Mephibosheth was founded in 1992 by two friends, Mary Jane Ponten and John Nix.
Mary Jane and John discovered that churches didn’t often include people with disabilities in its programs. They wanted to educate churches that people with disabilities can be great assets to their congregations. The ministry has done many things including writing and distributing Bible studies for people with mental challenges, traveling with Joni and Friends and its Wheels for the World outreach, and establishing a growing outreach to the peoples of Ghana.
Tait Berge has known Mary Jane for over thirty years. When he received his call to full-time ministry, he knew he had to talk to Mary Jane. After years of discussion and prayer, Mary Jane invited Tait to come to be a part of the ministry first as a ministry associate, and then as associate director in charge of church relations.
A Brief History of Mephibosheth Ministry
- In 1990 John Nix and Mary Jane Ponten begin sharing concerns about the church in general and people with disabilities. Lack of true acceptance and nurturing were the main concerns.
- February 1992 Mephibosheth Ministry is incorporated. The law firm of Holm, Roberts, and Owen became legal representation for this ministry.
- February 1994 after coming into contact with Joni and Friends Mary Jane Ponten was invited to be a team member of the first Wheels for the World (WFTW) outreach to Ghana, West Africa. She has partnered with this ministry every year since on one or more outreaches.
- In the year 2000 Mary Jane realized her life-long dream of serving as a missionary to China on the first WFTW outreach to that country. An independent presence of Mephibosheth Ministry has been established with Angel House in Nanning, China.
- Also in 2000 we began our partnership with Friend of the Disabled, Latin America. Mary Jane has served in Peru and Bolivia with this organization. Because of her testimony at a pastor’s conference in Bolivia this organization has been invited to Uruguay.
- It was also in the year 2000 that Mary Jane served on all five major continents.
- In 2002 we celebrated our 10th anniversary and Tait Berge began to show interest in this ministry.
- 2003 ground was broken for Mephibosheth Training Centre at Gomoa Anakakamu, Ghana, West Africa. In 1994 the school opened and was dedicated. This is a boarding school for children with disabilities. At present we have more than 30 students and 5 buildings. The children live there for 3 months and return home for 1 month.
- 2005 we helped Angel House (Nanning China) establish the first ever parent support group. They are an active and thriving group of parents who have and are now advocating for their children who have cerebral palsy.
- 2006 brought Jeff and Heather Taguchi on board as our staff working in Taiwan. In 2008 we had our first English camp for disabled children in Taiwan.
- In 2008 Mephibosheth in Ghana was incorporated in the state of New Jersey. This has allowed this (Colorado) office freedom from record keeping and financial responsibility for the work in Ghana.
- In 2009 Mary Jane Ponten will partner with Commit Ministries in Kenya. Also this year Tait Berge will assume his full time role as Director of Church Relations.