of the massive statistics in terms of people
and their heart-breaking stories. People
like Aliyah. We can tackle persecution at
its root by making known the aspects of
other religions and ideologies that result
in injustice and oppression of Christians.
We can support the work of groups such
as International Justice Mission who use
power and influence to push for a biblical
social justice.
Jesus says in Matthew 5:44, “But I tell
you, love your enemies and pray for those
who persecute you.” We can pray and
work toward changing people’s lives and
situations, bringing transformation in
communities wherever possible. We can
tell the stories of people like Aliyah, stories
that will swell hearts with compassion
toward the persecuted.
We can remember the weak and
defenseless who, in the name of Christ,
view their weakness as a door to God’s
strength. If we do not defend these, the
last, the least, and the littlest…who will?
May the Holy Spirit enable us to proclaim:
“We will!”
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Joni
Eareckson
Tada
Joni Eareckson Tada, the founder
and Chief Executive Officer of Joni
and Friends International Disability
Center, is an international advocate
for people with disabilities. A
diving accident in 1967 left Joni
Eareckson, then 17, a quadriplegic
in a wheelchair. After two years of
rehabilitation, she emerged with
new skill and a fresh determination
to help others in similar situations.
She founded Joni and Friends in
1979 to provide Christ-centered
programs
to
special-needs
families, as well as training to
churches. Joni and Friends serves
thousands
of
special-needs
families through Family Retreat,
and has delivered over 100,000
wheelchairs and Bibles to needy
disabled persons in developing
nations. Joni’s lifelong passion is to
bring the Gospel to the world’s one
billion people with disabilities. She
and her husband Ken were married
in 1982 and reside in Calabasas,
California.
Solutions • 9