Children and adults—in wheelchairs, blind and with various other handicaps— rode horses, swam and rapelled, many for the first time in their lives. They and their families were part of Joni and Friends Family Retreat at Pine Springs Ranch, Aug. 15-20.
Ranch life provided the “gift of adventure” to 138 people including their caregivers. Joni and Friends (JAF) disability ministry, based in Agoura Hills, Calif., was founded in 1979 to bestow encouragement and resource education to this largely unreached segment of society. Joni Eareckson Tada’s own disability began when, as a 17-year-old teenager, a swimming accident left her paralyzed.
The well-known author of more than 30 books, speaker, radio host, artist and disabilities advocate, Tada and Joni and Friends minister to the disabled community worldwide. They also emphasize training for church staff members about disability issues. Information is available at their web site
www.joniandfriends.org.
“God never intended for us to suffer alone. There’s such healing in having others understand what you’re going through. That’s why He created koinonia or community. That’s why JAF offers family retreats,” Tada said in an interview in Today’s Christian Woman (Sept/Nov. 2004).
Both Tada and her husband, Ken, were at the ranch. The ranch appeals to Joni because of its new pool facilities for handicapped people and adaptations the staff made to enable them to ride horses, plus the “Christian atmosphere,” commented Gary DeVelder, area director for Joni and Friends for Greater Phoenix. (Although some of the participants came from Arizona, most came from southern California.)
“This Christian atmosphere is a part of our outreach and an opportunity to share our way of life with others, while at the same time providing them with a relaxing get away experience for their group,” says Brian Schwab, PSR executive director. “In addition to reaching the larger Christian community, we are also providing some new programming options for Southeastern California constituents. Upcoming is the second annual couples retreat, “Romance at the Ranch,” Feb. 11-13, 2005,” Schwab added.
