carin Amaradio
AUNT RENATE BOLDT
Eric and Daniela Artis
LANCE and LAINIE BROWNING
Anna Castleberry
ROGER and JULIE CHURCH
Barbara Lipe
JUDY CLARK
Cathy Hennessey
DANIEL DORAN
Ted and Lynda Wheatley
ANDRA EASON
Lacie Stevens
VICTORIA EVERHART
Connie Ellison
JON FAN
Henry Huang
RODNEY FLORANCE
Nancy Florance
DR. BRUCE FOSTER
Carol Grow
LORENE FREER
Caroline Freer
OUR GRANDCHILDREN
RD and Pamela Goodman
MARY GRIFFIN
Dan and Mary McCarthy
CALEB GUAJARDO
Sally V. Olivas
BETTY M. HOFFMAN
Cletus Hoffman
PETE LAFFERTY
Tim and Joan Lafferty
PASTOR JIM McLAUGHLIN
David and Betsie Barker
Susie McLaughlin
KIM NINE
David and Kathy Brooks
HOPE NOE
Patricia Noe
EILEEN NYHOLM
Charles Wilson
TONY PACIOLLA
John Wagenbach
ERIN PALMER
Marylee Palmer
OUR PARENTS
Richard and Therese Callahan
OUR PARENTS
Bud and Molly Vazquez
TREY PREVOST
Robert and Susan Gallion
RAYNA
Todd Lipe
JANET LOUISE REIMER
Bill and Patsy Lawton
BEN and SAM SAFFORD
Lori Bitar
RON REGENSTREIF
Mary Benjamin
BETTY ANTHONY
Carole Ball
GLENNA BASHLINE
Susan Grater
Susan Moister
SUSAN BEARDSLY
Paula Amonett
CARRIE BELLE BECKWITH
Pamela Burton
NICK BELOW
Virgene Steffen
NELSON BEZANSON
Bruce and Eloise McLeland
NICK BREIT
Janie Breit
ANDREW BURGHER
Arnold and Paula Baizley
Dan and Erika Burgher
Edward and Ilene Chase
Peter and Karen Hanson
John and Kathy Kutt
Jeffrey and Nancy Lockhart
Phyllis Rockwood Trust
Ronald and Karen Sanderson
Richard and Cathy Smithers
Pat and Cindy Wang
LEWIS H. GOULD
Mike and Judy Livingston
GILBERT GROVER
Anonymous
Jeff and Dena Brown
Sally Hanson
Karen Meyers
Gordon and Judy Soares
DENNIS HANRAHAN
Michael and Jane Apone
Susan Blake
Patricia Denham
James and Laurene Doucette
M. Jean McAdams-Jenkins
Daniel and Daphne Keeler
Carol Hajjar McGravey
John Palie, Jr.
Jim and Bonnie Pearsons
James and Adele Sheridan
William and Polly Sullivan
Mary Judith West
THAD MANDSAGER
Kristin Barlow
Conrad and Kathy Mandsager
Robert and Dorothy Mandsager
GARY MANIFOLD
Linda Manifold
PATRICIA E. MARX, RN
David Marx
ROBERT S. MATTHEWS, SR.
Robert S. Matthews, Jr.
ELSIE HICKS MORRIS
Sally Branson
Robert and Carol Finelli
BELOVED MOTHER
David and Kathryn O’Kelly
KARILYNN MOTZ
John and Elodie Betzle
Marvin Epp
R.A. and R.L. Ford
Robert Frey
Heritage Homeowners Assoc.
Mark Miller
Ruby Naylor
Larry and June Plathe
Russell and Janet Rosenquist
Nancy Schowalter
Ronald Singer
David and Rosemary
Svendgaard
Marion Teerlinck
Dean and Lucille Urick
Robert Wells
PATRICIA RODRIGUEZ
Art and Norma Rodriguez
CHARLES ROSCOE and
MARY McDONALD MALLORY
Jerry and Charlise Black
KATHY SCHRAUT
Jim and Sharon Van Yperen
JACOB SCHWARTZ
Teresa Hagen
DAVID M. MULL
Teresa Mull
NEIL SEARS
Paul and Darlene Kuriscak
JEAN MYERS
Roy Church
JANET SENSENIG
Charles and Hazel Sensenig
ADRIANNE NASH
Kenneth Nash
JOHNNIE SHUTT
Danita Nordlander
RICHARD NEUENSCHWANDER
Mary Olson
CLAUDIA SMITH
Bruce and Eloise McLeland
ERIC NOBLE
Helen, Leif and Dana Noble
RODNEY TENNEY
Kenneth and Susan Noble
FRANK PEREZ
Scott and Twila Kuklin
STEPHEN TOMKO
Arc Electric Construction, Inc.
Thomas Fenon
Five Star Restaurant Corp.
General Vending Co.
Wilmer and Cora Good
Gottstein Contracting Corp.
Hazleton Bread
David and Kimberly Hinkle
Humboldt Industrial
Supply Corp.
Keystone Fluid Power, Inc.
Masters Roofing and
Construction
McAdoo Machine Company
Dr. Gregory Palmer
Richard and Christin Patskan
ALISON WINFREE PICKREL
Mary Carol Hussey
HARRISON PRINS
Debra Prins
NORMA B. RATLIFF
Karen Johnson
Nellie Faye Johnson
Mike and Judy Livingston
Richard and Peggy Nesseth
FLORA RILEY
Steven and Gwenyth Mickus
LANEY RILEY
Robert and Barbara Hughey
Steven and Karen Serfass
Mark and Jean Solon
Don and Linda Tomko
TJ’s One Stop
Christopher Wiseman
Dane Wommer
GARY L. VERHOEVEN
Gertrude Verhoeven
ALEXIS WERNSING
Tracy Paulsen
ANN WHITNEY
Judy Alink
TOM WINTEREGG
Edith Brkitsch
Sally Hanson
Kathy Kincheloe
Susan Mattison
Albert and Beverly McCalla
Joann Milliman
Russell and Sharon Nields
ROBERT WYNNE, FATHER
Matthew and Eleanora Wynne
SONDRA WYSS
Edward and Claire Siebert
SHAN PANG YAM
Marylyn Pang Yam
D. ELSIE BAGLEY YOUNG
Steven and Janice Crane
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This newsletter is published by Joni and Friends, a not-for-profit organization accelerating Christian
ministry in the disability community. © 2015 Joni Eareckson Tada, publisher. All rights reserved.
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Sale! Joni’s Autobiography
For Just $10 Or 2 for $15
40 Year Anniversary
Celebrating 40 years of Joni’s
classic autobiography! This
book takes the reader through
her accident in 1967 that left
her a quadriplegic and the
journey of faith that followed,
as God helped piece her
broken life together again. The
Joni book has sold more than
5 million copies and has been
translated into 50 languages!
This updated edition includes
a new collection of Joni’s
personal photos.
Softcover, 200 pages
JONIBC Softcover Joni
Regularly $16.00 Now $10.00
Joni Book Set
JONIB2 Set of Two Joni Books
Price: 2 for $15
B E ST DEA L :
Buy 2 and share Joni’s
incredible story with a friend!
TO ORDER:
• Mail order form
• Call toll-free: (800) 736-4177
• Online: www.joniandfriends.org/store
Every purchase you make
from Joni and Friends helps
someone with a disability!
of
Release