Joni And Friends

TO COMMUNICATE THE GOSPEL, EQUIP CHURCHES, AND DISCIPLE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DISABILITIES.

JONI AND FRIENDS RETREATS AND GETAWAY PROGRAMS WERE DESIGNED TO SERVE EACH MEMBER OF FAMILIES LIVING WITH DISABILITY AND STRENGTHEN THEM PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, RELATIONALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY IN A CHRIST-CENTERED, WEEK LONG, CAMP ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFE AND ACCEPTING FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. THIS INCLUDES RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS RESOURCE TEACHINGS, GAMES, ONE ON ONE SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, AND MUCH MORE. THE ACTIVITIES HELP EACH FAMILY MEMBER TO GAIN THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO THRIVE AND CONVEY THAT EACH IS A VALUED INDIVIDUAL AND AN IMAGE BEARER OF GOD, WORTHY OF DIGNITY AND RESPECT. JONI AND FRIENDS FAMILY RETREATS PROVIDE A UNIQUE SERVICE TO FAMILIES LIVING WITH DISABILITY BY PROVIDING A SAFE PLACE FOR THESE FAMILIES TO RECEIVE CHRISTIAN COUNSEL, ENCOURAGEMENT, RESPITE, AND RESOURCES TO HELP THEM OVERCOME THE DAILY CHALLENGES OF LIFE WITH DISABILITY. JONI AND FRIENDS KNOWS OF NO OTHER ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES THE SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ENTIRE FAMILIES TO ATTEND A RETREAT TOGETHER WHERE EACH PERSON RECEIVES LOVE, ATTENTION, PERSONALLY FULFILLING ACTIVITIES, AND REJUVENATING REST. JONI AND FRIENDS FAMILY RETREAT PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED ENCOURAGEMENT AND RESOURCES IN BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY SERVING NEARLY 24,374 FAMILIES AFFECTED BY DISABILITY SINCE 1991, AND JONI AND FRIENDS HAS HOSTED 335 FAMILY RETREATS SINCE 2006. JONI AND FRIENDS WARRIOR GETAWAY WAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO SERVE THE GROWING NUMBER OF SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN RETURNING HOME FROM SERVICE WITH LIFE-ALTERING DISABILITIES BOTH SEEN AND UNSEEN. THEY LIVE WITH MARRIAGES AND FAMILIES IN CRISIS DUE TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF WAR. AT WARRIOR GETAWAY, VETERAN FAMILIES CAN FIND A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR DAY-TO-DAY CHALLENGES AND CARING VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP THEM TO FIND RENEWED JOY, COURAGE, AND HOPE AND HEALING IN CHRIST. THIS MULTI-DAY RETREAT WAS UNIQUELY DESIGNED NOT ONLY FOR THE WARRIOR WHO WAS DEPLOYED TO AN ACTIVE COMBAT ZONE BUT ALSO FOR HIS/HER FAMILY, INCLUDING SPOUSE, CHILDREN, OR PARENTS LIVING IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD. TO HONOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN AND THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY, THE COST FOR ATTENDING THE WARRIOR GETAWAY IS 100% SPONSORED FOR EACH NEW WARRIOR AND THEIR FAMILY. JONI AND FRIENDS HAS SERVED 498 VETERAN FAMILIES THROUGH 2023 AND IS INCREASING THE NUMBER OF WARRIOR GETAWAYS TO BETTER SERVE THIS GROUP. ADDITIONAL RETREATS WILL OPEN IN 2024 TO IMPACT A GREATER NUMBER OF FAMILIES. JONI AND FRIENDS ALSO HOSTS MARRIAGE GETAWAYS FOR COUPLES AND SINGLE PARENT GETAWAYS FOR PARENTS RAISING THEIR CHILD(REN) ALONE. INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES WORKS WITH INTERNATIONAL IN-COUNTRY PARTNERS IN EIGHT STRATEGICALLY LOCATED HUB COUNTRIES TO IMPLEMENT AND LAUNCH NEW WHEELS FOR THE WORLD OUTREACHES, INTERNATIONAL FAMILY RETREATS, AND JONI'S HOUSE PROGRAMS ACROSS THE GLOBE. THESE LOCATIONS INCLUDE EASTERN EUROPE, EAST AFRICA, INDIA, SOUTH AMERICA, CHINA, BRAZIL, MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA (MENA) AND CENTRAL AMERICA, WHERE JONI AND FRIENDS HAS PLACED A REGIONAL COORDINATOR TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH INDIGENOUS CHURCHES AND PARTNERS TO SERVE THOSE LIVING WITH DISABILITY IN THESE REGIONS.

JONI AND FRIENDS WHEELS FOR THE WORLD PROGRAM PROVIDES A CUSTOM FIT WHEELCHAIR, ALONG WITH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, TO PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DISABILITY WORLDWIDE. JONI AND FRIENDS VOLUNTEERS COLLECT USED, BUT RESTORABLE, WHEELCHAIRS. INMATES THEN RESTORE THE WHEELCHAIRS TO LIKE-NEW CONDITION IN ELEVEN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND ONE IN A GRANT PARTNER'S FACILITY IN EL SALVADOR. IN ADDITION TO THE AMOUNTS SHOWN, IN 2023, JONI AND FRIENDS ALSO RECEIVED OVER $4.5 MILLION OF DONATED LABOR AND FACILITIES USED FOR WHEELCHAIR RESTORATION. JONI AND FRIENDS WHEELCHAIR DELIVERIES ARE ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY VOLUNTEER TEAMS OF TRAINED DISABILITY SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO SPECIALLY FIT EACH WHEELCHAIR TO THE RECIPIENT WITH NO CHURCH OR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION REQUIRED. EVERY CHAIR RECIPIENT WILL RECEIVE A BIBLE IN HIS/HER OWN LANGUAGE AND AN OFFER TO DISCUSS THE BIBLE AND RECEIVE PRAYER. THE GOSPEL IS LOVINGLY SHARED WITH RECIPIENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS BY LOCAL PASTORS. JONI AND FRIENDS PARTNERS WITH DISABILITY MINISTRIES IN SELECT COUNTRIES ON A PERMANENT BASIS. LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS ARE ACHIEVED THROUGH STRATEGIC IN-COUNTRY PARTNERSHIPS. THROUGH 2023, JONI AND FRIENDS HAS DELIVERED 225,040 RESTORED WHEELCHAIRS TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITY IN 30 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.

THE JONI EARECKSON TADA DISABILITY RESEARCH CENTER, THE CENTER: THE CENTER EXISTS TO CONNECT CHRISTIAN DISABILITY RESEARCH, MINISTRY RESOURCES, ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE GLOBAL CHURCH BY PROVIDING A DIVERSE CADRE OF CHURCH LEADERS, CHRISTIAN MINISTRY ORGANIZATIONS, AND DISABILITY SERVICE PROFESSIONALS WITH RIGOROUS BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL INSIGHTS ON GROWING CLOSER TO GOD THROUGH EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. THE CENTER'S OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO EDUCATE AND EQUIP A DIVERSE CADRE OF CHURCH LEADERS AND CHRISTIAN DISABILITY MINISTRY PROFESSIONALS (CDMPS) TO EMPOWER, ENCOURAGE, AND EVANGELIZE PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES AROUND THE WORLD. THE CENTER'S OUTREACH SPANS THE GLOBE, CALLING PEOPLE FROM ALL ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS AND ABILITIES TO REALIZE THE LUKE 14 MANDATE TO FILL GOD'S HOUSE WITH PERSONS LIVING WITH A DISABILITY FROM EVERY NATION SO THEY CAN EXPERIENCE TRUE BELONGING. THE CENTER PROVIDES RIGOROUSLY RESEARCHED, CHRIST-CENTERED MINISTRY RESOURCES TO PROFESSIONALS AND CHURCH LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS AND BACKGROUNDS TO EMPOWER EFFECTIVE DISCIPLESHIP OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES. JONI & FRIENDS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: WE PARTNER WITH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE WORLD TO OFFER SHORT-TERM GLOBAL MISSIONS' TRIPS, INTERNSHIPS, AND RESPITE OPPORTUNITIES, ALL OF WHICH PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING TO STUDENTS. JONI AND FRIENDS STRIVES TO ADVANCE A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW ON DISABILITY AS IT RELATES TO SANCTITY OF LIFE, DIGNITY, AND JUSTICE.