From Tragedy to Triumph: Joni Eareckson Tada

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia Commons (Paul Morse)

Joni Eareckson was the youngest of 4 sisters raised by a loving Christian household from Baltimore, Maryland. As a young person, Joni dedicated her life to Christ and prayed God would use it to His glory. Her energetic life-style saved her busy with mountain climbing, horseback driving and swimming.

The summer season after her highschool commencement, a kind of swimming outings altered her life immeasurably. Joni dove from a raft into water that was shallower than she anticipated. The impression from hitting the lake’s backside left her paralyzed from the shoulders down. She spent six months in a Stryker body so her backbone may heal sufficient to start rehabilitation.

It took years for Joni to get well. As anybody would, she battled melancholy and anger. She questioned how and why God may permit this to occur. She even contemplated suicide. However God was with Joni although the storm. With the primary spherical of remedy got here a glimmer of hope for the long run. Joni realized first to jot down, then to attract, by gripping a pen along with her mouth. She then realized to feed herself and function a wheelchair with out using her palms. Her newfound independence drove out the despair that when plagued her.

God continued showering his grace on Joni. Her paintings gained public consideration after a household pal organized an artwork exhibition. She was then interviewed by Barbara Walters and Larry King. Her story drew the eye of a e book writer. Joni: An Unforgettable Story was printed in 1976 and is now out there in over 50 languages. The e book was then made right into a film, Joni, that introduced the gospel to a whole lot of hundreds of individuals.

Stepping Into Full-Time Ministry

By God’s grace, Joni’s story doesn’t have a tragic ending. A brand new ministry was born from the day her life was turned the wrong way up; Joni and Mates. The ministry’s goal was to carry hope to others who have been disabled by bringing them not solely the Gospel however by offering sensible assets to folks affected by disabilities across the globe. President Ronald Reagan acknowledged Joni’s ardour for serving to others and appointed her to the Nationwide Council on Incapacity in 1988. In 1989, she was requested to hitch the 1989 Billy Graham Campaign.

Within the 1990’s, Joni’s far-reaching ministry expanded much more. Wheels for the World brings custom-fit wheelchairs and mobility gadgets, together with the message of hope within the Gospel, to over 200,000 folks in creating nations. Her ministry additionally affords camps for many who are disabled and their caregivers.

Her Associate in Life and Ministry

In fact, Joni’s story wouldn’t be full with out her husband, Ken Tada. Simply when she thought she was going to be single her complete life, God despatched Ken. They have been married in 1982 and have loved over 40 years serving God aspect by aspect. God continues blessing their ministry to the poor, the uncared for and the bodily challenged.