Ken Tada is celebrating his birthday, and he wants to share it with those in need. Join Joni as she talks to her husband about what would make this the perfect birthday – and how you can help!
Donate to the Perfect Gift campaign in honor of Ken Tada.
Hey, I’m pretty excited because today is my husband Ken’s birthday!
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and I am celebrating because my birthday boy is here in the studio with us. Hey, Ken, happy birthday!
KEN: Thank you.
JONI: Okay, so I want everyone to know that I did not put you up to this…
KEN: No, you did not.
JONI: …but you decided to…
KEN: I’m giving my birthday to Joni and Friends.
JONI: Okay, that’s a big deal because I know how much you like presents.
KEN: Oh, well, you know, it’s interesting because, as I have gotten older…
JONI: Yeah?
KEN: It puts things into perspective.
JONI: What?
KEN: My gifts come in other shapes and forms these days. It’s like, if I get a good report on your health, that’s a gift.
JONI: Okay! I like that.
KEN: The smile on the face of a recipient that gets a wheelchair.
JONI: Hey!
KEN: Yep. And the joy that it brings to the people who are bringing that person to the Wheels for the World distribution.
JONI: Okay.
KEN: You know, and when we have gone to Family Retreats, isn’t it neat to watch these families just be excited?
JONI: Yeah. That’s a gift.
KEN: And to have that kind of chance to fellowship together, and it’s just like, everything’s normal.
JONI: Right. At Family Retreat, everything’s normal. Oh, Ken, I am so touched. I had not heard you say this, so I can understand why you are donating your birthday. If you were moved by my husband’s tears – because I certainly was, oh my goodness! – I’m going to go to joniandfriends.org, and I’m going to give to the Perfect Gift campaign and do it in honor of Ken Tada. Ken, do you mind if I contribute to your birthday?
KEN: Absolutely.
JONI: Okay, I’ll do that.
KEN: And everybody else that’s listening.
JONI: Right, right, right. Okay, so just go to joniandfriends.org, and donate to the Perfect Gift campaign, and do it in honor of Ken Tada. Wow, Ken. That really moves my heart to see how much the recipients of Christ’s love at this ministry move you.
KEN: And you know what, Joni?
JONI: What?
KEN: We can point our attention to Scripture. In Luke 14, it says, go out into the streets and the alleys and find the poor and the crippled, the lame and the blind, and bring them into my house. What a great mandate that we have. And we can do it through these programs. Share Jesus.
JONI: Absolutely. We’ve got some busy, busy things coming up in 2022. I mean, we are really expanding our ministry and taking it into overdrive because the days are dark, times are evil, and people with disabilities under this COVID – this global pandemic – are really struggling.
KEN: Absolutely. Seventy-three Family Retreats this next year.
JONI: Unbelievable.
KEN: And 23 of those are going to be in the 2/3 world nations overseas.
JONI: I love that because that’s where the love of Christ is really needed, in a developing nation. Wow, that’s a great number.
KEN: And you want to know something even more exciting?
JONI: What?
KEN: Sixty Wheels for the World trips.
JONI: Amazing.
KEN: And man, I mean, you know, we’ve already hit so many countries. Like Thailand and Cuba and Peru…
JONI: Ukraine.
KEN: Yeah, Ukraine.
JONI: El Salvador.
KEN: And we’re going to go into nine more new countries.
JONI: Nine!
KEN: Yep.
JONI: Nine countries. That is amazing!
KEN: Don’t forget Joni’s Houses especially in 2022.
JONI: That’s right. We’ve got already five Joni’s Houses up and running. El Salvador, Ukraine, Nepal, Uganda, Thailand. A Joni’s House is a disability center where we provide evangelism and discipleship and counseling, wheelchair delivery repair, medical help, food, hygiene packages, job training. Oh, my goodness, so much ministry going on in the name of Jesus Christ in the new year. Ken, thank you for donating your birthday to Joni and Friends.
KEN: My great pleasure, Joni.
JONI: Well, again, if you’d like to honor my husband on his birthday, you can go to joniandfriends.org, and donate to the Perfect Gift campaign. That means that you will be sponsoring a cute little wheelchair for a disabled child overseas, and do it in honor of my amazing husband, Ken Tada. Happy birthday, Ken!
KEN: Thank you, Joni. I love you.
JONI: You, too.
© Joni and Friends