Fwd: A Conversation on Joni Eareckson Tada

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From: Moody Publishers <moodypublishers@e.moodypublishers.com>
Date: Tue, Oct 7, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Subject: A Conversation on Joni Eareckson Tada
To: <philandkelly@gmail.com>

Join us in the Green Room with Ruth Schleppi-Verboom

Bestsellers Bible Studies Christian Living Church Resources Kids & Teens RUTH SCHLEPPI-VERBOOM first heard Joni Eareckson Tada speak in the Netherlands when Ruth was a teen and became a lifelong fan. Years later, they met face to face—and heart to heart—after Ruth and her husband, filmmaker Helmut Schleppi, moved to California. There they raised their four children. Now splitting time between the U.S. and the Netherlands, Ruth—storyteller at heart—writes about life, food, travel, God, and everything in between. Q: Where are you from and what were your growing up years like? I'm from the Netherlands. After my husband and I got married, we moved to California in 1999. My husband is a filmmaker, so we decided to go to Hollywood. We decided to give it three years, and I thought we'd be back in the Netherlands after that. We ended up staying in California for 25 years! We raised all four of our children there as well. Recently, since both of our parents are getting older, we decided to live part time in the Netherlands and part time in California, so that is what we are currently doing. Most of my children were born or raised in California, so it's very much their home. One by one, they've come over to the Netherlands, thinking that they'd just visit for a few months or a year and then go back to California. However, they are currently all living here! It's been so sweet to be available for my parents and to have my children around me too. Q: What does your life look like now? I'm a nurse by trade, but I was at home with the children for as long as they were in the house. Since my husband traveled a lot due to his work, we decided I would stay home with the kids. I did that for 25 years. Since I've always loved writing, that is something that I would love to do full-time. It's been difficult to relearn prioritizing my time after so many years of being available, but learning that discipline has made writing Sunday Evenings with Joni such an honor.  Q: What are the primary things you like to write about? Through my writing, I want to invite people into a new understanding of God's grace. I love writing about the little bits of grace that we can experience in our daily lives. Flowers, homemaking, hospitality, community—these are the experiences in which I have been able to find glimpses of the grace of God. If I can show that grace in my writing and use that to invite people into God's presence, then my writing will have succeeded. Q: How did you and Joni Eareckson Tada meet? I met Joni for the first time when I was 17. When I say "meet," I didn't really meet her, because she was the keynote speaker at a youth conference with 20,000 in attendance in the Netherlands. However, as a 17-year-old in the audience, Joni quickly became my hero. She was strong, confident, and full of integrity, and I admired that so much. I read all of her books that were out at that time, and I saw the movie about her story. Years later, after we had moved to California, my husband's friend asked him to film for Joni and Friends, which is the organization Joni founded. I was thrilled. When my husband came home from filming, I was so curious and asked all about it. He said that she had invited us to go to church with her. I was so surprised and so excited to meet her in person.  We went to church with her and Ken, Joni's husband, and ended up staying at that church. Soon after, Joni heard that I was a nurse. I had asked her several times if there was any way I could help, as we had become genuine friends. One day, she asked me if I would like to help her with the various things she needed at home. I started helping her get up in the morning on Sundays, and then later on it became Sunday evenings. I've always used the word "helper" when I talk about my time with Joni, because her husband Ken is her main caregiver. I helped her in different capacities for around 15 years. The days when I would go over and help turned into more of a time of fellowship. I would bring over dinner and Joni, Ken and I would eat together each week. I would continue helping with Joni's physical needs, but deep conversation filled most of our time.  Q: What is one of the things that has stuck with you most about your time with Joni? I have learned so much from Joni just by watching her life. I think the main thing I've realized has been that her line to God is so short. Something difficult happens, or there's a disappointment, and right away Joni is turning to Jesus. For me, that has been so beautiful to watch. If something happens in my life, I tend to go in circles, trying to fix whatever is wrong and desperately searching for solutions. I go everywhere else except directly to God. Eventually I remember to go to him. Joni does everything with Jesus. Instead of having internal conversations about what's going wrong, she has those conversations with God. I think that is also her strength, because she is so anchored in God and trusts that He is always with her. I think that that was what initially drew me to Joni way back when I was 17 years old—how beautiful her relationship with God was and how steadfast her faith seemed to be. Q: What are some things about Joni that people may not know? For one, she's very funny. I didn't expect that at first, not because she's not funny, but because what she does is serious business. She is serious and works with a lot of spiritually heavy things, but she is very funny. That was really fun to learn. Another thing is that she's very detailed. She sees everything. With that, she also sees you and what's going on in your world. I remember the first time that I came over to help her, I was so nervous. It's difficult to know whether you're helping someone in the right way or if you're respecting personal boundaries correctly. She made it so easy through her empathy and attention. Q: Who is this book for? I think that everyone who experiences chaos in life will be helped by this book. Joni and I have such different lives, but we both have been touched by God's grace throughout our lives. Everyone with a story, whether big or small, needs that same grace, no matter their circumstances. This book serves to remind all readers that God's amazing, overwhelming grace is there whenever they need it. Q: How would you describe grace? That's a good question. Grace is a word that we've used so much but it's hard to comprehend. For me, God's grace is overwhelming, tender, very kind, and exactly what I need. I don't always recognize it in the moment, but I look back and can see that God's grace was in every situation and in all of the difficulties. It's amazing. God's grace does not always create the outcome that you want, but it tells you that you're known and loved by the God who created everything. Grace is so simple—it's God giving us exactly what we need. Q: To whom did you dedicate your book to, and why? I dedicated the book to Joni because she was my inspiration. I learned so much from her, and it was really gracious of her to allow me to share parts of her story. I started writing this book just for myself and my children because I wanted to remember what I learned during my time with Joni and share those lessons with my children. I never thought it would be a book, but Joni encouraged me to make it one. I also dedicated this book to my four children: Dyde, Romeo, Brontë, and Lente. I hope that this book creates a longing for more of the presence of God and His grace. There's no better or more peace-filled place to be than within God's grace, and I pray that my children know that to be true. Q: What is your greatest hope for your readers? I hope this books helps my readers discover a deeper understanding of God's grace in their lives and cultivate a desire for the presence of God. I hope that people learn to seek this amazing grace in the midst of life's chaos, just like Joni has for so many years. I want people to truly know that no matter their circumstances, God's grace will hold them.  A testimony of courage and hope, Ruth Schleppi-Verboom's written record of her conversations with her dear friend Joni Eareckson Tada in Sunday Evenings with Joni  reveals a beautiful glimpse of personal friendship and faith. Join Ruth and Joni as they talk through doubts, adversities, and the joys of life. You will encounter God's amazing grace in ordinary moments and discover biblical guidance for your life. Buy the Book This email was sent to philandkelly@gmail.com. To make sure you continue receiving these emails, add us to your address book! 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