Joni And Friends Ministry Podcast

This 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 with a progressive disease, the transition from being the helper to being helped, and her sage advice for those going through unrelenting hardships. Through her many valleys, Vaneetha could have given up. But in the midst of her suffering, she discovered the goodness of God and His divine purposes. Listen now to hear more of her powerful story.Find your copy of The Scars That Have Shaped Me: How God Meets Us in Suffering at https://store.joniandfriends.org/product/scars-have-shaped-me-how-god-meets-us-suffering.Learn more

This 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 purposes in her suffering. Listen as Crystal talks with Vaneetha about her book The Scars That Have Shaped Me: How God Meets Us in Suffering, and God’s sustaining grace she found in the midst of disability, shame, and grief.Find your copy of The Scars That Have Shaped Me: How God Meets Us in Suffering at https://store.joniandfriends.org/product/scars-have-shaped-me-how-god-meets-us-suffering.Learn more about Vaneetha at www.joniandfriends.org/podcastAnd don’t miss part two of Crystal’s conversation with Vaneetha next week

Nicole 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 involvement in Buddy Break and other church outreaches has made all the difference.If you know a mom whose world has recently been rocked by the diagnosis of Down syndrome for her baby, please share this podcast with her. Nicole’s tender advice would benefit any mom with questions or fears following an unexpected diagnosis for her baby.See a photo of Sage at www.joniandfriends.org/podcastDownload the booklet My Baby Has a Disability: Life-Giving Questions and AnswersFor questions, email podcast@joniandfriends.org*Joni and Friends wa

In 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 the real fears, challenges, and blessings of being a special needs mama.See a photo of Sage at www.joniandfriends.org/podcastDownload the booklet My Baby Has a Disability: Life-Giving Questions and AnswersFor questions, email podcast@joniandfriends.org*Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of supp

October 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 who are faced with a similar path.Read more information at www.joniandfriends.org/podcast*www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.htmlFind cancer-related resources from Joni Eareckson TadaDiagnosed with Breast Cancer: Life After ShockFacing Trials with Joy - Cancer and Beyond*Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she rec

Kristin 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 world and how the hands-on training with Cause 4 Life changed her perspective on what it means to include and embrace people with disabilities. Because it’s not just about adding another program, it’s about tearing down the barriers…Watch a video of Kristin serving kids with disability in Uganda at www.joniandfriends.org/podcast*Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, resp

This 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 creative ways that she encourages kids who have a heightened sense of awareness to connect to God. For more information about practical ways to create an inclusive ministry environment, download your free copy of Pathways to Belonging at www.joniandfriends.org/podcast*Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities i

“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 SpiveyThis 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 the body of Christ, they are working to remove any barriers that might hinder a child with special needs from learning the Bible. Listen as Carrie and Gina share ways that you can be proactive in the classroom or at an event so that all kids are loved and successful at learning God’s Word. You won’t want to miss their example of how to encourage children with limited language abilities to memorize Scripture!For more information about practical ways to create an inclusive ministry environment, download your free copy of Pathways

On 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 as an opportunity to meet the needs of the whole family. Listen as talks through her interesting career journey and why she loves being a pediatric occupational therapist. Joni shares about the first piece of art that she created with her mouth – encouraged by her occupational therapist! www.joniandfriends.org/national-cowboy-day Download a free chapter of Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities at www.joniandfriends.org/podcast. *Joni and Frie

“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 when disability is involved. Today, Crystal is continuing the conversation about love languages with Jolene Philo, who co-authored Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities with Dr. Gary Chapman. Drawing on her personal experience of raising a child with a life-threatening medical condition and 25 years of work as an educator collaborating with special education teachers to mainstream children in her elementary classroom, Jolene shares excellent ad

“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 kids is daunting but raising children with special needs often brings a new set of challenges. With days regularly filled with doctor’s appointments, meetings with teachers, handling outside caregivers and therapists, and caring for other children, parents can quickly find themselves depleted and their marriages strained. But there is hope! Today on the podcast, Crystal is welcoming Dr. Gary Chapman, best-selling author and counselor who developed the 5 Love Languages. Dr. Chapman has counseled numerous parents of children

“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 football game, Chris trained relentlessly and beat all odds to walk across the stage at his college graduation. Then three years later, he did it again, walking down the aisle to marry his lovely wife, Emily. But in between those two triumphant walks, the couple journeyed through some real challenges. Today they are back on the show to open up about Emily’s battle with disabling depression and anxiety at a time when her life seemed to be going well. They also share about what it’s like to foster and adopt when disability is involv

For 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 joyfully conquered another challenge, this time walking seven yards down the aisle after their wedding ceremony with new wife Emily at his side – seven yards that symbolized the seven-year anniversary of his injury. But with all of their triumphs, Chris and Emily have also faced many challenges and struggles. Together they’ve fostered 17 children, adopted 5 daughters, and overcome a season of debilitating depression and anxiety that set in for Emily just two weeks after Chris’ graduation walk. Listen now as Chris and Emily shar

“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 perseverance and the power of example. Courage breeds courage, so be encouraged as you hear how you can use your brokenness to bless others. Find Joni's book, When God Weeps, at www.joniandfriends.org/podcast. Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. Over the past 40 years, the ministry has grown to s

God 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 disability.  Read more from Adam at www.joniandfriends.org/a-life-changing-experience. Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. Over the past 40 years, the ministry has grown to serve thousands of people impacted by disability worldwide: Joni and Friends has delivered more than 150,000 whee

When 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 and God.  Today on the podcast, Kristin shares how she came to terms with her challenges. Hear how she found contentment with her disability and how  that brought her to a place of being able to minister to others with disabilities all over the world. Watch Kristin travel to Uganda to serve kids with disabilities with Joni and Friends Cause 4 Life: www.joniandfriends.org/podcast Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada

“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 career in the health and fitness industry, Jimmy Peña encountered sudden health challenges which he never would have predicted for his life. As he unexpectedly lost his abilities, he also suffered the loss of identity. However, through his struggles he found wholeness in Christ. But now, as a result of his previous health challenges, Jimmy faces a new battle with chronic pain and insomnia. Listen as he shares how he manages his pain, where he finds hope, and his encouragement for others facing similar struggles. Read more fr

“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 goals is gone? At the height of his successful career in the health and fitness industry, Jimmy Peña encountered sudden health challenges that he never would have predicted for his life. He quickly transitioned from being steeped in the world of strength and fitness to a world of weakness, smallness, and total dependence on God. Listen as Jimmy shares his journey of suffering his loss of identity, but finding wholeness in Christ. Read more from Jimmy at www.joniandfriends.org/podcast Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Jon

How 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 challenge their limits through club, camp, and other fun activities. Because communicating the love of Jesus goes far beyond what we say, listen to Tobias’ excellent advice for moving through fears and barriers to welcome and minister with teenagers and young adults who have special needs. www.joniandfriends.org/podcast Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letter

Typical 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 positively impacted because of your sibling with a disability. Download a free chapter about siblings from Real Families, Real Needs at www.joniandfriends.org/podcast Hear from a teenage sibling at www.joniandfriends.org/i-want-her-to-know Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. Over the past 40 y