Voice of Chronic Joy®

VOICES OF CHRONIC JOY®

REAL VOICES ENRICHING PRECIOUS LIVES

The Voices of Chronic Joy are a caring and compassionate team of volunteers dedicated to recording website content, and guest posts, to enrich the lives of those we serve.

May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 TLB

VOICES OF CHRONIC JOY – CARING AND COMPASSIONATE

 

Our caring and compassionate team of volunteers, the Voices of Chronic Joy, are dedicated to recording website content and guest posts. They do this not only to enrich the lives of those we serve, but to provide accessible and easy-to-use content for everyone.

From the comfort of their own homes, our Voices record audio tracks using the software on their phones or laptops. Real voices enriching real lives.

Recordings are a heart-gift gilded in prayer. Regardless of little imperfections or places where we might have spoken better, it’s our hearts that make the recordings real. Our prayers extend the tender gift of hope one precious life at a time.

For on these days when the world is feeling even more isolated and lonely, our Voices may be the only voice someone hears that day.

Interested in becoming a Voice of Chronic Joy? Email us at care@chronic-joy.org. We will ask you to audition and provide a bio and headshot.

Moria Bell

Moria Bell

Voice of Chronic Joy

Moira is a mother of seven, and grandma to 11 (so far), who enjoys writing, editing, sewing, jewelry-making, reading aloud, and worship.

Sandra Heska King

Sandra Heska King

Nurse, Writer, Poet, and A Voice of Chronic Joy®

Sandra is a wife of over 48 years, adoptive mom to two, and “nama” to five. She has worked in multiple nursing specialties, including family practice, OB/GYN, operating room, and public health. She writes from her home in South Florida where she lives on the edge of the Everglades. Sandra loves to hike and photograph wildlife,  — and sometimes even kayaks with alligators! She is addicted to books, Häagen-Dazs® Coffee Almond Crunch ice cream bars, and jasmine tea. Sandra posts photos on Instagram, writes sporadically on her blog, and is a contributing writer and social media team manager for Tweetspeak Poetry. Her daughter is diagnosed with Crohn’s and RA.

Jan VanKooten

Jan VanKooten

Chronic Joy® Editor and Board Member

Jan and her husband Gerry divide their time between Sterling, Alaska and Sedona, Arizona (where she is a choir director at Sedona United Methodist Church). Jan's love of words fills the spaces in between being a wife, mom, grandmother, and retired music educator.

Sedona also provides Jan and Gerry great Red Rock views and amazing hiking trails -- if you're ever in the area from April through October, do drop by!

Barry Gilbert

Barry Gilbert

A Voice of Chronic Joy®

Barry, retired from working full-time designing catalog pages, has also been a Children’s Pastor, Curriculum Developer, and Dramatic Presenter. Most days you'll find him working from home, and after work-hours, caring for his wife, Bettie, on her journey with chronic illness. Barry and Bettie live in a small town in Southeast Wisconsin. They take great joy in their weekend coffee breaks together, and are still going strong after more than 40 years together.

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Rebecca Lila

Rebecca Lila

A Voice of Chronic Joy®

Rebecca is a stay-at-home, homeschooling Mama of one. She enjoys gardening, cooking, hand-lettering, coffee, and spending times with friends. God has brought Rebecca and her husband through some very scary health issues, where they've experienced the grace of God ever stronger in their lives.  

Steve Wright

Steve Wright

A Voice of Chronic Joy®

Steve was born at home in Haddonfield, N.J. less than a year after Pearl Harbor. He graduated from Rutgers Camden with a BA degree, then MEd from the University of North Florida. He taught science and math for 23 years, then worked for 23 years as a computer analyst.  Now he is retired and homesteading on a small scale. His current interests are in music and Reformed Theology. He is married to Gayl going on 48 years.

Jamie Wright Bagley

Jamie Wright Bagley

Jamie has been writing poems since she was a child, often while perched on the branches of her favorite climbing tree. Throughout her life, she has continued to love both nature and imagery, and the quiet power of listening for the voice of the Spirit in everyday moments. She blogs about chronic illness, poetry, creative presence, and the spiritual path unfolding before her.

Natalie Ogbourne

Natalie Ogbourne

A Voice of Chronic Joy® & Writer

Natalie is a wife, a mom, and a reluctant hiker who has learned that finding her way in the woods helps her walk by faith in everyday life. She writes and speaks to encourage others to navigate the landscape of life by faith rather than on autopilot.

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Stephen Fratello

Stephen Fratello

A Voice of Chronic Joy®

Stephen was diagnosed with MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) in 2016 after struggling for years with chronic debilitating symptoms. He also struggles with depression, anxiety, diabetes and widespread pain. Each day he turns to God to be his saving grace.

Stephen asks a lot of questions and battles a lot of demons. He tries to live life one day at a time, often failing. He is a lover of humor, music, film, tv, Broadway, carbs, anthropology, nature and literature.

Rob Wright

Rob Wright

A Voice of Chronic Joy®

Rob is a self-taught artist who does traditional and digital drawing, writing, and illustrating manga-inspired comics. He and his two brothers spent a lot of time together making up stories. Those times provide much of the inspiration behind his art and writing endeavors. Rob was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy, a muscle weakening disease, but that never stopped him from enjoying the pleasure of being alive. He is now married to Fae and has two cats and a dog. He wants his life and work to glorify God.
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