Joni and Friends

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of receiving your first wheelchair! 🦽

10 words that will transform your theology of suffering: 👇 "God permits what he hates to accomplish what he loves." Steve Estes first shared these words with Joni Eareckson Tada at her family’s kitchen table over 50 years ago, when they were both still teenagers. At the time Joni had just become a quadriplegic, and those 10 simple words radically transformed her understanding of God’s sovereignty and the purpose of her suffering. Today Joni will tell you that she is grateful for her quadriplegia. Because what she thought was the ruin of her life was actually the beginning of God's greatest use of her life. Through her accident, God launched Joni and Friends to reach thousands of people with disabilities with his good news. #Quotes #Ministry #DisabilityAwarenessMonth

Joni sat down with Pastor Michel to celebrate the incredible impact of our work in Brazil! Together with First Baptist Church of Curitiba and local leaders, we’re providing resources such as spiritual counseling, medical care, job training, and housing for families at Hospital do Rocio.

Today is World Down Syndrome Day and we are recognizing how each individual with Down syndrome is an image bearer of God! Meet Colter and his mom, Megan, who joined us at a Joni and Friends Family Retreat. Megan shared, "Doctors labeled our son as unwanted, unneeded, and unnecessary. But I remember hearing Joni say that God permits what he hates to accomplish what he loves. That truth helped me understand God’s sovereignty. He knows what is best for us.” Regardless of disability or diagnosis, every individual has value. Today (and every day) let’s celebrate the beauty of our brothers and sisters with Down syndrome! https://lnkd.in/eSy-ZPq4 #WorldDownSyndromeDay #DownSyndrome #Inclusion #ImageBearer

Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the Iglesias Capaces Conference with Joni and Friends in Barcelona, Spain. More than a hundred participants, from ministry leaders to pastors from all over the region, joined to learn more about God’s heart for those affected by disabilities and the church’s imperative responsibility of reaching, including, and letting our friends with disabilities contribute to the overall life of the body of Christ as key members of it. My topic was “How to Start a Disability Ministry in Your Church,” and my big idea was: “Access to the body of Christ is not enough. Contribution is the goal.” My goal was to help the participants ask themselves meaningful questions that would lead them to consider how our friends with disabilities are growing as disciples of the Lord Jesus and contributing to the overall life and health of the local church with the call and gifts God has given them. Then, on Sunday, I was able to preach from Luke 14:16-24 on “The Lord’s Persistent Invitation.” The Lord’s gracious invitation is open to everyone who decides to accept it, and those of us who have accepted his invitation are called to urgently extend the invitation to everyone who is physically or spiritually disabled to the great banquet of the Lord. Thank you to our friends and everyone who made our time in this beautiful country an incredible experience.

We’re excited to shine a spotlight on Azia Smith, our Area Director for Joni and Friends Mississippi! Azia brings a diverse skill set and a passion for serving others to her role. With a background in nonprofit development, creative marketing, and business operations, she’s been instrumental in furthering our mission to communicate the Gospel and mobilize the global church in the state of Mississippi! Her relationship with the Lord led her to serve on the mission field in North Africa and Europe, and that's where she experienced firsthand the transformative power of service in Jesus's name. Her heart for others now guides her work at Joni and Friends as she strengthens disability ministry in local churches and reaches out to families in need of support. We are so grateful for Azia’s leadership and the positive impact she’s making in the community. 🙌

Are you ready to use your God-given talents to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people with disabilities? Explore our career opportunities at joniandfriends.org/careers. Our founder, Joni Eareckson Tada, shares what makes our workplace unique: “At Joni and Friends, new employees are often amazed by the unique aspects of our culture. Many are particularly struck by the Lead Like Jesus program. It's something they’ve never encountered in a typical workplace. Our goal is to ensure that, in every situation, we exalt God above all else, and Lead Like Jesus has been instrumental in weaving that focus into our daily work.” We have exciting opportunities available across multiple locations: 🔹 Administrative Coordinator (TX, NC, MO, WA) Support our U.S. Ministries team by managing office tasks, coordinating volunteers, and assisting with events and data management. Play a key role in advancing disability ministry programs! 🔹 Ministry Operations Manager (CA, NM, PA) Strengthen our network of church disability ministry leaders, develop impactful partnerships, and help grow volunteer and donor engagement. 🔹 Development Officer Manage major donor contributions, oversee prospect research and fundraising strategies, and help cultivate long-term donor relationships. 🔹 Executive Assistant Provide high-level administrative support to the Chief Marketing Officer, ensuring smooth operations within the Development & Marketing teams. 🔹 Video Production Manager Lead our video production efforts to communicate the mission and vision of Joni and Friends effectively. Oversee content creation, video shoots and post-production, maintain media archives, and provide AV support for events. If you're looking for a Christ-centered career where your work will have a lasting impact, we invite you to apply today! 📌 Apply now: joniandfriends.org/careers #ChristianMinistry #NowHiring #Recruiting #DisabilityMinistry #JobOpening #OpenRole #OpenPosition #Nonprofit

We are proud to celebrate our 19th year as a Best Christian Workplace! This certification is a reflection of the strong, Christ-centered culture our team has built together. Best Christian Workplaces highlights organizations where employees experience a thriving, healthy workplace that reflects the character of God, and we’re honored to be among them. Joni and Friends earned this certification for 2024 based on employee feedback in the areas of growth opportunities, communication, and leadership. With results benchmarked against 20 years of industry data, this honor speaks to the heart of our mission and the incredible people who make it possible. As we celebrate 46 years of ministry, we remain committed to our biblical commission found in Luke 14:21,23. A huge thank you to our dedicated employees and leaders who make Joni and Friends such a special place to work! #BestChristianWorkplace #CompanyCulture #PeopleMatter #DisabilityMinistry

At Joni and Friends, our mission is to glorify God as we communicate the Gospel and mobilize the global church to evangelize, disciple, and serve people living with disability. On this Employee Appreciation Day, we're celebrating the incredible staff—both domestic and international—who make this mission a reality. From our offices across the U.S. to our international teams serving worldwide, we are continually blessed by their dedication, servant-heartedness, and unwavering desire to honor God in all they do. Every wheelchair distributed, every family encouraged, and every life touched is a direct result of their hard work and faithfulness to God's calling. To all our Joni and Friends staff: we couldn't do it without you! Thank you! 💙 #EmployeeAppreciationDay #DisabilityMinistry

Our Joni and Friends Arizona team recently assembled Hope Baskets to bless families who are just beginning their journey with disability. Each basket is filled with encouragement, practical support, and the reminder that their family is not alone. Arizona Area Director Kerri Jeter and her mother, Sue, have one mission: to ensure every family feels deeply loved and supported. Will you join us in praying for the families who received these special baskets? And if you feel led, consider creating your own Hope Basket for a family in your community! Together, we can share love, encouragement, and the hope of Christ with families living with disabilities across the U.S. 💙 #Arizona #Disability #Ministry