Welcome to Joni and Friends Eastern Pennsylvania
Joni and Friends Eastern Pennsylvania brings the international ministry of Joni Eareckson Tada to the local level in the Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and greater Washington, D.C. areas. Our goal is to work with individuals, families, and churches hands-on to answer God’s call to include people with disabilities and serve them in our churches (Luke 14) and to minister with them as integral parts of the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12)

• We work with area churches to build awareness of the need for ministry to and with people affected by disabilities in our Through the Roof program. We offer training programs and materials, speakers’ bureau, our On a Roll for Jesus mission and disability awareness program, training conferences, and full-blown Disability Awareness Sunday programs.
  


• With three Family Retreats, held at Spruce Lake Retreat in the Pennsylvania Pocono Mountains, we minister to families in need, offering fun, fellowship, Bible study, and disability ministry training. We have volunteer opportunities at Family Retreat for individuals and church groups. Contact us for details.
  


• We sponsor a number of disability-related support groups, providing a safe setting for our friends to share with and help one another. We also sponsor marriage retreats to help families deal with the unique problems disabilities bring to marriages.
  


• Special Delivery offers individuals and groups the opportunity to visit people affected by disabilities and to share God’s love with them.
  


• We collect wheelchairs for Joni’s Wheels for the World program. Reaching out to the world, we take ministry teams to China each year to distribute rebuilt wheelchairs and Bibles to people who have never before heard of the love of Jesus. Contact us about becoming a part of our next outreach.

Who we are
Brian Funk, Area Director- Brian came on board as area director with Joni and Friends in 2006 after serving as Chair of our Development Board for 5 years. He was also Pastor at Manor Church during that time and we are grateful to Brian for his leadership and service to our ministry here in East Pennsylvania.

Sib Charles, Program Director- Sib became involved with Joni and Friends as a volunteer in the 1980’s, traveling throughout the country for the JAF Congresses on the Church and Disability. She worked for 10 years with a disability ministry in northern New Jersey before moving back to Pennsylvania and marrying her husband, Jesse, who is quadriplegic as the result of a fall from a tree. Sib serves as co-director of our Family Retreats and heads up the support group ministries. She also is the primary planner for our major events. Sib, Jess, and their son, Nick, reside in the Lancaster area.

Mike King, Community Relations Coordinator- Following his motorcycle accident in 1978, Mike was paraplegic. Not letting his disability slow him down, Mike began training, becoming a member of the U.S. national track and field team and wheeling his wheelchair across the continent. Mike has been active in disability ministry for many years and is much in demand as a speaker. Mike joined the ministry in 2005, working with our churches to develop disability ministry and developing our network of partners in ministry.

Marianne Charles, Administrative Assistant- Marianne joined our East Pa. team in 2006 on a part time basis serving as our administrative assistant. She is most likely the one who will answer the phone when you call and direct you to whom ever you want to talk to or get you the information you need. Marianne's personality brings warmth and hospitality to our team.

Our Board of Development- Our Board serves as a sounding board for our programming, leads us in our development program, and provides us with support in the ministry. The Board is chaired by Earl Kreider; other members are Joyce Eby, Linda Barto, Laurie Njemeh, Don Myer, Butch Herhei, Steve Demme, and Wendel King ; we are blessed with an awesome Board of Development.