JONI: Here we are at Camp Allen Texas, the Family Retreat, and I’m looking at this big tall guy, leaning on his cane, and he has a brace on his leg, but a big smile on his face, Earl Cox. Earl, I’m glad you are here and tell me a little bit about why the cane, why the brace – what happened?
EARL: Well, it all started on June 12, 1987. I fell off of a grain elevator, which is an industrial building. I wasn’t working, just messin’ around with some friends and fell out of a window that went 110 feet to the ground. And it was concrete. First of all, I nearly bled to death the first 24 hours and then just making it through that. I was in a coma for six weeks. At one point I was brain dead. The doctors (17 out of 19 doctors) gave me no hope at all. In fact, they told my parents to pull the plug, but my mom didn’t listen to that, she listened to Jesus who said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” That’s from John chapter 11.
JONI: Wow! I don’t think I’ve ever heard John chapter 11 described that way, but this big smile on your face and the light and life in your eyes tell me that you are experiencing the resurrection power of Christ in your life. Tell me what this disability has meant in drawing you closer to the Lord Jesus.
EARL: Well, for one thing it has broken me. Broken me physically, but also broken my soul but it’s in that breaking of the soul that the Spirit of God really shines forth and it’s powerful.
JONI: Well, I can tell it’s powerful because you are not sitting around with your disability waiting to be served and helped. No, you are out here at Camp Allen, not as a family member, you are out here as a volunteer, a short-term missionary. You are here serving even with your disability. You know, I think there are a lot of folks listening right now who have disabling conditions and they’re wondering if they could serve as a volunteer, if they could be a short-term missionary. What would you be saying to them?
EARL: I would say definitely go for it, because it would really enrich the lives of the disabled persons at the camp. It’s just an incredible ministry, incredible mission – we’re called-short term missionaries. It’s all about Jesus, really.
JONI: Well, it is about Jesus and I’m so grateful that you are serving him by volunteering here, by being a short-term missionary, and helping out the families, by pushing the wheelchairs, sharing with the kids, connecting with adults, helping to carry the cafeteria tray in line, holding the Bible, turning the pages. Thank you and I hope, friends, if there are any listening right now who have a disability and you are thinking ‘Gee, could I serve as a short-term missionary at a Joni and Friends Family Retreat?’ believe me, what would you say to them, Earl?
EARL: Yes, definitely!
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
© Joni and Friends
Agoura Hills, CA 93176