Through the Roof
Jesus told His disciples to spread the good news in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and in the outer most parts of the world. We encourage the local church to meet the ministry need right here at home—in our Jerusalem—by reaching out to an unreached people group: those affected by disabilities.

• We offer training programs for churches, introducing their teams to the concept of disability ministry. The introductory training program covers the Biblical basis for disability ministry and outlines the direction God wants His church to take, ministering to people affected by disabilities and ministering with all people, including those with disabilities. The more advanced training program goes into specifics for the congregation, helping them to build a map to ministry. Contact us to learn more about our training programs and how you might employ them to advance your church’s ministry.
• The Christian Fund for the Disabled offers the local church the opportunity to partner with Joni and Friends to meet needs of people affected by disabilities, to equip the local church to meet those needs, and to provide vital training to pastors and church workers by providing matching grants. Contact us for details of this program.
• We provide speakers for all types of church activities, from speaking to small groups to leading the Sunday worship service, all with the goal of bringing disability awareness to the local church. We can inspire, motivate, and train your congregation, bringing the world of disability ministry to a personal level.
• On a Roll for Jesus offers a fun and informative program for folks of all ages, giving them an awareness of the need for disability ministry and giving them an opportunity to partner with Joni and Friends to reach out to the world with the Gospel through Wheels for the World. The program is great for Vacation Bible School (it fits well with any curriculum), Sunday School, small groups, or even the entire congregation. Members of our staff are available to join you and your church in this program, personalizing the program through testimonies and stories. Contact us now for your free kit for this year!
• Our Advocate program offers individuals the opportunity to make a difference in their own congregations while working directly with Joni and Friends. Our Advocates support their disability ministry teams, encourage church ministry, and promote Joni and Friends’ activities within their churches. The Advocate program is a great way to serve in the ministry of Joni and Friends. Contact us for details on how you can become an Advocate.

  

  Family Retreat
  The focal point of the ministry of Joni and Friends Eastern Pennsylvania is our three Family Retreats, held at the Spruce Lake Retreat Center in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. The beautiful retreat center includes accessible rooms and a Christ-centered environment for a week of enrichment and fun. These retreats are tailored for families affected by disabilities and are geared toward meeting the needs of all family members.

  • Our adult program offers daily times of worship and Bible study, all with a focus on the needs of the disability community. Our men’s and women’s groups enable participants to deal with vital issues in a small group setting with folks who are similarly situated. Informative workshops and seminars provide disability-focused information vital to the family’s survival.
  • Our young adult and youth programs offer enrichment training and a lot of fun! Young people with disabilities and those who have family members with disabilities can share their thoughts and needs in a safe environment while having a great time.
  • The junior high team focuses on fording the gap between elementary school and high school, mixing teaching, crafts, small groups, and lots of activities. Those with disabilities and those who do not have disabilities find common ground for fellowship and fun.
  • The elementary program, run much like a backyard Bible club, but with a lot of activities, provides a mix of crafts, Bible lessons, games, puppets, and music. The program is staffed by area churches, who send teams of workers to make the week a blessing to the children.
  • Our pre-schoolers are provided a caring environment, with plenty of activities. Our parents trust their children to this program while they join others in the adult ministry.
  • Campfires, an all-adult banquet, pizza parties, the power swing, the zip line, climbing walls, hikes, swimming, lots of games, talent night—it all makes Family Retreat a MUST DO for families affected by disabilities. Contact us to get more information about this year’s three retreats at Spruce Lake.

  Wheels for the World
  China. One-fourth of the world’s population. Ten million people who need wheelchairs. And a billion people who have not heard the word of God. Joni and Friends Eastern Pennsylvania is charged with Joni and Friends’ ministry in China. Since 2000, we have been taking teams to areas throughout the country, providing wheelchairs and therapy to people who have spent their lives on relatives’ backs or being pulled in a cart, together with Bibles, copies of Joni’s first book, and copies of a book by team member Mary Jane Ponten. We have ministered to nearly 2,000 people throughout China, communicating the Gospel through our love for the disability community.

  At home, we collect wheelchairs from throughout our area for shipment to one of our prison inmate repair shops, where they are transformed before being sent overseas.

  If you have a wheelchair to donate, or if you would like to volunteer to help in our collection program or to join us on a China outreach, contact us today!

  Caring Ministries
  At Joni and Friends Eastern Pennsylvania, we reach out to the disability community by ministering to those in need.
  

  
  
  • Support Groups- We facilitate support groups for parents with children with disabilities, adult single folks with disabilities, and spouses of people with disabilities. These groups, which meet year-round, offer a safe environment of like-minded and like-situated people who can meet one another’s needs. We’re eager to expand our network of support groups and urge you to contact us with your needs.
    
    
  • Special Delivery- With packages of books, CD’s, and other goodies provided by generous donors, our teams of volunteers visit people with disabilities in the community who might otherwise never experience God’s love, breaking the barrier of loneliness with the hope of Christ. This program is a great way for local churches, Sunday School classes, or small groups to introduce their members to that unreached people group: the disability community. Contact us to find out how you can be part of this program.
    
    
  • Marriage Retreats- The incidence of divorce in the disability community is staggering—parents of children with disabilities breaking under the strain, newly disabled spouses finding themselves alone—and the need for help is clear. We offer retreats designed to address the unique problems families with disabilities face. We welcome your participation in our next retreat; contact us for details.
    
    
  • Day of Pampering- A haven for moms of children with disabilities and spouses of men with disabilities, our Day of Pampering offers an opportunity for worship, Bible study, fellowship and sharing, and pampering from volunteer hair stylists, nail care specialists, and masseuses. Join us for a day for yourself—a day of pampering. You will leave refreshed, physically and spiritually. Contact us for details.