Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast
Episodes
When disability strikes, it can be easy for someone to wonder, Why me? What’s the purpose of my disability? At 8 years old, Kristin Hamer received the diagnosis of a genetic eye disease. And as her sight grew progressively worse, she did her best to hide her loss of vision; she didn’t want to accept it. But when her visual impairment reached the point that she was no longer able to be self-sufficient, Kristin had to confront her di... Read more
“Pain is disorienting. It changes you in ways that you never saw coming. Chronic pain, the kind that you think about all the time, becomes a part of who you are… There’s not always a smile behind the smile, but there’s a reason for my smile.” Dealing with a chronic condition such as pain or illness is a battle faced by many people – a battle often fought alone. Struggling with daily pain can be disorienting; it can be debilitating... Read more
“It was kind of a shock… I had been training 4-5 days a week since I was 18. Fitness, lifting, activity… that was it for me. My identity was all wrapped up in physicality, training, and ability.” When someone is talented and works hard, it can be pretty easy for them to begin finding identity in their abilities or success. But what happens when all of that is stripped away? Where do you find your identity when everything you though... Read more
How do you communicate the love of Christ to students who have special needs? Don’t miss this week’s episode of the podcast as Crystal chats with Tobias Haglund about his ministry with teens and young adults living with disability through Young Life Capernaum. Through this Young Life program dedicated to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, young adults are given the chance to see Christ’s love while they expe... Read more
Typical Siblings: Joys and Challenges We know that disability impacts the entire family, but sometimes we can miss the impact that it has on the typical siblings of a brother or sister with special needs. Today Crystal talks with Dennis Spivey and Jessica Johnson about the joys and challenges that have shaped them as siblings and what they think you should know about siblings. If you are a typical sibling, know that your challenges... Read more
No father is ever prepared to hear that his child will be born with a disability. This unexpected reality can lead to confusion or even anger, but it can also change the direction of a father’s life and his family. This week on a special Father’s Day episode of the podcast, Crystal is sitting down with Doug Mazza who served as President and COO of Joni and Friends for 20 years. Doug had been a driven and very successful businessman... Read more
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