Wayne Erickson
My late wife lived with type one diabetes since she was 19 years of age. As a complication of the diabetes
she suffered with extreme vertigo. She lost her life to complications of diabetes at 49. Board participant
of Oak Hill Baptist Church & Cedar Rock Church. 47 year old widower. Resident of Columbia Heights, MN.
Jose Lopez
I was born in Cuba, and was blind at birth. My family brought me to the U.S.
when I was a baby. I needed an eye operation that would possibly allow me to
recover some sight. My family in the U.S. was able to pull some strings and most
of my family got out of Castro's Cuba in 1968. Shortly after arriving in the U.S.
I lost the sight in my right eye due to an accident. I was able to recover some
sight in my left eye and later lost it in my early teens due to a retinal detachment.
I have had a very interesting life and I can see God's handy work throughout it. God
has seen me through many joys and trials. He kept me safe at every turn. Even when I
was not following his teaching, He still loved me enough to allow me to make mistakes
and grow through them. I have an amazing sense of humor. I know this attitude is a gift
from God and it has helped me in many circumstances. I created a business www.lopezlanguage.com
I am a trained interpreter and have touched many lives. I love enabling others to see their
full potential regardless of their disabilities.
Maureen Pranghofer
Maureen holds a BA in music therapy and has done graduate work toward a master's in social work.
Because she was born with multiple disabilities she has had a lifelong interest in advocating for
others with disabilities. She worked as a therapist with terminally ill children, alcoholics, and children
who were brain damaged because of abuse. Following a social work internship at Sister Kenny Institute Maureen
taught for Courage Center's Handi-Ham program for 12 years. During her professional life she worked with close t
o 2000 disabled people having a wide range of varying needs. Since the mid 1990's Maureen has run a Braille
transcribing business from her home. She is also a frequently requested speaker as well as a song writer, s
inger and author. Outside of work and many volunteer activities Maureen lives with her husband Paul in Golden Valley.
She enjoys reading, playing Scrabble, and is an extremely avid Jeopardy fan.
Ginny Owens
Born and raised in Jackson, Miss., Owens was discovering melodies on the piano almost before she could complete a
sentence. Sunday school songs and common childhood tunes began to emerge from her fingers even as vision began to l
eave her eyes. By the age of three, a degenerative eye condition left Ginny completely blind. Despite her physical
challenge, music just made sense to her, quickly becoming a lifeline for both understanding and communication. Songs
provided a window into a world Ginny couldn't see, but they also offered an outlet for her to express her own thoughts,
dreams and questions. In the mid-'90s Owens moved from Mississippi to Nashville to attend Belmont University where she
majored in music education. However, upon graduation, she discovered potential employers were reticent to hire a blind
teacher. Of course, what's the old saying? When one door closes, a window opens? The window that opened for Ginny Owens
brought refreshing winds of change, a career not as a music teacher but as an artist. She was discovered by a Nashville
label and signed to recording and publishing deals. Since her debut album release, Without Condition in 1999, Owens has
sold nearly a million records and performed more than 1,500 concerts, including sets at prestigious events like Lilith Fair,
the Sundance Film Festival and the White House. Garnering honors such as the Dove awards for New Artist of the Year in 2000
and Inspirational Song of the Year in 2001, Owens' music has found its way to the top of the radio charts and into scenes in
television shows. As affirming as the accolades are, Ginny still finds her true delight in the power of the song. "The longer
I'm allowed to make music for a living, the more I love the process! In the beginning, music-making was my job.now it is the
means through which I share my heart and life with all who will listen!" Ginny recently launched her own production company,
ChickPower Music, which serves as an umbrella for her record label, publishing company, and music education work. She currently
spends time each week teaching and mentoring songwriters at Belmont University, while continuing to write, produce and perform
her own material. "In February 2008, my Mom was diagnosed with breast and lymph node cancer. The news was very frightening
for our whole family. Being that I have a job which can be done from anywhere, I packed up and moved home to Mississippi to be
with her during the treatment and surgery, a span lasting about seven months." Thankfully, Ginny's mom is now cancer free,
and the singer/songwriter is back in her own home in Nashville. But the past few years have made an indelible mark on Ginny's
life, especially in renewing her desire to write songs about simple truths: hope, courage, faith. "I've always felt strongly
about not wasting words in songs, but I feel it even more now than ever.I realize that I don't make the ultimate decision
about what people take away from my music. However, my prayer is that they always hear hope. It is so easy for each of us to
imagine we have no specific purpose for being here. I want people to look at me and my music and realize that this couldn't be
further from the truth. I believe God intends for each of our lives to be filled with meaning and purpose, and my desire is to
communicate that through the lyrics I write, the music I sing, and the life I live."
Nicholas Taylor
My name is Nicholas Taylor; I'm presently a third-year university student studying filmmaking
at the Rochester Institute of Technology. I work as a freelance web designer, and have designed
the website for Seek the Son Ministries. I have a genetic disability, Stickler Syndrome, which
gives me arthritic joints, vision loss and hearing loss.
Diane Toms
I grew up with a sister who is legally blind, an uncle who is deaf, myself hard of hearing and
have an adopted teenager. I am aware of the needs surrounding all these invisible struggles.
My heart passion is not with the visible physical disabilities. Instead, I yearn to serve those with
the disabilities of the mind, heart and spirit. My ministry is prayer. My calling is teaching God's Word.
My purpose is to be a tool used to combat the unseen disabilities and bring healing through God's power
in Jesus Christ.
Stacy White
Hi my name is Stacy White. I am a full time mom of two pre-teens. I also have an associate degree in nursing
from St. Catherine's University. I have been on the board for Seek the Son Ministries since 2008. I have a
long history in working with and advocating for the disabled community. My earliest experience was in helping
to develop a Sunday School and First Communion program in a Catholic Church for special needs children. I enjoyed
this so much I made it my life's work to help people reach their full potential, physically, mentally and spiritually.