 Joni Eareckson Tada, the plucky lady who has inspired millions all over the world with her life and books, will be coming to Malaysia in July to grace NECF Malaysia’s 25th anniversary.
Renowned throughout the world as the indomitable quadriplegic who paints by holding a brush in her mouth, Joni is founder and CEO of Joni and Friends, an organisation aimed at accelerating Christian ministry in the disabled community.
She has written over 35 books, some of which are Tell Me The Truth, A Victory Through Sufffering, Heaven…Your Real Home, and Life and Death Dilemma, and her international best-selling autobiography, Joni. She also co-authored When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty (co-authored by Steve Estes), a book that systematically examines the mystery of suffering.
Joni’s life as a quadriplegic started in 1967 after a diving accident. During her two years of rehabilitation, she spent long months learning how to paint with a brush between her teeth. Her fine art paintings and prints are sought after and collected. After the two-year rehabilitation, Joni re-entered the community with new skills and a fresh determination to help others in similar situations.
Joni’s work has mainly focused on influencing the church on disability-related issues. However, her impact is felt beyond the Christian community. Her role as a disability advocate led to a presidential appointment to the National Council on Disability for three and a half years, during which time the Americans with Disabilities Act became law. In 2005, Joni Eareckson Tada was appointed to the Disability Advisory Committee of the U.S. State Department.
Joni has received numerous awards, including The American Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award and Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. She is also the first woman to be honoured by the National Association of Evangelicals as their “Layperson of the Year.”
Joni is married to Ken Tada, who in 2001 received the Family Life Ministries’ Robertson McQuilken Award honouring “The Courageous Love of a Marriage Covenant Keeper.
Joni will be speaking at the following meetings organised by NECF:
• NECF anniversary banquet on July 30 (Monday) night at Dewan PGRM, Kuala Lumpur;
• National Pastors and Leaders Consultation on July 31 (Tuesday); and
• NECF public meeting on July 31 night. |
|
