It is 30 years since Joni Eareckson Tada was approached by Al Sanders and Jon Campbell of Ambassador Advertising Agency with the idea of launching a radio programme.

The Joni and Friends International Disability Center had been up and running for three years at this point and a radio programme seemed a great way to reach even more people affected by disability with Tada's messages of hope and encouragement.

Since that time, more than 7,800 programmes have gone out to the world covering everything from disability awareness, to prayer, marriage, poetry and worship.

The daily programmes were originally five minutes in length but the format was recently relaunched as a minute-long feature called "Diamonds in the Dust" running alongside a four-minute "Joni and Friends" programme.

A testimony to her contribution in the last three decades, Tada received the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame Award earlier this year.

The award follows on from the 2002 Radio Programme of the Year accolade for Joni and Friends Radio, and the same award for "Diamonds in the Dust" in the short programme category in 2010.

She said: "I thank my Saviour for the energy, breath, and the insights from His Word; and, I'm looking forward to sharing more with our listeners in the months and years to come."