Joni Eareckson Tada on Ukrainians: ‘They’re Practicing Christianity With Its Sleeves Rolled Up’

Published: April 5, 2022

Joni Eareckson Tada on Ukrainians: ‘They’re Practicing Christianity With Its Sleeves Rolled Up’

By Movieguide® Contributor

Joni Eareckson Tada is working to help disable people who are currently trapped in Ukraine as the Russian invasion continues.

Tada, who has been in a wheelchair since a diving accident 50 years ago, is an outspoken advocate for the disabled community and is calling on others to help handicapped Ukrainians.

“Just imagine if you’re a quadriplegic like me,” Tada told CBN’s Prayer Link. “I can’t use my hands. I’m in a wheelchair and if you were on the seventh floor of an apartment building and you’re in Mariupol being bombed and there were rocket strikes, it’s not like you can jump out of bed, grab a few things, rush out the front door, make a dash for the border.

“You can’t do that. And so, a lot of these people with disabilities are stuck in apartment buildings. A lot of them are in basements,” Tada continued.

Her ministry, Joni and Friends, is doing everything they can to get diabled people out of the warzones.

“We’ve been working with our in-country partner Galyna,” Tada explained. “Galyna and our teams have been out searching for these people even in the most dangerous eastern parts of Ukraine to rescue them and get them across the border and to safe haven in not only Poland but Germany and the Netherlands. And we’ve evacuated over 300 people with disabilities thus far and caregivers and we’re still active.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joni and Friends (@joniandfriends)

Before the Russian invasion, Joni and Friends was working to build a disability center, but quickly redirected their efforts once the conflict began.

“We quickly pivoted and all the concrete, all the cement, the cinder blocks, the lumber, everything ready to go for the construction of Joni’s House in Ukraine, we suddenly reallocated, redirected to be used to sure up homes and care facilities for the elderly, to protect people with disabilities,” Tada shared. “So, those items all were put to good use not in constructing a Joni’s House but of course barricading people so that they might have a safe haven.”

As Tada and her ministry continue their aid efforts, she is also encouraging others to pray for Ukrainians.

“These people are exhausted, shell-shocked but nevertheless they’re practicing Christianity with its sleeves rolled up,” she shared. “And so, please pray for Galyna and her network of friends who are making the valiant effort and very brave and courageous efforts to go into the most dangerous parts and find these people with disabilities and bring them to safety.”

Watch some of Joni and Friends’ updates: