Here’s your chance to watch the newly-digitalized ‘Joni’ movie!
Back in 1979, when I was working as a senior reporter for the British tabloid, the Sunday People, I received a phone call from Bill Brown, the then head of World Wide Pictures, Billy Graham’s film company, telling me of an extraordinary movie that his Burbank-based, California, company had just completed.
Bill said that “Joni,” recounts the incredible story of Joni Eareckson (now Joni Eareckson Tada), who was seriously injured as a teen in a diving accident on July 30, 1967, and spent two years in rehabilitation and emerged with new skills and a fresh determination to help others in similar situations.
He added that she actually starred as herself in film and in her role, she had to re-live her accident and the time of deep depression immediately following it.
“Dan,” he said, “We are going to hold a premiere for the film in London, and I hope you will be able to attend — which I did. But, I’d also like to offer you an interview with Joni.”
While Bill Brown hung onto the phone, I quickly rushed over to see my news editor and told him about the movie and the offer I had just received to be able to interview her. He quickly agreed and I told Bill Brown that I just needed her phone number and I’d do the trans-Atlantic interview right way.
As we chatted, Joni was as charming as ever, and the story ran in a prominent place in that Sunday’s newspaper, which, as far as I know, was the first time that the Sunday People had ever run a story about an evangelical film.
Fast forward to today and I am now living in Southern California with my wife, Norma, and have become firm friends with Joni, and her charming husband, Ken Tada, whom I regularly interview at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention, for my “Front Page Radio” show on KWVE, and for television. Usually, my son, Peter, joins me to film each interview.
Now, I have just learned that the premiere of the newly-digitized 1979 ‘Joni’ film is to be shown on Sunday, August 6, at 6:00 p.m. (Pacific Time), at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, California. Before it starts, there will be a Red-Carpet event that will begin at 5:30 p.m. at which the star of the film, Joni, will attend.
The occasion will also honor Pastor Shawn Wheeler and others who are actively engaging their churches in disability ministry.
The screening is free and open to the public.
This amazing lady founded Joni and Friends International Disability Center in 1979 to provide Christ-centered ministry to special-needs families, as well as training for churches. Joni and Friends serves thousands of special-needs families through Family Retreats, and has delivered over 170,000 wheelchairs and Bibles to needy individuals with disabilities in developing nations.
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