Our History
Joni and Friends has been serving individuals and families living with disability for over 40 years.
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Seventeen-year-old Joni Eareckson Tada takes the dive that left her a quadriplegic, dramatically changing her life.
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Joni's appearance on The Today Show opens the door to national exposure.
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The Joni book is released and becomes a #1 international best-seller. Joni's autobiography is eventually translated into more than 38 languages resulting in over 5 million copies in print.
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The Joni movie is released. As it is shown around the world, more than 250,000 people are introduced to the Gospel and place their hope in Christ.
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Joni and Friends ministry is established to address the needs of families living with disability. Joni and a small but dedicated staff begin the work from a two-room office in California.
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Joni begins recording the inspirational Joni and Friends radio program, providing encouragement, biblical insights, and disability awareness.
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Joni and Friends holds disability workshops at Amsterdam '86 where more than 8,000 evangelists are exposed to the idea of disability ministry.
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President Ronald Reagan appoints Joni to the National Council on Disability. Joni advocates for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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Joni speaks to over 100,000 at the Billy Graham Crusade in Budapest, Hungary - Billy Graham Evangelical Association (BGEA) underwrites the transport of hundreds of people with disabilities to the Crusade.
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Joni attends the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act at the White House.
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Joni and Friends hosts more than 110 disability ministry leaders from 44 countries at Joni and Friends' International Congress of the Church and Disability held on the campus of Calvin College.
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After attending a "Family Conference" sponsored by the federal government and National Council on Disability, Joni challenges the ministry to provide a retreat for families impacted by disability. The first Family Retreat was held in Cannon Beach, Oregon.
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Wheels for the World is founded to share the Gospel and provide mobility to people with disabilities in developing countries. The first wheelchair is provided in Ghana, West Africa.
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Joni and Ken travel to China to begin opening doors for Wheels for the World. She then travels to Australia to serve as chaplain for the 2000 Paralympic Games.
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As Joni campaigns against euthanasia and embryonic stem cell research, groundwork is laid for the Christian Institute on Disability.
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Joni is appointed to the Disability Advisory Committee at the U.S. State Department.
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Joni and Friends holds its first International Family Retreat in Ukraine.
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The Joni and Friends International Disability Center opens its doors, ushering in a new era of international outreach to families impacted by disability.
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In a Wheels for the World Restoration shop in a U.S. prison, the inmates restore donated used wheelchairs to like-new condition. Thousands of prisoners' lives have been impacted by Joni and Friends through the wheelchair restoration process.
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Wheels for the World delivers the 100,000th wheelchair in Ghana.
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The Beyond Suffering Bible is released.
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Joni celebrates 50 years of God's faithfulness to her in her wheelchair.
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Celebrating 40 years of your faithfulness and ministry! Thank you for joining us to reach the next generation with the love of Jesus for many years to come!
The 
The 
Joni and Friends ministry is established to address the needs of families living with disability. Joni and a small but dedicated staff begin the work from a two-room office in California.
Joni begins recording the inspirational 
Joni and Friends holds disability workshops at Amsterdam '86 where more than 8,000 evangelists are exposed to the idea of disability ministry.
Joni speaks to over 100,000 at the 
Joni attends the signing of the 
After attending a "Family Conference" sponsored by the federal government and National Council on Disability, Joni challenges the ministry to provide a retreat for families impacted by disability. The first 
Joni and Ken travel to China to begin opening doors for 
As Joni campaigns against euthanasia and embryonic stem cell research, groundwork is laid for the 
Joni is appointed to the Disability Advisory Committee at the U.S. State Department.
The Joni and Friends International Disability Center opens its doors, ushering in a new era of international outreach to families impacted by disability.
In a 
Wheels for the World delivers the 100,000th wheelchair in Ghana.
The 
Celebrating 40 years of your faithfulness and ministry! Thank you for joining us to reach the next generation with the love of Jesus for many years to come!
