A Powerful Glimpse into the Lives of Exceptional People Facing Extraordinary Challenges
Contact: WDC Media, 877-862-3600; Joni & Friends, 250-898-9955
LOS ANGELES, January 29 /Christian Newswire/ -- TBN's faith-based programming is a favorite with American audiences and millions of viewers across six continents. Now, the family of networks invites audiences to journey with Joni and Friends into the lives of real people as they face heart-wrenching trials, and endure God's toughest tests.
"Our show poses some of the most difficult questions about the goodness of God in a world shattered by pain and suffering," says Joni Eareckson Tada, the show's host.
In this unique program – broadcast nationwide on the NRB channel on DirecTV and other outlets – audiences meet the exceptional people who inspire Tada, world-famous quadriplegic author, and artist. Joni and Friends is a half-hour of riveting images, soul-stirring stories, and proof-positive truths from the heart of God's word that will change your life...forever.
"We appreciate that TBN is carrying our program to people, worldwide, facing hardship and affliction," says Tada. "We want to showcase the God of the Bible who understands suffering, and who offers his peace and power in the midst of every trial."
Through dramatic and powerful glimpses into the lives of real people who are enduring incredible challenges, Tada and her guests put scripture to the toughest of tests, illustrate why God is worth believing in, and how to trust him in the worst of times.
Tada herself learned to put her complete faith in God at a very early age. For over forty years, she has lived in a wheelchair since a diving accident in 1967 left her a quadriplegic at just seventeen years of age.
"I prayed every prayer to be healed, but God obviously had other plans," says Tada. "Once I delved deeper into scripture, I began to see God's plan unfold for my life. He was using my disability to push me into the arms of Jesus. I can honestly say that I would rather be in this chair knowing him, than to be on my feet without him."
In spite of not having the use of her hands, Tada learned to hold a brush between her teeth in order to paint the high detail paintings and prints for which she is known. She founded Joni and Friends (JAF) – a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating the Christian ministry in the disability community – in 1979.
Since then, JAF has distributed over 38,000 wheelchairs worldwide through Wheels for the World, a JAF program that collects and refurbishes chairs and, whenever possible, supplies a physical therapist to custom-fit each chair to a needy disabled child or adult.
JAF also serves families affected by disability through its eighteen retreats nationwide, having helped over eight hundred families in 2006 alone.
"God has blessed me so much," says Tada. "I'm just grateful I have the chance to pass on the blessing to disabled people and their families around the world. It's wonderful to be able to provide Christian encouragement and practical help."
Including When God Weeps, for which she was given the Gold Medallion Award in 2003, Tada has written forty-five books. Her internationally best-selling autobiography, Joni, was made into a full-length feature produced by the film outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
"I'm not glorifying suffering, but I am glorifying the God who can be found through suffering," says Tada. "He is ecstasy beyond description, and it is worth anything to be his friend."
In addition to the half-hour TV program, Joni and Friends, Tada currently hosts a daily five-minute, award-winning radio program of the same name. It is heard around the globe over one thousand broadcast outlets by over one million listeners each week.
Tada and her husband of twenty-six years, Ken, reside in Calabasas, California when they are not traveling the world ministering to those in need.
For more information on Joni and Friends, go to http://www.joniandfriendstv.org/. To view a full episode of Joni and Friends click on http://www.joniandfriendstv.org/video/episode_02.html. For further information on TBN, go to www.tbnsecondchance.org.
About TBN
TBN is the world's largest religious network and America's most watched faith network. Each day TBN offers 24 hours of commercial-free inspirational programming that appeals to people in a wide variety of denominations. Beginning in 1973 as a single UHF station in southern California, TBN now reaches every major continent via 54 satellites and more than 12,500 television and cable affiliates worldwide. In the United States, TBN is available to 92 percent of the total households. Its website receives more than 27 million visitors monthly. For more information on TBN, visit www.tbn.org.
