400-408 – Doug Mazza, President of Joni and Friends (joniandfriends.org, (818) 707-5664), shares about the ministry, and the challenges and blessings of caring for his severely disabled son Ryan, now 34.
413-423 – Doug Mazza
428-437 – Doug Mazza
443-452 – Don Rohde @ Galpin Ford (818) 262-2092 (galpin.com) For the past 39 years, Don's been sales manager at Galpin, the #1 volume Ford dealer in the world for the past 21 years.
458-508 – Joni Eareckson Tada, has been a quadriplegic confined to a wheelchair for the past 43 years, since a diving accident in July 1967 – and she's the least "disabled" disabled person I know! She's written 35 books, over a million people a week hear her daily "Joni & Friends" (joniandfriends.org) 5-minute broadcast, her paintings (done with the brush between her teeth) are sought by collectors all over the world, and she's an accomplished vocalist! How's that for being "disabled?" She and her husband Ken have been happily married since 1982. Her latest book is entitled A Lifetime of Wisdom: Embracing The Way God Heals You. She is the founder of the International Disability Center in Agoura Hills and the Christian Institute on Disability.
Today, we'd like to welcome and thank the 10 couples who have given the gift of mobility to 50 disabled children in Cuba! Each couple's gift of $750 will provide 5 custom-fit wheelchairs that will be fitted to 5 disabled children on the next Wheels for the World trip in just two weeks. They'll be joining me and my wife Gina, and Joni and her husband Ken, for an evening out here at Joni & Friends, for a tour, dinner, and some praise and worship in the chapel. Over the past 17 (1994) years, Wheels for the World has distributed over 95,000 wheelchairs to 115 countries, in chairs made in 18 prisons in 14 states.
• April 28-May 1, Wounded Warrior Getaway at a golf resort in San Antonio.
• Joni is the Honorary Chairperson of the 2011 National Day of Prayer, Thursday May 5th.
I am honored to be serving as this year's Honorary Chairperson of the National Day of Prayer. The theme for the 2011 National Day of Prayer is "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." During the week of May 5th, Ken and I will be in Washington DC participating in day-long National Day of Prayer events, but you can take part in a prayer gathering in your own community. Visit nationaldayofprayer.org to locate a NDP event, or start an initiative in your own town. Enlist the help of members of your church to plan an event. Consider holding a 24-hour prayer watch, or invite your community to a 30-minute prayer service at 12 noon – ask town or county officials to attend, as well as representatives from the National Guard, law enforcement, or your local fire department.
• The Joni & Friends "Through the Roof" Disability Ministry Summit is coming up May 13-14th at Calvary Community Church, with Sean Thornton.
Our Through the Roof Disability Ministry Summit is scheduled for May 13–14th (Friday-Saturday) and you are invited to come. What can a church do to help people with chronic illness… or children with autism… or adults with Alzheimer's? How can you keep the passion ablaze in your volunteers? Whether your church is just starting out, or has a growing disability ministry, our Through the Roof Summit is for you. Top U.S. leaders in the field of disability ministry will be holding a wide array of excellent workshops. Special group rates are being offered, so bring your friends! "I'll be giving a special message on Saturday afternoon," says Joni, "and I can't wait to tell the group what God has put on my heart!" Sign up today or call 818-707-5664 with any questions. See you soon at this acclaimed training summit, the best on the West Coast!
512-530 – Joni Eareckson Tada
• Stephen Moore (WSJ, 4/1/2011) We've Become a Nation of Takers, Not Makers. More Americans work for the government than in manufacturing, farming, fishing, forestry, mining and utilities combined.
• Rose McDermott (WSJ, 4/1/2011) Polygamy: More Common Than You Think – Data show that plural marriage is a disaster for women's rights.
• Fox News (4/1/2011) At Least 12 Killed During Koran-Burning Protest at UN Office in Afghanistan.
