Welcome to Episode 4 of the Olasky interview.

I'm your host, Jill Nelson.

Today we'll hear Marvin's 2012 interview with author and speaker, Johnny Erickson Tata.

Tata is a well-known advocate for people with disabilities, and when she speaks on their

behalf, she's also speaking for herself. Tata became a quadriplegic after a diving accident in

1967. She was just 17 years old. Faced with the reality of spending the rest of her life

in a wheelchair, Tata struggled with depression and thoughts of suicide.

But after wrestling with God through two years of rehabilitation, Tata found he had given her new purpose.

She emerged with a strong desire to help others in similar situations.

In the last 50 years, she has become an author, artist, speaker, and advocate for the disabled.

She's written more than 40 books and recorded several musical albums.

She also founded the organization, Johnny and Friends.

Tata uses its website, radio, and television programs to tell the stories of real

people who face severe trials, but continue to trust in God. Marvin Olasky joins us now to

set up this interview with Johnny Erickson Tata. Marvin, welcome. Thanks, Jill. Well, Tata gave you

permission to ask some pretty difficult questions during this interview. You talk a lot about suffering because that's a daily reality for Tata and many of the people she ministers to. How has suffering shaped her? What does she like as a person?

She's an incredibly joyous person. We sometimes talk about people who are filled with song

and it comes out of them, well, that's literal with Johnny's case. The only time I've interviewed

a person and were right in the middle of the interview, she would burst out and singing,

and she has a great voice. But this wasn't showtime. This is God's spirit welling up within her and forcing that sound out.

And it's wonderful to hear.

Tata is pretty well known in Christian circles.

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