No father is ever prepared to hear that his child will be born with a disability. This unexpected reality can lead to confusion or even anger, but it can also change the direction of a father’s life and his family. This week on a special Father’s Day episode of the podcast, Crystal is sitting down with Doug Mazza who served as President and COO of Joni and Friends for 20 years. Doug had been a driven and very successful businessman in the automotive industry prior to the birth of his third son; learning that Ryan was born with profound physical and intellectual disabilities brought Doug into a season of confusion and loss of identity. But God has a lot to say about people with disabilities, and the direction of Doug’s life changed when he recognized that God had a better identity for him than what he had chosen for himself. Today, hear where Doug found the courage to step up and be the dad that he was called to be. Find Doug's book, Another Kind of Courage, at www.joniandfriends.org/podcast
No father is ever prepared to hear that his child will be born with a disability. This unexpected reality can lead to confusion or even anger, but it can also change the direction of a father’s life and his family. This week on a special Father’s Day episode of the podcast, Crystal is sitting down with Doug Mazza who served as President and COO of Joni and Friends for 20 years. Doug had been a driven and very successful businessman in the automotive industry prior to the birth of his third son; learning that Ryan was born with profound physical and intellectual disabilities brought Doug into a season of confusion and loss of identity. But God has a lot to say about people with disabilities, and the direction of Doug’s life changed when he recognized that God had a better identity for him than what he had chosen for himself. Today, hear where Doug found the courage to step up and be the dad that he was called to be.
Find Doug's book, Another Kind of Courage, at www.joniandfriends.org/podcast
Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada who in a diving accident was left a quadriplegic at 17 years old. Ministry began as Tada, joined by friends around her kitchen table, responded to letters she received from people with disabilities in search of support. Over the past 40 years, the ministry has grown to serve thousands of people impacted by disability worldwide: Joni and Friends has delivered more than 150,000 wheelchairs and Bibles through Wheels for the World and provided Christian care to 63,000 special needs family members through Family Retreats. The organization also equips individuals and churches with disability ministry training and provides higher education courses through the Christian Institute on Disability. For more encouragement, download the Joni and Friends radio podcast in English or Spanish, and view inspirational videos on the Joni and Friends website.
www.joniandfriends.org