Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast

From conversations about disability and caregiving to grief, perseverance, and hope, this season has been a reminder that you are never alone in your hardships. No matter what you're facing today, God sees you, loves you, and is continuing to write a beautiful story of redemption and grace.

What if caregiving isn't an interruption to ministry, but ministry itself? In this thoughtful and deeply personal conversation, Dr. Mike Beates shares how disability reshaped his understanding of the Gospel, the image of God, and what it means to faithfully follow Christ. Together, Stephanie and Mike explore why weakness is central to the Christian life, how caregiving reveals the heart of God, and why every person possesses immeasurable dignity, not because of what they can do, but because they bear God's image.

How do you trust God when suffering doesn't end? Pastor Shane Colwell knows this question intimately. For more than a decade, he and his family have cared for their son Chase, who lives with profound medical challenges, daily seizures, and ongoing uncertainty. Through years of hardship, Shane has discovered that God's faithfulness is often found not in immediate healing, but in His sustaining presence.

What happens when the life you've built changes in an instant? Former professional basketball player Patric Young seemed to have everything ahead of him: a successful athletic career, a new job, and a wedding just days away. Then a devastating car accident left him paralyzed from the waist down and forced him to confront big questions of identity, purpose, and faith.

Lars Nelson, a member of New York City Ballet’s corps de ballet, joins Stephanie Daniels to share about his faith journey, career, and passion to see people with disabilities served and included by the church. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he began dance training at the age of 11, studied at the School of American Ballet, then joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in 2011. He is husband to Tanya and also brother to Eric, who lives with cerebral palsy.

Meet special needs parents, business partners, and Christ-loving power couple Clifton (Cliff) and Lorraine Marshall. In an inspiring conversation with Stephanie Daniels, Cliff and Lorraine share about meeting on a blind date, forming a blended family, raising a child with a disability, and growing in faith—and love for one another—through life’s seasons and challenges. Tune in to be encouraged in your career, family life, and daily struggles and be equipped with Scriptures to bring you fresh hope and joy.

On a breezy July day in 1990, Joni Eareckson Tada joined fellow advocates from the National Council on Disability to witness a historic moment: President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA). For Joni, this was more than legislation—it was the culmination of tireless work that could open doors for millions of Americans with disabilities. Listen as Joni reflects on the power of the law compared to the power of the Gospel: while the law can change discriminatory structures, the Gospel is the only thing that can change hearts, bringing about culture change that provides true belonging for people living with disability.

As a typically developing three-year-old, Abigail Brown contracted Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Although her parents were told that she would recover fully, doctors soon discovered that Abigail had sustained brain damage from her illness, which left her with dystonia, meaning she would never talk with her mouth again. Through the physical, emotional, and spiritual struggles that have come through her disability, Abigail has learned to trust God to get “unstuck.” Listen as Abigail (with the help of her communication device) talks with host Stephanie Daniels about how to find joy and peace by trusting God’s plan and purpose, even when life doesn’t seem to make sense.