In the season-six finale, Crystal Keating joins the show for one last time. Host Stephanie Daniels welcomes Crystal, the original voice of the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast, this time on the other side of the mic. For six seasons, Crystal has offered biblical wisdom, comfort, and exhortation for individuals and churches to more effectively welcome people living with disabilities. Don’t miss this encouraging conversation where Crystal shares highlights from the past six seasons, responds to listener questions, and points with hope toward a future where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ.
Crystal Keating has been part of Joni and Friends for over ten years helping the ministry answer thousands of calls, letters, and messages about disability, sharing resources, and holding fast to hope in Jesus through life’s greatest hardships. Her prayer for the Ministry Podcast is that each conversation will help listeners and their loved ones “bear much fruit” (John 15:8) in acts of love throughout the disability community.
Tune in to Crystal Keating’s interview with Joni Eareckson Tada from season one
More podcast episodes mentioned:
Explore episodes from the past six seasons
KEY QUESTIONS:
In what new ways can your church and community welcome, include, and love people with disabilities?
Times of transition can be difficult—how can you trust God and put your hope in him as you face a new beginning or a bittersweet ending?
What hope for the future has God placed on your heart?
KEY SCRIPTURES:
Philippians 1:3–6: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
John 15:8: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Crystal Keating:
This is the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast and I’m your host Crystal Keating. Each week we’re bringing you encouraging conversations about finding hope through hardship and practical ways that you can include people living with disability in your church and community. As you listen, visit joniandfriends.org/podcast to access the resources we mention, or to send me a message with your thoughts.
Stephanie Daniels:
Hi, I'm Stephanie Daniels and friends, today's conversation is going to be a special one because I have some bittersweet news. As we wrap up season six, we aren't just closing the chapter on 2024, we're also saying farewell to my incredible co-host, Crystal Keating.
She's the original voice of the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast, who we have all loved for the past six seasons. She's brought advice, comfort, joy, wisdom, so many beautiful things. She's encouraged us to make our lives, communities, and churches more welcoming to those living with disabilities.
But God has new things in store for Crystal. So today we're going to use our time to hear from her. Before she passes the baton, so to speak, I've asked Crystal to join me on the other side of the microphone to share from her heart and encourage us as we run the race. Set before us. Crystal, welcome to the podcast!
Crystal Keating:
Thank you, Stephanie. That was such a kind introduction. Oh my goodness. It's been an amazing six seasons, six years with the podcast. I'm so happy to be with you today.
Stephanie Daniels:
Oh, man. Well, it is so fun to have you here as a guest for the first time. So, have you ever been on this side of the microphone?
Crystal Keating:
Oh. No, no! Actually, it's funny because when I've talked to people and told them about the podcast, they're like, "Have any guests ever asked you questions?" And I'm like, "Not really." So, this is a fun experience for me. I can't wait to talk with you about everything.
Stephanie Daniels:
Well, it's like we've heard from you so much over the last six seasons and you always have something really poignant and beautiful to share as you have interviewed guests, and so I'm excited that you are the guest, and you get to download your wisdom.
So, I know it is bittersweet to be having a farewell conversation today. God has used your podcast conversations to speak into my life, and I know many of our listeners would say the same. So, I want to start by just saying thank you for everything.
Crystal Keating:
That's so sweet. I just thank God. It's awesome.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah. So, starting at the beginning Crystal, I listened back to your first episode and you were interviewing Joni Eareckson Tada. Do you remember this?
Crystal Keating:
Oh yeah.
Stephanie Daniels:
You both had such excitement as you kicked off the podcast. Your conversation was so rich, and I felt like I was just listening to two gal pals just chatting and it was really sweet and special. What did you expect as you recorded that first conversation?
Crystal Keating:
Well, it's so fun to talk to Joni anytime, but that day was particularly special because we had planned to engage with Joni and have our conversation be the first episode of that season.
I have to tell you that when they asked me to do the podcast back in 2018, I was like, "What's a podcast?" I mean, like that was a newer form of media. I am not always culturally up to date. So, I think when the idea was proposed I was like, "Wow, this is really interesting."
I have to tell you the backstory because not a lot of people know. Our original producer, she's brilliant, she saw that this could be just an avenue for ministry, an avenue to really dive into the stories of people's lives, the stories that often go untold. So we had talked about doing a podcast and she had presented me with the idea, like, "Hey, do you want to help be one of the many hosts of the podcast?" We were thinking, ‘Oh, it's gonna be a multi-host podcast, and we will really centralize each conversation on the mission of Joni and Friends.’
At the time, I was working in the Response department. I was perfectly happy ministering in anonymity and talking to people on the phone. So, I was like, I'll be happy to help, I'll be happy to represent the many people that I speak to on the phone in the Response department. I feel like I can start to tell people's stories that are outside of the typical disability box. I want to tell their stories. But yeah, I'll be one of the many voices.
Well, through providential miscommunication, the podcast was born. And Amy and I, she was the original producer, she and I became very good friends, and we just sat down and said, "Okay, let's try this. Let's pray through what God would have." I just had such a burden for the church and a burden for the plight of people with disabilities all over the world and felt very strongly we need to enliven the church.
Anyways, back to your original question about Joni, like I was so nervous. I was so nervous, Stephanie. It wasn't necessarily to talk to Joni, but I was just so nervous because I'm like, "I've never been recorded. A lot of people might be listening."
I think in those times of anxiety, if you're someone that struggles with anxiety, it can easily become about you. And I just had to pray through that and push through that and like, "Lord, this is such a great opportunity for service. Lord, help me to let go of that anxiety because you're doing something so much bigger."
So, when I started talking to Joni my thought was like, "How do we tell her story in a way that people haven't heard before? How do we ask questions that are a little outside the box?" And one of the things that we did talk about was the church. Like, she has such a heart for the church. And I think that kind of unfolded our mission of, how do you actually reach people with disabilities? Yes, we do it one by one, but God ordained the church to do his work.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah.
Crystal Keating:
So, I was so nervous and the conversation went nearly flawlessly. God was so gracious. So, we're all kind of holding our breath the whole way through and then at the end and our closing remarks the whole room just exploded with cheers like, "Yes, that was so good! It went so well!" And that just set us off like, this is going to be a really great thing. And so, I'm just so grateful for all that God has done.
Stephanie Daniels:
I love it. And I love what you just said, it was clear God was doing something bigger and sometimes you just have to focus on the bigger thing that he's doing, even if you can't see it. But your ‘Yes’ is so integral to the bigger thing.
I'm so thankful for your yes and I just can imagine the cheers that were heard in that room after y'all finished that initial episode. So sweet.
Okay, so in that first season you share that the podcast would provide conversations and resources for listeners who want to welcome and include and love people with disabilities in their church and in their community. And I think we've held true to that. Can you expand on how God has used the podcast for his Gospel purposes?
Crystal Keating:
Yeah, yeah. You know it's so neat because I think one of the things that I've learned over the years of being a Christian, walking with the Lord, is that we think the Gospel is one message. Man is a sinner. We need God. Christ came. Died for our sins. Rose again. And if we accept that gift of salvation we’re saved. And the Gospel is so much bigger. Oh, my goodness. It's holistic salvation. It's salvation in a relationship with God.
I think there's also maybe a social Gospel that talks about Jesus coming for the poor and the disabled and, although he did spend a lot of time with them, Jesus came for people he came for sinners of which we all are, and so I feel like the podcast gave us this platform to talk about the fullness of God's good message. The Gospel is not just one message it's who he is. It's saying, "How do we live out love?" Love is the completion of the law. It's the expression of all that he is, and unfortunately, more often than not, people with disabilities don’t either hear that message, especially all around the world, if they hear it they don't experience it through the church. They don't actually experience the embodiment of God's love through the church.
That's one of the reasons why I love the podcast is because I think it's such a great tool to talk about how the message of hope through Christ in his holiness, and that he's weeding out sin often through suffering, is a powerful message because everybody encounters suffering. I'm not physically disabled but there have been times in my life that have been difficult and God has met me. Often, yes he's met me in his spirit and I'm thankful when that happens, he meets me through people.
Even when we think about Jesus coming to embody God in flesh, when he left, when he gave us his spirit, it's the church who's supposed to embody the invisible. The invisible becomes visible through the church. And so God's,
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah.
Crystal Keating:
Love that we experienced in his spirit now we experience in relationship. The mercy of God that he extends on us in our souls is experienced physically through a meal, of someone coming to your home or meeting you in your sickness or visiting you,
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah.
Crystal Keating:
In the hospital. Or you know, you've had parents who have gone through hard times, the comfort you've experienced through people. And so, I think my heart was like, let's tell the stories of what God's doing in and through people. What God is doing in and through suffering.
Stephanie Daniels:
Okay, preach to me, friend. A million nuggets come out of what you share. That was so rich. The embodiment of who Jesus is, we get to share that.
Well, Crystal, you've spoken to so many incredible guests over the six seasons.
Crystal Keating:
I really have,
Stephanie Daniels:
Is there...,
Crystal Keating:
it's so crazy.
Stephanie Daniels:
Like so many. And so, is there a conversation that stands out to you? Like one that's impacted you personally?
Crystal Keating:
I think they all impacted me in very meaningful ways, one conversation at a time. The thing I love about our podcast is we've just had so many varied guests, right? We had the John Pipers who speaks to like millions of people and Rosaria Butterfield and Katherine Wolf and these people who have a platform.
And then we've had my friend Abigail Brown who,
Stephanie Daniels:
Yes.
Crystal Keating:
did her whole interview using a communication device. And her story is largely untold. She has dystonia and isn't able to communicate verbally. Nobody knew her story, but there are people all around the world who share in,
Stephanie Daniels:
Come on.
Crystal Keating:
her life. Yeah, exactly. And they live with dystonia, and they aren't able to tell. I have heard so many people say, "I feel like someone's telling my story. I feel represented finally." That's very powerful for them. And there's something so very comforting and loving about that.
You know, the one conversation that stands out in my mind, it just rocked my world, was Jerry Sitzer. Jerry Sitzer was a theology professor, happily married. He and his wife tried to have children for many years. Finally, she got pregnant. They had four children. And in a matter of a moment he lost in a car accident his grandmother, his wife, and a daughter.
And he wrote through that this tremendous book called A Grace Disguised, How the Soul Grows Through Loss. And even though Jerry isn't physically disabled, he had to really wrestle with God, and all the things that he knew as a theology professor about suffering, pain, and tremendous loss where you feel like, I can't even get up in the morning and I also have to raise three kids by myself.
It's so outside of my experience and yet I know loss is something we all encounter. I think that is the common theme of many of our guests. It doesn't negate the fact that life is hard, but there is a grace that comes often through suffering. God says, "I will give grace to the humble." If we're proud we're gonna miss that, but there's a strength, there's a presence that he imparts through our dark times. And so if you haven't listened to the one on Jerry Sitzer, I encourage you to.
There's also the members from the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation, CCEF, that I just loved. Darby Strickland on trauma, spiritual abuse. And then Todd Stride who really impacted my view of severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia. He did just had such an excellent conversation on caring for loved ones with severe mental illness. And I think for me as a counselor, I tend to be drawn to that arena. But again, whether you're physically disabled or not, all of these truths remain relatable in a way. We have had just such tremendous guests.
Stephanie Daniels:
So many tremendous guests. I'm curious to know, are there any key lessons you've learned during your time as the host? Would you say that was the major one or you want to share another?
Crystal Keating:
You know, it's such an interesting question. I think it affirms the reality of God. And it affirms to me that he's so outside of the box that we place him in. I think it's given me the hope of heaven.
Okay, this morning we're singing Christmas carols. And we're singing, "Joy to the world, the Lord has come." And a coworker leans over and said, "Did you know this hymn was actually written about the second coming?" And I was like, oh my goodness. Yes, that makes so much sense, because the words of the song, yes, we rejoiced when Jesus came as a baby, but the fullness of all of the wrongs will become right. All of the injustices will have justice. All of the sin will be removed. All of the physical disabilities, the hurt, the pain, all of that will be healed. There will be no tears in heaven. And when the new earth and the new heavens come like we will rejoice. Anywhere the curse is found that's where his blessing and healing will cover. That is the lesson of these conversations.
Not every conversation has a happy ending or a resolve. It is a process. But we can,
Stephanie Daniels:
Yes.
Crystal Keating:
hope in the future. We can put our hope in God. We put our hope in someone who will not fail. But we need each other to endure, and to persevere. We don't do this by ourselves. That, again, is the message of community. In our American mindset, "It's me and God." Okay. Yes, you will stand before God as an individual, but we live as a community.
The church again is the embodiment of Jesus here on earth, the hands and feet. That's what I think I continue to take over and over again to heart. I just so appreciate our guests. It's very vulnerable to share your story. It can be very intimate, you know, and I, I like to ask deep questions. I don't do good with, with casual conversation necessarily. So for our guests to be willing to open up means a lot, that we would hold that with honor and respect.
Stephanie Daniels:
That was so rich, such a rich answer. You know, we’ve had the chance to reshare some of those episodes, like your conversation with Vicky Zirotti, which was like a two-part series. That was so powerful. And recently we reshared an episode on generosity with Randy Alcorn. Such a beautiful conversation that really challenged me.
That's what I love about the podcast and the beauty of the content that we've shared is that it's evergreen. It wasn't just good for then, it's still good for now, just like the Lord. His voice is as many waters and he's always speaking and his word is alive, so it always applies. So, I'm thankful for you just putting in the work and having these conversations and we have them to go back and listen to. Which also, I listened to one the other day, Jamie Stark and her husband.
Crystal Keating:
Oh! Oh yeah.
Stephanie Daniels:
What? I mean, I was listening to some others with Tracey and Scott. And finished those, and then it rolled right into this one with Jamie and her husband and I was like, totally leaned in, I want to know more. I just love that you really do get to know people and hear how the Lord has worked in their life and turned their seemingly impossibles into a platform for his glory and so, so good.
Crystal Keating:
That's right.
Stephanie Daniels:
Okay, Crystal. I have a fun surprise. A few of our listeners and guests sent in questions for you. Nelly, @NellyKPN on Instagram wants to know, "How do you keep your cup full?"
Crystal Keating:
Oh, oh my goodness. Shout out to Nelly. She is like a dear friend. Uh, actually she was on the podcast. That's what's so great. Okay. Okay. I will answer this question, but really quick, how I met Nelly is so wild. You know I've been working in the response department for many, many, many, many years now, and we get so many letters and calls and stuff. Anyways, I would get these emails from this man named Robert who is in a wheelchair, and he would say like, "How do you fly with a wheelchair? I have a power chair, it's really bulky." And so, we would give him resources and he would write back about other things. Well fast forward, a couple months later, and not that I don't care about people, but because we receive so many, I'm not keeping track.
So anyways, this couple comes into the International Disability Center for a tour. It's this young couple, the man's in a wheelchair and the wife's really fun. And get to talking and they're like, "Actually someone's been writing to us, and we want to thank the person who's been writing to us." And I said, "Oh, okay well let me look up who it is." So, I put in their names, Nelly and Robert, and I'm like, "Oh my gosh, it's me. I've been writing you!" And so, um, I don't know what was in me, but I was like, "Oh, where do you guys live?" And they said, "We live by the coast." And I said, "Well could I come visit you?" How creepy is that? But they're like, "Sure, come visit us!" And so we started a friendship, I don't know eight years ago, and I go down and visit them. It's just been such a sweet friendship. They have gone through a lot. So, if you haven't heard their story, Nellie and Robert Kappen, you should.
But anyway she's the one who, who asked this question which is a really cute question.
Stephanie Daniels:
I love the question because I also wonder. You are a counselor, you work in Response, and you do the podcast. So, I'm glad she asked the question. Thanks Nellie.
Crystal Keating:
No good point, those of us who are in the helping industry, I think there is one think about, when God has gifted you with something, there’s actually a lot of life that comes from doing that. It's when you operate sometimes outside of your giftedness, or if we're operating outside of maybe what God's called us to, there's a lot of drain in that. There's a lot of striving and strain.
Some of the things that I've learned over time is, “What is God asking me to do? What is he inviting me and opening doors to do?” Because if there is a calling on something, there's also a a grace, and that's very invigorating.
My cup won't be full if I'm doing all the things, and not saying no, because there's always going to be a need, but where can I be most fruitful? Now, that's not to say I just go, go, go, go, go. I'm not that kind of girl. Trust me.
I begin every morning in stillness and quietness, partly because when I wake up in the morning, I'm just like half there. Mornings are not my thing. I wake up very slowly and I listen to a 10-minute devotional of Scripture and pausing and praying and reflecting and that's a great way to start my morning usually in the proverbs.
Stephanie Daniels:
Can I ask you, is this before your feet hit the floor? You do this just like still in, or you like get up and go to like a quiet place?
Crystal Keating:
Yes. So, I sit on the floor. I have a floor heater on my back. I have my little tea drink to wake me up. I would say every moment is that walking with God, but in the morning it's like, Lord, search my heart. What do I have today? Lord, am I in your will? Strengthen me. Give me grace.
Especially as I work you know in counseling, I'm always asking for wisdom. What does this person need? What do they need to hear from you through me?
That's part of having my cup full and then my church community. Having just that mutual, let's link arms and walk with the Lord is so life giving.
I exercise every day, I get outside. I love the beach. I love to craft. That's like my new thing. I go out and forage sticks and shells and flowers and decorate my house with them. I love to cook. And you know, if I couldn't do any of those things, but I could be with my friends, that is the most life-giving thing is to be with my friends to talk with my friend Tracey who's been on the podcast. That girl brings me so much joy and laughter.
Stephanie Daniels:
Me too.
Crystal Keating:
And so, if you're listening today, I pray you get a Tracey friend in your life.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yes!
Crystal Keating:
Just someone who knows you. That fills my cup and…
Stephanie Daniels:
Can I say she said the same thing about you just today.
Crystal Keating:
What?!
Stephanie Daniels:
Just before this podcast. She said the exact same words about you. It's really sweet and special.
Crystal Keating:
Good friendships are so foundational. People who know you and see you. And again, when I think about the plight of many people with disabilities, like, we're not all the same, right? It's like single people. Not all of us single people are miserable. But the people in the disability community can often feel misunderstood and not seen, not known, not loved. God has given us friendship for that life-giving blessing. Because it even says Jesus is a friend of sinners. I no longer call you slaves, but friends. And so, there's something very intimate about that, that God ordained, and God designed for our good.
So, friends are probably the biggest thing that fills my cup, including Nellie. So thanks Nellie.
Stephanie Daniels:
I love it. Well, you and I have another friend a previous podcast guest, Rachel LeMaster, you all find her episodes and listen. They are wonderful. She sent in a question and wants to know how you've grown in Christ since working for Joni and Friends, and what is it like to personally work with someone who is such an impact for the kingdom like Joni?
Crystal Keating:
That's such a good question. I think my growth in the Lord honestly, it's had its ups and downs. Hearing about the hardships that people go through on a regular basis, I'm like, come Lord Jesus, redeem all of this now. And the other side is, what can I do and how can we help and how can we enliven the church? And then there's this sense of, oh my gosh is there anyone out there to come to this person? Like how can we enliven and mobilize the church so that Joni and Friends works itself out of a job, right?
I mean, we exist to support the church. So, I think just growing in Christ and highlighting even pieces of the Bible that never came to light until you link arms with people who on a regular basis, like encounter struggles. And Joni is not oblivious to that.
Joni is such a unique person. I just love that lady. I love that lady so much. She's the real deal, you know? Honestly, she's one of those people that when I'm with her, I feel a hundred percent comfortable, because she's so loving, and I just have to step back and be like, Lord, this is how you are to an even greater degree. You're that gracious, and you're that set apart, and Jesus, you embody the reality of what it means to walk with God. And we get to experience a little bit of that through Joni. I'm not elevating her on a platform. She would not even want that, which makes her that much more great. But I think just working with her I don't, I know that she's well known, but I don't think of her like, Oh, Christian celebrity, like she's my friend. And she has been a friend to me.
I get that question a lot. What's it like to work with Joni? I'm like, I don't know. She's fun. She's great. Like, especially being a "get up girl" someday, I think I'll write like, Memoirs of a Get Up Girl and just like all the things that like, that woman works hard. I'll never forget in 2018 we had just had the wildfires burned through California, especially in our area. We had the shooting literally three days later at Borderline. Friends in our community died. And then Joni got her second diagnosis of cancer. All in a matter of like days. And so, I was scheduled to get Joni up that morning and nobody else could get to her because of the fires. So, I went and I got her up, her power was out, we, you know we could see the like plumes of smoke just from her window and she's like "I want to work." So, we both wore headlamps and she's just like the work continues. In a very healthy way. Like love has to continue even though our world is going through this. That's who she is. And it's like, oh wait, you're also dealing in your mind with a cancer diagnosis, and she was so confident that God was gonna provide for her.
So, I think that example to me like, okay, God has been so faithful. And I see it like literally weekly in her life where she could easily melt down in a pool of anxiety, but she doesn't. And so, I'm very blessed.
Stephanie Daniels:
You know, what hit me when you said the part about being with the Lord and feeling that to an even greater degree, I don't know why that sat on me in a really sweet way. I just can't imagine what that's going to be like to be at ultimate peace and comfort with him. How sweet is that?
Crystal Keating:
I wonder if it moves you and it moves me too, because all the goodness in this life that we experience, God is far more. Our world is,
Stephanie Daniels: Yes.
Crystal Keating:
tainted by sin and the curse, like that is a reality. The Scriptures say everything good comes from the Lord and that is very true.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yes.
Crystal Keating:
And how much greater when we have no barriers, physically and spiritually.
Stephanie Daniels:
Man, that's gonna be so good. Crystal, I'm curious to know some behind the scenes stories. Do you have any? Cause COVID must have been an interesting time. It was for everybody. What kind of stories do you have?
Crystal Keating:
Yeah. We were doing face to face interviews all through 2019 and then in the beginning of 2020. When the shutdown happened and because we're in California it went on for a very long time.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah.
Crystal Keating:
We had to, what's the famous word? Pivot. Me and Amy were like obviously we can't do face to face interviews, but.
Stephanie Daniels:
Inter-virtual.
Crystal Keating:
Yeah! Okay, we're gonna call them up, let's use the phone. We weren't really able to go to the office regularly, so we did what I call "TV tray conversations." I had Amy come over to my living room, and we set up TV trays, because that's how sophisticated we are, and we put the microphone on the TV trays and the mixer, and I would hope that our neighbor's dog wouldn't bark or that the other neighbor wouldn't hit the wall or something. We just started having conversations, which was so cool in the end because it really expanded our reach.
No longer was it like, oh well they're not local, but who else can we talk to who really wants to minister to others? I even think of Rachel, who you just mentioned, she was burdened to talk about all the Lord had done. And that's often,
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah.
Crystal Keating:
Why people say I want to be on the podcast. It's not about them. It's, let me tell you what the Lord has done. You see that all throughout scripture, proclaim the goodness of the Lord from generation to generation. There's this burning to tell others who have gone through dark times just like me, that you're going to make it, that you can hold on to hope that God is faithful, that he is actually working all things for good to those who love him. This thing you're in, it's not good, and it doesn't feel good, but he is working good.
And so, it just really opened up our world and that was really awesome. I think on the flip side a lot of people don't know that I was going through my own personal dark night of the soul. Covid for some families was really great, they got to spend time together. For me, I just said how important people were in my life, one of my dearest friends Tracey, she moved, and our whole team literally moved. My sister moved. Then I was pretty much all alone. And so, I was like, this is awful. I'm not going to make it.
Some days I would be so down. I would just cry and then I would be like, okay, I got to do the podcast. Lord, give me grace. So, I'd wipe my tears, Amy would come over and we'd record. But this is life. Ministry doesn't stop. God met me and he provided people to really strengthen me. So, it was just my own experience of like, this is what we all need in our time of distress.
Stephanie Daniels:
Absolutely.
Crystal Keating:
Yeah.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah. That's what I was thinking as you're sharing because the world was going through 2020 together through COVID. I'm thinking and hearing all of the feelings that you are feeling and then thinking about people who are isolated, living with disability, having to go through that. So I'm so thankful for the "pivot." And since 2020 that has become one of my least favorite words, also “unprecedented.” But we did have to pivot in that unprecedented time. And I'm so thankful that you did, because still you could encourage people who were feeling exactly what you were feeling. I also just have to say, I so appreciate your vulnerability. You take the mask off and I, I love people that can do that.
Okay Crystal, how you seen God use this podcast in the lives of our listeners? Do you have any stories to share about that?
Crystal Keating:
Yeah. It's so sweet. One story that totally stands out is actually something that didn't even happen in the U. S., it happened in Canada. One of our listeners just listened because she was interested in Joni, and she continued to listen week after week, and she was so moved. It was like an awakening to, wow, there are people in my community who I don't even know that probably live with disabilities and they can't even get in the church. So, she started writing to me saying, I'd love your resources and I feel really called to do this.
Bit by bit, she just inhaled all of our church training resources and the booklets. And, little by little she started a buddy ministry, and then a disability ministry. So, shout out to Tara in Canada at Redemption Church. They are ministering to people with disabilities. She came as a listener and her heart burned for it and God's really blessed it. 4
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah.
Crystal Keating:
It so.
Stephanie Daniels:
That's so sweet. I love that people can get resources here, and tips and information, take it, and run with it. And you've been very instrumental in helping people do that. That's so cool.
What do you hope to see take place in churches around the world as they open their doors to more people living with disability? How can this podcast continue to encourage and further that focus?
Crystal Keating:
Yeah. You know, that is my heart because that's God's heart. God's heart is that all people would be worshipers of him. Whether you're disabled or not, we were all created to worship, and we will worship someone or something. So, my heart is that as we have these conversations, that the church, as they worship God, would recognize their identity. Guess what? We're not a building. We're a people. We're not a thing. We are meant to be a living family. A body. God calls us these things in scripture because they represent things that are bonded and things that rely on one another.
When I think about the future, I think about breaking those stereotypical ways of thinking about the church. I do know that there are people who feel so excluded from the life of God because they cannot physically get to church. And my heart was like, the church better go to them. Get in the car and go and be a community and normalize suffering. I'm kind of getting on my soapbox. But we share in their sufferings, and you know what, it's not always going to be fun, but that's where God meets us. We grow together through that because Christ suffered for our sake so that we could partake in his life. That bigger picture is my heart for all believers.
Stephanie Daniels:
That's good. That's so good. Crystal with all that you've shared and thinking about looking forward, what are you most excited about for season seven? And selfishly, this question is a little bit for me. Do you have any tips as I step into the role of host?
Crystal Keating:
Yeah. Oh, it's just, it's so great. I mean I can just sense the love you have for people and your listening ear, and that's so important. My heart for the podcast is we continue to have conversations that are new and fresh. The world of disability is so vast, right? There's a world of things that we've never talked about. So just keeping your ear close to who's writing to us and who's reaching out, and what are their stories, and how do we tell one story that represents a thousand people, to express the love of God, to express the kindness of God, to acknowledge suffering.
My loving charge to you is keep the main thing the main thing. Joni and Friends, I just love this ministry so much, and we do so many amazing outreaches, the Family Retreat and the Wheels for the World. And if Joni could just stop everything today, she would say, just remember Jesus, remember the Gospel, remember our mission and our vision.
Our mission is to glorify God as we communicate the Gospel and mobilize the global church. The global church, right? That's the first thing. And so, if you embrace those foundations, and keep the main thing the main thing, God will bless that. I think it's going to be great, and you'll be a lovely, loving host.
Stephanie Daniels:
Well, thank you, friend. Do you have any final words of encouragement, Crystal, that you would like to share with our listeners?
Crystal Keating:
I just want to say thank you. Thank you for the many people who have written in and thank you for listening so faithfully. This isn't about me, you're listening because you actually want to, you want to learn in order to grow and do what God's calling you to do.
There's so many people that I don't know, but I know that one day I will know you, in heaven, and we share the Lord. I just feel grateful that I've gotten to do this in the last six years. It's crazy.
Stephanie Daniels:
We are so grateful for you and I would love it if I could pray for you as we wrap this up, because you have been such a blessing and a mainstay on the podcast and we love you. So, we would just love to pray for you.
Crystal Keating:
Thank you.
Stephanie Daniels:
Well, Lord Jesus, we are just so thankful for our friend and sister Crystal. And I thank you, Lord, for using her as a mouthpiece on this podcast. For giving her wisdom and insight to share each week. And Lord, we praise you that you have given Crystal such a huge heart and a passion to share your Gospel so that more people can find hope through hardship, because of the genuine conversations that she's facilitated with so many of our incredible guests. Lord, would you bless our friend in ways that she cannot imagine for her faithfulness to this worthy endeavor, God. And we give you all the glory, honor, and praise, in Jesus’s name. Amen.
Crystal Keating:
Stephanie thank you,
Stephanie Daniels:
Well, Crystal.
Crystal Keating:
for that lovely prayer.
Stephanie Daniels:
You are so welcome. This has been such a beautiful time together. Thank you for sowing seeds of truth into the hearts of our listeners and into me. Your voice has brought comfort, peace, and so much wisdom to our listeners over the years. We're grateful for your dedication to the the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast these past six seasons, and for your care and love for the marginalized, hurting, and often forgotten.
Thank you for helping Joni Friends strive toward our vision of a world where every with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place the body of Christ.
Crystal Keating:
Amen. Thank you, Stephanie.
Thank you for listening today. For more episodes, find us wherever you get your podcast and be sure to subscribe. We’d also love it if you would tell a friend. And for more encouragement, follow Joni and Friends on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. And visit our website at joniandfriends.org/podcast. Thank you for listening to the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast.
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