The Hurdler

Hurdling Handicaps 25th Anniversary Celebration

2010-03-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

You are cordially invited to attend
Hurdling Handicaps Speaking Ministries
25th Anniversary Celebration Dessert Reception

This will also be a fund-raiser for the Bill and Sue Patton Scholarship Fund to assist special needs families to attend the Joni & Friends family retreats.

Featuring Detroit Lions kicker
JASON HANSON
18-year veteran Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson is one of the NFL’s most productive kickers. He’s the Lions’ all-time scoring leader with 1,835 points, as well as the all-time leader in field goals (427) and extra points (554). Hanson is only the sixth player in NFL history to connect on 400 career field goals.
Along with a stellar football career, Jason has also been one of those players avidly participating in the team’s chapel services and Bible studies. It was through that Bible study that Hanson and some of his teammates decided their faith should go beyond the words and actions often seen by fans before, during or after games, founding the “Night of hope” event.

In addition to Jason Hanson, there will be a video greeting from Joni Erickson Tada, as well as a live auction.

WHEN: Saturday, March 27th, 2010. Doors open at 6:30, program is from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
WHERE: Faith Lutheran Church chapel, 37635 Dequindre Rd., Troy, MI 48083

The cost per person is $15.00 in advance - $20 at the door. Please pring and complete the bottom portion of this card, and return it with your check or money order payable to “Hurdling Handicaps Speaking Ministries” by Thursday, March 25th. You can pick up your tickets at the door.

To R.S.V.P. or if you have any questions, please call the Hurdling Handicaps office at: (248) 544-7731 or e-mail at: Babs8455@aol.com. Thanks and hope to see you there!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NAME: _____________________________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________________________________________
PHONE: ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Number attending: ________

Paid for by Hurdling Handicaps Speaking Ministries, P.O. Box 725023, Berkley, MI 48072

SAVE THE DATE!

2009-11-15T18:21:00.000-08:00

On February 27, 2010, Hurdling Handicaps Speaking Ministries will celebrate our 25th anniversary by hosting a banquet at Faith Lutheran Church in Troy, Michigan. Detroit Lions' Jason Hanson will be our special guest speaker. Watch for details in future Inspirational Challenges and make plans to join us!

Speaking Schedule

2009-11-15T18:18:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the Bill and Sue Patton 2009 Scholarship recipients!

2009-08-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

This summer, scholarships to Joni and Friends Summer camps were awarded to Jamie Towers from Madison Heights and Daniel Jonker from Livonia.

From all of their feedback and pictures, it sure seems like they had a wonderful and refreshing time with friends and family while there.

Larry and Jamie Towers at JAF camp

Larry teaching at the International Christian Education Association convention October, '08

2008-11-21T12:20:00.000-08:00

For the first time ever, Larry taught a class for the I.C.E.A. Fall convention on "Facing Your Giants".

There were around 16 attendees and we received a lot of positive feedback. Comments such as "great learning experience" and "I never really understood some aspects of disabilities - such as that we all have them, in some form or another. Larry helped me understand that, with the Lord's help, we can overcome them".

Larry at the International Christian Education Conference

2008-10-14T10:01:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, Oct. 11th, Larry taught a workshop at the I.C.E.A. Fall Conference nin Northville titled "Facing the Giants". there were 16 people in attendance which was pretty good for a first-time workshop teacher.

Larry also made many good contacts while there as we had a table with resources on it all day so the attendees had an opportunity to stop by, meet Larry and get acquainted with Hurdling Handicaps.

Chicago to NYC to PGA

2008-08-22T11:07:00.000-07:00

Summer began by Larry taking his wife and daughter to Chicago. He had a speaking engagement for the Fellowship of Christian Atheletes where there were about 200 in attendance, several of whom made decisions for Christ. Since this speaking engagement occured near his daughter Anna's birthday, he took her and his wife, Jenny, along for the trip.

Of course the main attraction in the Chicago area to a little girl is not her father speaking at a meeting - it's the American Girl doll mega-store! Due to a mis-comminication between Larry's aunt and uncle (who were supposed to take Anna to the doll store), Larry had the great pleasure of driving Anna and Jenny to the American Girl store so the marriage survived. They spent about five hours in the store and it was like going to Disneyland!

Next up was a trip to Manhattan for Larry and Jenny to attend the National Speakers Association convention. He and Jenny stayed in the Marriott in Times Square where the convention was being held and got to hear speakers like Steve Forbes. Larry had the pleasure of having lunch with Jim Johnson (the coach of the autistic boy who, in February of 2006, helped his basketball team win their final home game - http://www.coachjimjohnson.com/ ). Larry was also able to visit Ground Zero which was very moving. He also visited a church right near there (St. Paul's Church) which was not damaged when the towers fell and has since become a shrine to the memories of those killed on Sept. 11, 2001.

Most recently for the Patton family, Larry's son Will was chosen to be a caddy at Oakland Hills for the 2008 PGA Championship tournament, which made them both very proud and happy (not to mention giving Larry a good excuse to go watch golf a lot that week). Will is also the #2 golfer on the Troy High School Varsity Golf Team and he will be a senior this Fall.

On August 23 - 25th, Larry will be in Tustin, Michigan for the Joni & Friends Summer camp so I'm sure lots more exciting information from that will be posted soon!

Congratulations to the 2008 Joni & Friends camp scholarship recipients!

2008-06-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

We are very pleased to announce the recipients of the HHSM summer camp scholarships for the Joni & Friends 2008 summer camp season. They are:

the Dickhudt family, the Holmes family and the Eggebroten family.

Thank you for your applications and we trust God will bless you all with this refreshing and renewing family camp experience.

2008-04-08T06:56:00.000-07:00

Here's a comment from Robert who was at Guardian Lutheran Church for Larry's recent speaking engagement......

It was SO good having you with us on the 9th! So MANY folks spoke with me in the days since then about how they were "touched" and "impressed" and "caused to think", etc. by your message and manner! That's the GOAL we set for our annual "Disability Awareness Sundays"....causing folks to get their "Christian awareness" fine-tuned! We thank God for you.....and your ministry!

Thank you, Lori!

2008-03-20T18:50:00.000-07:00

The HHSM Board of Directors and Larry wish to thank Lori Wagner for her almost three years of dedicated service to this ministry as the Coordinator. She is a budding author (she has just released her third book) and she will now be moving into other areas of ministry as the Lord leads. Her creativity, skill and generous spirit were evident in all she did for us.

She especially was a great help in updating and computerizing the office, which included putting "The Hurdler" on-line in the form of a blog, as well as keeping up with Larry's schedule and all the various day-to-day work of this ministry.

Though we are sad to see her go, we are very excited to see how God will use her in the future and we pray His richest blessings on her life. Thank you again, Lori, for being a wonderful part of HHSM!

Larry and the Board

Joni & Friends Summit

2007-09-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

Larry and Hurdling Handicaps Board Member Greg McDougall traveled to Chicago to participate in the annual Joni & Friends Summit. Larry and Joni pictured at left share a hug and a smile.

Following are some comments received from Summit attendees:

It was a privilege to be a part of this life-changing, spirit-filled conference. The speakers had such a profound impact on my heart. Words cannot express how this conference has changed MY life.

I got much-needed information to develop a disability ministry in my church. I needed this!

The dynamic speakers challenged my thoughts and beliefs and taught me how to engage in action. They demonstrated how a disability can be used in a positive way.

I learned that there is nothing you can’t do for a child for an hour to give the parents a chance to get filled back up with God’s Word!

Thank you for the sensitivity to a wide variety of issues, needs, and situations. The Summit was faith-filled and Spirit-led!

JAF Michigan Family Weekend Getaway

2007-09-10T08:20:00.001-07:00

At the podium, Larry Patton addresses campers at the Joni & Friends Michigan Family Weekend Getaway. "We went to Joni & Friends to be spiritually fed," said Chris Kleimola pictured with her family in the boat, "and Larry provided spiritual food to us. He really gave an excellent talk on joy."

The Kleimola family was one of two recipients of the Bill & Sue Patton Scholarship Award from HHSM that provided funds for families with disabled children to attend the JAF camp. Chris reported that her family, James, David and Rachel, enjoyed fishing, the horses, and especially the pontoon boat, an event they could do together. The counselors provided wonderful one-on-one mentorship, pampering and support to campers.

The Don & Cindy Prince family also received a scholarship. The Prince family serves as JAF missionaries and were instrumental in bringing this first JAF retreat to Michigan. Their work blessed many disabled people and their families in Michigan. Their son Alan is pictured on the horse, and his brother Kody attended camp as well.

2007 Scholarships Awarded

2007-08-16T17:55:00.000-07:00

Hurdling Handicaps presented two scholarships for families needing financial assistance to attend Joni and Friends camp this August in Michigan. Check back for photos and feedback.

2006 Bowl-a-thon

2006-08-18T17:23:00.000-07:00

Hurdling Handicaps Board Member Bowls Remarkable 100 Consecutive Games

One of the sorest arms in the Detroit metro area has to belong to Gregg Fortune of Leonard, Michigan.

On Friday, August 18, 2006, Fortune achieved the amazing feat of bowling 100 consecutive games in only 7-1/2 hours. Rotating from adjacent lanes, Fortune took no breaks to sit down or eat and left the bowling alley with bleeding feet and fingers.

But it wasn’t a test of stamina Fortune was after. His accomplishment, along with the pledges and contributions of other bowl-a-thon participants, raised over $2,000 for a local ministry.

As a member of the Board of Advisors of Hurdling Handicaps Speaking Ministries, Fortune has taken an active roll in raising funds to see the work of this ministry develop and continue to help people in the Detroit metro area and across the country live above their disabilities and the obstacles in their lives.

Hurdling Handicaps was founded by Larry Patton over 20 years ago. Patton, who has cerebral palsy, speaks across the nation delivering his encouraging message of hope to people of all walks of life.

Proceeds from the bowl-a-thon are being designated to help the ministry establish a scholarship fund for individuals in the community that demonstrate a desire to overcome obstacles in a variety of areas.

Celebrating 20 Years!

2005-10-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

October 14, 2005, Hurdling Handicaps Speaking Ministries celebrated 20 years in ministry. Guest speaker, Dave Dravecky, and Foster Braun, mc are featured in the photo with HHSM founder Larry Patton..

Larry's new book, "If He Can Do It, I Can Do It," was released at the event

Larry and Joni Earickson Tada

2005-09-21T17:39:00.000-07:00

September 21, 2005

Larry and Joni Earickson Tada pose for a picture at a Joni & Friends conference in California.

Hurdling Handicaps is an affilitate of the Joni and Friends ministry founded in 1979 to communicate the gospel and equip Christ-honoring churches worldwide to evangelize and disciple people affected by disabilities.