Joni and Friends

Family Retreats and Warrior Getaway were designed to serve each member of families living with disability and strengthen them physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually at the same weeklong event. This includes recreational activities, as well as resource teachings, games, one on one support for individuals with disabilities, and much more. The activities help each family member to gain the resources and support needed to thrive and convey that each is a valued individual.Joni and Friends Family Retreats provide a unique service to families caring for a disabled family member by providing a safe place for families affected by disability to receive Christian counsel, encouragement, respite, and resources to help them overcome the daily challenges of life with a disability. Joni and Friends knows of no other organization that provides the special opportunity for entire families to attend a retreat together where each person receives love, attention, personally fulfilling activities, and rejuvenating rest.Joni and Friends Family Retreat program has provided encouragement and resources for nearly 21,752 families affected by disability since 1991, and Joni and Friends has hosted 272 International Family Retreats since 2006.Joni and Friends Warrior Getaway was specifically designed to serve the growing number of service men and women returning home from service with life-altering disabilities both seen and unseen. They live with marriages and families in crisis due to the consequences of war. At Warrior Getaway, veteran families can find a community of people who understand their day-to-day challenges and caring volunteers who help them to find renewed joy, courage, and hope.This multi-day retreat was designed not only for the warrior who was deployed to an active combat zone but also for his/her family, including spouse, children, or parents living in the same household. To honor these men and women and their service to our country, the cost for attending the Warrior Getaway is 100% sponsored for each new warrior and their family.Joni and Friends has served 429 veteran families through 2022 and is increasing the number of Warrior Getaways to better serve this group. Additional retreats will open in 2023 to impact a greater number of families. Joni and Friends also hosts Marriage Getaways for couples and Single Parent Getaways for parents raising their child(ren) alone.International Ministries works with international in-country partners in eight strategically located HUB countries to implement and launch new Wheels for the World Outreaches, International Family Retreats, and Joni's Houses across the globe. These locations include Eastern Europe, East Africa, India, South America, China, Brazil, Middle East/North Africa (MENA) and Central America, where Joni and Friends has placed a Regional Coordinator to work directly with indigenous partners to serve those living with disability in these regions.International Family Retreat is based on Joni and Friends' domestic Family Retreat model to serve families living in these targeted regions. Joni and Friends has hosted nearly 272 International Family Retreats to date to serve 4,387 families. That number will continue to grow as Joni and Friends expands into more countries.

Joni's House International Disability CentersJoni's House is a network of international disability centers around the world that provide ongoing rehabilitation and wraparound support services to those impacted by disability. In cooperation with local church, community, and government partners, Joni's House programs provide for the physical, economic, social, and spiritual needs of individuals, families, and caregivers. JAF partners with its network of local churches and agencies to expand its reach deep into developing countries to transform the worldview on disability and how those living with disability view themselves, are cared for, and integrate into society.Joni's House programming cares for the special needs of those living with disability while also providing services for the entire family unit. Services include medical rehabilitation and therapy, job training and microfinancing, church and government awareness training, relief distribution, and an annual retreat for families with children affected by disability. Joni's House programs currently operate in El Salvador, Brazil, Thailand, India, Nepal, Uganda, and Guatemala.

Joni and Friends Wheels for the World program provides a custom fit wheelchair, along with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to people affected by disability worldwide. Joni and Friends volunteers collect used, but restorable, wheelchairs. Inmates then restore the wheelchairs to like-new condition in eleven correctional facilities across the United States and one in a grant partner's facility in El Salvador. In addition to the amounts shown, in 2022 Joni and Friends also received over $3.2 million of donated labor and facilities used for wheelchair restoration. Joni and Friends wheelchair deliveries are always accompanied by volunteer teams of trained disability service providers who specially fit each wheelchair to the recipient with no church or religious affiliation required. Every chair recipient will receive a Bible in his/her own language and an offer to discuss the Bible and receive prayer. The Gospel is lovingly shared with recipients, family members, and friends by local pastors. Joni and Friends partners with disability ministries in select countries on a permanent basis. Long-term relationships are achieved through strategic in-country partnerships. Through 2022, Joni and Friends has delivered 213,675 restored wheelchairs to people living with disability in 30 countries around the world.

The Joni Eareckson Tada Disability Research Center, the Center (formerly The Christian Institute on Disability): The Center exists to connect Christian disability research, ministry resources, advocacy, education, and internship opportunities with the global church by providing a diverse cadre of church leaders, Christian ministry organizations, and disability service professionals with rigorous biblical and theological insights on growing closer to God through every circumstance. The Center's overarching goal is to educate and equip a diverse cadre of church leaders and Christian disability ministry professionals (CDMPs) to empower, encourage, and evangelize people living with disabilities around the world. The Center's outreach spans the globe, calling people from all ethnic backgrounds and abilities to realize the Luke 14 Mandate to fill God's House with persons living with a disability from every nation so they can experience true belonging. The center provides rigorously researched, Christ-centered ministry resources to professionals and church leaders at all levels and backgrounds to empower effective discipleship of people living with disabilities. Joni & Friends Internship program: We partner with colleges and universities around the world to offer short-term global missions' trips, internships, and respite opportunities, all of which provide experiential learning to students. Joni and Friends strives to advance a biblical worldview on disability as it relates to sanctity of life, dignity, and justice.

Joni and Friends Radio Program: an inspirational program covering a wide range of topics with a Biblical perspective. The radio show has two formats: a four-minute broadcast, and a one-minute broadcast. These programs are carried worldwide on over 1,650 outlets in 54 countries, airing 2,871 times daily, and heard by over one million listeners a week.Translated into six languages, the programs are also available in a podcast form extending the reach of these important messages of hope through hardship. Podcasts: The Joni and Friends ministry podcast is downloadable on all podcast networks. This podcast had 132,345 episode downloads in 2022. We're answering real questions about disability and sharing hope through hardship.Whether you are personally impacted by disability or you're looking for practical ways to include someone with special needs in your church, you are not alone! The materials share Hope through Hardship and the Gospel message to people worldwide through the digital podcast networks. Each episode provides honest stories of hope, practical advice, and encouragement. They range from 20 - 40 minutes long and include interviews with guests who share their stories and how Christ has used them in their weakness.

The Response Department receives over 1,000 emails, text messages, social media contacts, phone calls, and letters each month from people around the world (110 different countries in 2022) who need the hope of Christ and practical assistance. After more than forty years, with hearts to help and a personal touch, the Response Department continues to provide resources, share guidance from God's Word, and whenever possible, connect those in need with Christ-honoring, disability-friendly churches.