Joni Eareckson was born on October 15th 1949 in America. She became a Christian at a Young Life camp in November 64 when she was 15 years old.

She was a real American country girl, taking part in the sports of horse-riding and swimming in particular. After a diving accident in 1967, she became a quadriplegic in a wheelchair not able to move her legs or hands. She says she became dangerously close to becoming clinically depressed.

The darkness that followed was lifted when friends from her church rallied around her family, offering help, hope and ascribing positive meaning to her affliction. It was the church that made all the difference.

During two years of rehabilitation, she spent long months learning how to paint with a brush between her teeth. Her high-detail fine art paintings and prints are sought after and collected. Because of this she became known in America taking part in several TV shows and in 1976 she wrote her first book, "Joni" and in 1979 World Wide Pictures' made a full length film about her life. It was that year that Joni began her ministry, began her radio show and got married to Ken Tada.

To date Joni has written 30 books and has visited 35 countries. In 1979, Joni founded "Joni and Friends" whose primary work includes:

• assisting churches to minister to individuals and families affected by disability
• evangelizing and discipling people affected by disability · mobilizing volunteers and churches to participate in ministries such as Family Retreats, and Wheels for the World.
• providing resource referrals and assistance to individuals and families affected by disability

She now works alongside other worldwide staff committed to Christian outreach into the disability community. In Luke 14:13,25 it says "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind and you will be blessed - make them come in, so that my house will be full."

Joni is convinced that people with disabilities of all types will be blessed, but the key is that "you will be blessed". She says when we reach beyond our comfort zones, people are blessed by the realisation that we are all richer when we recognise our poverty, we are strong when we see our weaknesses, and we are recipients of God's grace when we understand our desperate need of Him.

Personally, Joni had a great influence on my life as a young, disabled Christian. But I believe her to be a great Christian because the Lord has allowed her to be greatly used by a great God.