The Wow Factor: Joni Eareckson Tada: CEO of Joni and Friends

Joni Eareckson Tada: CEO of Joni and Friends | Transformation Through Tragedy

May 18, 2022

Joni Eareckson Tada is an esteemed Christian stateswoman and respected global leader in disability advocacy. Mrs. Tada serves as CEO of Joni and Friends, a Christian organization that provides programs and services for thousands of special-needs families around the world. President Reagan appointed Mrs. Tada to the National Council on Disability and during her tenure, the ADA was signed into law. Joni served as an advisor to Condoleezza Rice on the Disability Advisory Committee to the U.S. State Department, and as Senior Associate for Disability Concerns for the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization. The Colson Center on Christian Worldview awarded Joni Tada its prestigious William Wilberforce Award, and she was also inducted into Indiana Wesleyan University’s Society of World Changers. Joni and her husband Ken were married in 1982 and reside in Calabasas, California.

On the show this week Joni discusses how the accident that left her quadriplegic at the age of 17 completely transformed her path, and why she feels her experience brought her closer to God and inspired her to do His work. She shares how Joni and Friends was born and the myriad ways in which the organization helps and supports people across the world with disabilities practically, physically, and spiritually. Joni also highlights how God has guided her on her path and why it’s so important to give glory to the Lord for the extraordinary moments and experiences He gives you.

“The whole point about reach, care, and connect, is to not only share good words from God's word but to share his love in a practical way.” - Joni Eareckson Tada

“Faith is like a muscle; when you exercise it, it's going to get stronger.” - Joni Eareckson Tada

“If you want to solve the problem, you have to have a holistic, comprehensive approach. It starts with healing the individual.” - Joni Eareckson Tada

This Week on The Wow Factor:

When Joni found painting and how she felt when she realized she could still produce beautiful works of arts
When she decided to start an organization to shine a light on and support the billion people worldwide who have some form of disability
How the reach, care, and connect framework works and why Joni is always open to connecting with people who have questions about what Joni and Friends does
Joni’s appearance on the Tonight Show, the book sharing her story that was subsequently made into a film by Billy Graham
How Joni has scaled her personal experience of disability to help people in 40 countries worldwide
What Joni learned about herself and her leadership style in the early years of Joni and Friends and how her style has evolved over the years
How the COVID-19 pandemic led to the Joni’s House program and what they do to help people with disabilities in the developing world
The importance of providing respite for caregivers and how Joni and Friends serve families
Why God loves a giver and an asker

Joni Eareckson Tada’s Words of Wisdom:

You have in your life, lots of awe-filled moments so find ways to breathe it in, let your soul open up, your mind get cracked open, and connect those moments of inspiration to the Lord — because that's what gives Him glory.

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