Joni and Friends retreat improves, transforms lives
A nearly fatal diving accident at the age of 17 could have sent Joni Eareckson Tada’s life spiraling downward. Instead she chose to embrace life. Paralyzed from the neck down, she began painting with her mouth, and her life journey has allowed her to develop Joni and Friends retreats around the nation.
Disabilities aren’t something that deter people from accomplishing their dreams. They are only obstacles that provide another path to getting where people with disabilities want to go.
For Joni Eareckson Tada, finding a new path to accomplish her goals and dreams has led to inspiring millions of people who have watched her overcome a catastrophe in her teen years.
A crippling decision in life paralyzed Tada from the neck down, but she found a way to follow her dreams, and a lifetime of accomplishment led her to establish the organization Joni and Friends, which brought one of its family retreats to Holmes County recently.
Joni and Friends set up shop at Berlin Encore Hotel July 10-14 and reached out to families navigating the challenges that accompany a family member with a disability.
The event is so large it consumed the entirety of the hotel, where dozens of families united. It also served as a time of respite for parents and caretakers, who had the fortune of connecting with other parents living similar circumstances and could sympathize with the demands of caring for a loved one with developmental or physical challenges.
Joni and Friends Ohio branches out into Eastern Indiana, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Area Director Jamia Cinelli said the retreats provide a haven of safety, sense of community and peace for the attending families, and amid all of the connections is a lengthy list of activities that keep everyone busy.
Included in the list of week-long activities were a hot air balloon ride, a petting zoo, a motorcycle ride, a dance party, a talent show, a trip to Skyview Ranch in Millersburg and many other activities.
In addition, the morning included scripture-based lessons and activities for the youth while parents had opportunity to attend classes designed to educate while sharing with one another.
Just as important, the retreat allows couples to focus on themselves, with plenty of time for them to find ways to rejuvenate and build their marriage.
“This retreat is about improving and transforming lives,” Cinelli said. “Our goal is to reach out to families and share gospel-centered care and instruction that can enhance their lives while creating hope that there is hope, direction and purpose in every individual’s life. It’s important for families to realize that they aren’t out there all alone, and there are people willing to walk alongside them, and at the heart of it all is that love of Christ that centers all of us and gives us a foundation to live life to its fullest.”
Tada attended a number of conferences where family members of people with disabilities were invited to talk about the hurdles they face in everyday life and the resources they require, and she left those conferences realizing these families needed more support.
“These retreats were born to provide families with a place and time to celebrate, to be loved on and to connect with others, and to sometimes experience a time of rejuvenation, and all of this is centered around the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Cinelli said. “Joni’s heart is to see everyone come together and experience the love of family the way it’s supposed to be.”
Each event is filled with loads of activities designed to entertain not just the kids, but also the family, and Cinelli said one of the biggest differences between Joni and Friends retreats and most others is they design the five days to serve the entire family.
“Providing encouragement and respite for the parents is a critical component of our retreat,” Cinelli said. “It’s a place where everyone can thrive in a no-judgment zone, which is the way it should be everywhere.”
This year’s Joni and Friends theme is “Fearless,” and in order to pull off each retreat, it requires a great deal of commitment from volunteers, many of whom are young adults who feel called to serve and give back.
Cinelli said the “buddies” who connect one on one with each attending child are so dedicated that they pay their own expenses for the week.
“Not only is this an incredible moment for the young people with disabilities, but it’s also a life-changing opportunity for the many young adults who volunteer to be here and make a difference,” Cinelli said. “It’s incredibly rewarding, which makes it a blessing for everyone who attends.”
She said the hope is the volunteers will take what they’ve experienced back to their home churches and help their congregations catch the vision in developing programs for people with disabilities, which can allow families with individuals with disabilities feel more welcome.
Joni and Friends will present a Ladies’ Getaway at Berlin Encore Hotel Sept. 22-24.
To learn more about Joni and Friends, visit them at www.joniandfriends.org.
About Joni Eareckson Tada
During her youth Tada lived a very active life, enjoying riding horses, hiking, tennis and swimming. Then came a decision on July 30, 1967, when at 17 years old she dived into the Chesapeake Bay. Having misjudged the shallowness of the water, she hit the bottom, fracturing the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae and paralyzing her from the shoulders down. During Tada’s two years of rehabilitation, according to her autobiography “Joni,” she experienced anger, depression, suicidal thoughts and religious doubts.
However, it was during those years that she found a true passion, learning to paint with a brush between her teeth, and she began selling her artwork. As an accomplished artist and author — she writes in the same manner while also relying on voice recognition software — Tada has written more than 40 books, recorded several musical albums and starred in an autobiographical movie of her life.
More importantly, she is a fervent advocate for people with disabilities.
Since 1979 Joni and Friends has committed to reaching and serving people with disabilities with practical help and the saving love of Jesus.
The organization’s vision of “a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity and their place in the body of Christ” is derived from Luke 14:21 and 23, which state, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.”
In doing so, they hope to glorify God as they communicate the Gospel and mobilize the global church to evangelize, disciple and serve people living with a disability.