Nick and Rachel’s Story: Love, Faith, and Serving Together

As a little girl, Rachel listened to Joni Eareckson Tada’s radio program with her mom. She remembers hearing about Family Retreat on the radio and developing a desire to serve people with disabilities. Little did she know that God would use Joni and Friends to strengthen her faith—and to eventually strengthen her marriage—in remarkable ways. 

Rachel accepted Jesus as her Savior when she was a child, but it wasn’t until later in life—when Rachel met one of our Family Retreat volunteers in church—that she experienced true discipleship. Her relationship with Jesus grew deeper, and her interest in serving became stronger as she heard her friend’s stories about Family Retreat. Rachel became a Joni and Friends volunteer herself in 2022. 

“It was a great experience! Right away I knew I wanted to volunteer again!” says Rachel. 

Rachel and Nick’s Love Story 

God has worked powerfully in Rachel’s life story, and her love story! Rachel sees God’s design in the way she met her husband. As she says… 

“I just never thought I would ever get married—and then I met Nick.”   

Nick is passionate about music. He studied music in college and has been a member of various choirs for years. He is also blind. As Nick shares: 

“I found dating challenging. As soon as women found out I was blind, that was it. I never thought I’d get married or even date again.”  

But then Nick met Rachel, and their happily ever after began. While they were dating, Rachel invited Nick to her church’s small group, where he learned about Jesus through discipleship sessions with another Joni and Friends volunteer. As Nick says: 

“During one of those sessions, something clicked. I prayed to receive Christ, got baptized a year later, and I’ve been walking with the Lord ever since. God’s done a lot of great things in my life!” 

Building Faith and Community 

In addition to building a marriage with Rachel, Nick has enjoyed getting more involved with Joni and Friends alongside his wife. Nick and Rachel now serve as volunteer buddies for blind adults at Family Retreat. And they attended Marriage Getaway where they find refreshment and community with other couples who understand the challenges of navigating disability.  

Through biblical teaching, worship, fun activities, and Christ-centered encouragement, Joni and Friends has been able to give back to this sweet couple who give their hearts and souls to serving others.

And through it all, Nick shows the world:

“There’s more to me than being blind.” 

“Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

Proverbs 11:25