Celebrate Women’s History Month with Joni as she highlights some amazing women in the Bible and in the Joni and Friends family.
SHAUNA: Welcome to Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. And today is International Women’s Day!
JONI: And, Shauna you know, I love the way the Bible highlights the achievements of women. Okay, so while the rest of the world today may have its agenda and the way it celebrates the achievements of women, I want to make much of the Bible, especially words from the Apostle Paul. Because I love what he says about Phoebe, a notable woman in the church in Cenchreae who served as Paul’s emissary. Phoebe was even trusted by the great apostle to deliver his letter to the Romans. In fact, in Romans 16:1, Paul says to the church in Rome, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.” Okay, so right there we see that Phoebe was a deacon of the church in Cenchreae, just south of Corinth. And I love the supportive, kind, and affirmative words that Paul gives this woman. I mean, obviously, she had many good works that proved her faith.
And I could go on listing other women in the Bible who achieved great things for the sake of God’s kingdom. But I just want to take a minute to list a few modern-day women who inspire me at Joni and Friends. When it comes to disability ministry [I don’t know], women seem to be a natural fit. Their heart of compassion finds expression in helping the world’s neediest, the most forgotten, oft neglected; and that is, children and women with disabilities. So, on this International Women’s Day, I take a lead from the Bible in highlighting a few females whose labors have helped expand the kingdom of Christ in some of the darkest corners of the world where disability is often considered a curse.
These women work hard to make certain that disabled people in their part of the world hear the good news of Jesus Christ. I’m thinking of Elizabeth in Peru who coordinates our efforts with Spanish-speaking countries in South America. Then there’s Carla in Brazil; she makes certain that disabled people who speak Portuguese are reached for Christ. Claudia oversees our work in Central America. And Galyna is laboring overtime in Ukraine and parts of Eastern Europe to train churches and get the gospel to special needs families. Jubin helps coordinate our outreach in South Asia. And Ashley and Mary are part of the team in Africa. And Yaling is our Regional Director in East Asia, including China.
To me? Each of these women are like Phoebe. They are benefactors of many disabled people who live in dire circumstances. They are emissaries of the Lord Jesus, carrying his Gospel, his Luke 14 mandate to the disabled, the lame, the blind, and the poor of the world. And I am so proud to be their co-laborer. These women are champions; aren’t they Shauna? They inspire us to keep going!
SHAUNA: They sure do! I couldn’t agree more, Joni, but you’ve forgotten someone, and that’s YOU! Oh c’mon, you inspire every one of us to shine a spotlight on Jesus and to bring our disabled brothers and sisters closer to Christ. You Joni, mentor us every day on the radio, so friend listening, let’s follow Joni’s example. Get out there and make much of the Gospel, on International Women’s Day and every day!
JONI: Amen to that! And one more thing, I want to send you a copy of our Joni and Friends newsletter. So just go to joniradio.org.
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