Joni Eareckson was the youngest of four sisters raised by a loving Christian family from Baltimore, Maryland. As a teenager, Joni committed her life to Christ and prayed God would use it to His glory. Her active lifestyle kept her busy with hiking, horseback riding and swimming.
The summer after her high school graduation, one of those swimming outings altered her life immeasurably. Joni dove from a raft into water that was shallower than she anticipated. The impact from hitting the lake’s bottom left her paralyzed from the shoulders down. She spent six months in a Stryker frame so her spine could heal enough to begin rehabilitation.
It took years for Joni to recover. As anyone would, she battled depression and anger. She questioned how and why God could allow this to happen. She even contemplated suicide. But God was with Joni though the storm. With the first round of therapy came a glimmer of hope for the future. Joni learned first to write, then to draw, by gripping a pen with her mouth. She then learned to feed herself and operate a wheelchair without the use of her hands. Her newfound independence drove out the despair that once plagued her.
God continued showering his grace on Joni. Her artwork gained public attention after a family friend arranged an art exhibition. She was then interviewed by Barbara Walters and Larry King. Her story drew the attention of a book publisher. Joni: An Unforgettable Story was published in 1976 and is now available in over 50 languages. The book was then made into a movie, Joni, that brought the gospel to hundreds of thousands of people.
Stepping Into Full-Time Ministry
By God’s grace, Joni’s story does not have a tragic ending. A new ministry was born from the day her life was turned upside down; Joni and Friends. The ministry’s purpose was to bring hope to others who were disabled by bringing them not only the Gospel but by providing practical resources to people suffering from disabilities around the globe. President Ronald Reagan recognized Joni’s passion for helping others and appointed her to the National Council on Disability in 1988. In 1989, she was asked to join the 1989 Billy Graham Crusade.
In the 1990’s, Joni’s far-reaching ministry expanded even more. Wheels for the World brings custom-fit wheelchairs and mobility devices, along with the message of hope in the Gospel, to over 200,000 people in developing nations. Her ministry also offers camps for those who are disabled and their caregivers.
Her Partner in Life and Ministry
Of course, Joni’s story would not be complete without her husband, Ken Tada. Just when she thought she was going to be single her whole life, God sent Ken. They were married in 1982 and have enjoyed over 40 years serving God side by side. God continues blessing their ministry to the poor, the neglected and the physically challenged.
“Suffering provides the gym equipment on which faith can be exercised.”
– Joni Eareckson Tada
