Listen as Vicki Zoradi shares her striking story of faith tested by fire. On her 60th birthday, shortly after receiving a Teacher of the Year award, Vicki was diagnosed with a seemingly harmless kidney stone. But when the kidney stone became lodged between her bladder and kidney, Vicki’s health took a frightening turn.

After surviving a life-threatening bout with sepsis and the loss of her hands and legs, Vicki leaned on God to navigate through her grief and drastic life change. Since then, through a steadfast dependence on Jesus and with the support of her family and friends, Vicki has not only found comfort to carry her through suffering; she has also discovered a new calling. Today, as an author and speaker, fitted with prosthetic arms and legs, Vicki uses her story to point others to the Gospel amid their own trials.

During part one of Crystal Keating’s conversation with Vicki, you’ll be encouraged to bring your most acute pains and toughest struggles to the One who can provide true, lasting hope and healing through every hardship.

Learn more about Vicki Zoradi

Purchase Vicki’s inspirational autobiography: Tested by Fire, Fueled by Faith

KEY QUESTIONS:

• When have you seen hope or healing occur in a situation where it seemed to be “too late”?
• What weakness in your life can you give to God right now, inviting him to let his strength and glory shine through?

KEY SCRIPTURE:

2 Corinthians 12:19–10: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

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Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

This episode of the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast packs a powerful dose of encouragement! Celeste Sharpe joins Stephanie Daniels to share about her experience living with cerebral palsy and finding deep, Christ-centered strength to become a person who can have gratitude through grief. Even when she needs encouragement herself, Celeste seeks to encourage others. Tune in for Celeste’s inspiring story about how she has been blessed to have guidance from two mothers—her biological mother, and her maternal grandmother, whom she lovingly called ‘Mom’, both of whom have pointed her to Jesus and brought her lasting joy!

Celeste Sharpe serves on staff with Joni and Friends as an administrative assistant in Human Resources. When she is not working, Celeste likes to read, write poetry, and sing. She also loves to encourage others!

KEY QUESTIONS:

• Who has encouraged you most in your faith?
• How can you encourage someone in the same way you would like to be encouraged today?

KEY SCRIPTURES:

• Genesis 31:49: “May the Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent one from the other.”
• Deuteronomy 33:25: “The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days.”

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

Follow Joni and Friends on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Tune in for this powerful installment of Joni’s “Heart of the Founder” series. Addressing the topic of mobility, Joni Eareckson Tada draws on deep personal experience, having lived with quadriplegia for more than five decades. While a phrase like “wheelchair-bound” suggests that a wheelchair is confining, Joni can attest to the freedom that mobility equipment can bring—not only for a disabled individual but also for their family members and community.

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More than one billion people in the world live with a disability. And the majority of people who need a wheelchair have to do without. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 80 million people need a wheelchair and only 5–35% have access to one.

That’s why, through Wheels for the World™, Joni and Friends changes lives by hand-delivering wheelchairs and Bibles to people with disabilities around the world. 

Each year Joni and Friends collects thousands of used wheelchairs, which—instead of taking up space in landfills—get restored to like-new condition by inmates in prison-based restoration centers. This environmentally sustainable process offers inmates the opportunity to give back to society and the world and experience redemptive purpose in their own lives.  

 
You can get involved!

• Donate a wheelchair
• Volunteer to serve at an international outreach 
• Connect with your local Joni and Friends office to help collect wheelchairs

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

Follow Joni and Friends on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.