Stories | Joni and Friends

19 Mar

A New Disability Brought a New Call

By Joni and Friends|2025-03-05T14:33:52-08:00March 19, 2025|News, News & Stories, Stories, Wheels For The World|

Meet Vianey, an energetic mom of three from Monterrey, Mexico. She lived a busy, happy life, never imagining that disability would be part of her story...

14 Mar

God Weaves Stories of Love and Joy at Family Retreat

By Joni and Friends|2025-03-14T10:55:50-07:00March 14, 2025|Family Retreats, Stories|

Ellie’s heart races as the first van pulls up to Family Retreat. It’s Ellie’s first time volunteering with Joni and Friends and she’s been paired...

30 Jan

Sanctity of Human Life

By Joni and Friends|2025-06-12T14:18:30-07:00January 30, 2025|Advocacy, Hope & Inspiration, Inspiration, Stories|

My daughter, Sarah, did not open her eyes for the first six weeks of her life. While in utero, Sarah was diagnosed with Down syndrome, a heart defect...

31 Oct

Be the Change: Celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month

By Joni and Friends|2024-10-30T11:21:04-07:00October 31, 2024|Advocacy, Hope & Inspiration, Inspiration, Stories|

I love October. Crisp mornings and hot cider help me welcome autumn. Change is in the air—you can feel it. One of my very favorite things about October...

30 Oct

The Love of God is Transforming Lives Across Thailand

By Joni and Friends|2024-11-06T08:53:26-08:00October 30, 2024|Hope & Inspiration, Stories, Wheels For The World|

How do you think Jesus works his saving grace into a remote community in Thailand? If you sat down with our friend Yupin over a cup of tea, the unmistakable...

15 Jun

My Daddy’s Determination

By Joni Eareckson Tada|2024-06-14T12:48:13-07:00June 15, 2024|From Our Founder, Hope & Inspiration, Inspiration, Joni's Posts, Stories|

Today I’m thinking of my daddy and the sheer determination that characterized so much of his life. As a little girl, I thought him larger than life, up to...

31 May

Joni and Friends Shows Special Needs Families They’re Not Alone

By Joni and Friends|2024-07-22T08:41:35-07:00May 31, 2024|Family Retreats, Stories|

Greg and Angelina have been part of Joni and Friends since 2017. They have five children: Joanna, Mariya, Josiah, Moses, and Gracie. Originally from Ukraine...

29 May

God Has Entrusted Greg and His Wife with Beautiful Souls

By Joni and Friends|2025-07-07T10:12:18-07:00May 29, 2024|For Parents, For the Church, Stories|

I’m the father of three sons on the autism spectrum. They range in age from 25-30, and two are nonverbal. My sons are loving, funny and smart in their own...

27 Apr

The Caregiver Few Expected

By Joni and Friends|2024-04-24T10:36:50-07:00April 27, 2024|Disability in Mission, Stories|

More times than not, people with disabilities are the recipients of care from parents, siblings, loved ones, and medical practitioners. This fact of life has...

20 Mar