The Wrecking Crew

The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture.

In Shanghai, China, a city of 13 million, the economic influx of Western money is evident everywhere. Twenty-four hours a day many old buildings and historical sites are being torn down and replaced with glass and steel architectural marvels. Where real estate is a premium – the higher the building the more money generated for the owners. One day as the Joni & Friends Wheels for the World team made our way through choking traffic, we passed a structure not more than 20 years old but only about 10 stories high. Suspended from bamboo scaffolds were workers with handheld sledgehammers bringing the building down – brick by brick.

We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.

During the height of its building boom in the mid 90’s, 1/5 of all heavy cranes used in the world were operating in Shanghai! Yet here, where so much high tech and sophisticated construction is proceeding – simple manpower was being used to employ more of the masses. I was struck by the parallel between the men on the scaffold and our own small team of Christian workers bringing down spiritual strongholds – brick by brick (one person at a time) – ideology by ideology, gaining access to hearts with the gift of a wheelchair and a Bible.

The SARS threat had put the Joni & Friends wheelchair delivery on hold for almost six months, (from April to October) causing many logistical issues and more government involvement with the chairs left for us to deliver. Undaunted, our team of eight, shared joy and smiles, over 100 wheelchairs, and for many the gift of the first Bible they have ever owned. We continue with all diligence the work He has set before us, bringing down strongholds and building up the Kingdom!

Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction & building lives of obedience into maturity. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6