Don Schoendorfer
8 min read ⭑
“God often brings to mind scenes from my trips over the years of distributing wheelchairs. I remember the beautiful, beaming faces of men, women, and children. As they come to mind, I take that time to pray for them. So although I don’t “hear” God often, I trust that his silence and these images are telling me that I’m on the right track.”
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?
I’m not big on eating out at restaurants, so a “hometown meal” for me is one that is truly made at home. I love to cook and have been told by my friends and family that I’m a pretty decent one as well.
The fun of food to me is the ability to try all different types and experience the character that each one has. I am always looking for something new and interesting to make, so I am constantly collecting a variety of recipes that I want to try out.
The most recent one that I have found is a cholent, which is a traditional Jewish one-pot meal that includes squash, potatoes, beans, and carrots.
When making food, I enjoy being able to share it around the table with others. Over the years, I’ve started to realize that my friends and family want to come over to my place to eat rather than invite me to theirs because they look forward to trying my newest food creation.
Clay Banks; Unsplash
QUESTION #2: REVEAL
We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?
To me, quiet time is sacred. Sometimes it happens accidentally, like when I wake up for an hour in the middle of the night and can’t sleep. This actually happened to me just the other night. I’ll be in my bed awake, and instead of getting up to do something or immediately trying to fall back asleep, I embrace the moment. I soak in the quietness to pray.
Other times, I intentionally seek quietness. When I am not in my Southern California home, I’m in Verona, a very small island in Maine where life is a whole lot more tranquil. When there, I spend lots of my time just sitting in the quiet and beauty of nature. In the autumn, I sit and watch the colored leaves fall from the trees. Personally, it’s at those moments that I feel true rest and sense God’s presence the most.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?
In all honesty here, my true kryptonite is sugar. I have a major sweet tooth. I love it all but especially red licorice, cookies, chocolate, and ice cream. In the past, I’ve let myself indulge and have a sugary treat, thinking that it would give me fuel and energy to keep on working. But in reality, I now know that it ends up making me feel extra sluggish the next day.
I’m well aware of my sweet tooth, so now, I do my best to keep unnecessary sugar out of my home. I know how important health is. I want to do my best to take care of the body that I have on this earth so that I can continue the work of providing wheelchairs to those in need for as long as possible. However, if someone gives me one of my favorite treats, I’m probably not going to turn it down.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?
I have a passion for—and I guess you could even say an obsession with—mobility. Years ago, I was in Morocco with my wife when we saw a woman pulling herself across the dirt because she could not walk. From there, I knew that I needed to help people get off the ground.
There are an estimated 75 million individuals around the world who are waiting for wheelchairs. That’s why I founded the faith-based nonprofit Free Wheelchair Mission over 20 years ago. It is our mission to get wheelchairs to people who need them, and so far, we’ve been able to transform more than 1.3 million lives in 94 developing countries around the world.
Our wheelchairs are only $96 each and can completely transform a life. Mobility allows people to be more independent, attend school, and get a job. I encourage readers to consider donating to the work of Free Wheelchair Mission in providing free wheelchairs to people who need them most. You can find out more about our work and ways to donate at FreeWheelchairMission.org.
Also, I’ve been using my professional time lately to write my first book. It is called Miracle Wheels: The Story of a Mission to Bring Mobility to the World. In it, I share more about the journey God has brought me on, from my beginnings in the Midwest to my work in the biomedical field to the eventual founding of Free Wheelchair Mission.
QUESTION #5: BOOST
Cashiers, CEOs, contractors, or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?
This goes back to the times of quietness that I talked about in a response to an earlier question. I sit in solitude and pray to God. He was the one who called me to this ministry of providing wheelchairs, and I know that it’s ultimately his work, not mine.
I sit and ask him, “Are you pleased with me?” or “Am I doing it adequately?” I’ve learned not to necessarily expect an audible answer from the Lord because, most of the time, I just sit in silence. Instead, he often brings to mind scenes from my trips over the years of distributing wheelchairs. I remember the beautiful, beaming faces of men, women, and children. As they come to mind, I take that time to pray for them.
So although I don’t “hear” God often, I trust that his silence and these images are telling me that I’m on the right track.
God has also used people in my life as a way to speak to me. In the beginning, when starting my nonprofit, Free Wheelchair Mission, I used to marvel at all the coincidences in the way things would fall so easily and quickly into place. But a friend told me that these things weren’t actually coincidences but instead confirmation that the Lord was working and was behind me.
I’m thankful for those in my life who have encouraged me to see God working in these ways and who have supported me in the work of providing wheelchairs.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin’ best for you right now?
Worship in the form of music speaks deeply to my heart. I look forward to when the worship team at church comes up on stage. I especially love old hymns and am taken aback by the power of the words of these songs, many of which were written hundreds of years ago. The messages they speak are ones that I can connect with on a personal level even today.
At times, I find myself no longer able to sing because I get choked up with tears. I used to try to wipe them away quickly so no one would see, but I’ve since learned to embrace the beauty of those moments.
It’s hard to even fully explain. But at certain times, these hymns strike a chord within a certain part of me in a deep and meaningful way. God feels so close.
I encourage others to put themselves in spaces where they can experience God, such as a church setting. And I’d also say to allow yourself to hear God speak to you in different ways, even if it means moving you to a place of wiping away tears.
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources—lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What three resources have impacted you?
First and foremost, the Bible. The Word of God has been the ultimate source of truth and wisdom in my own life. It informs how I make decisions and choose to live my life.
Outside of that, I also highly recommend Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life and Bob Buford’s book Halftime. These were both tremendously instrumental in guiding me during the season of figuring out what I wanted to do next after leaving the private sector and forming our nonprofit mission.
These books helped me see more clearly what really mattered in life and how to discern what God was calling me to do. From there, I was able to know with more certainty that I was supposed to help those with disabilities through wheelchairs, and I eventually founded Free Wheelchair Mission.
We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season—and tell us what it’s done for you.
In this current season, I’ve found community with others to be such an invaluable resource to me. My relationships have carried me through some of the toughest times I’ve faced. I can’t even imagine life without these relationships.
I’ve learned the importance of being around other people I can process with and grow from. So I’m currently part of two different small groups that meet throughout the week. These have been integral to my own growth, and I would encourage others to consider joining a faith-based community if they are not part of one already.
QUESTION #8: dream
God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
Over the years, I’ve seen how transformative wheelchairs are. They change not only the lives of those who receive them but also those of their caregivers, families, and even whole communities.
There are about 75 million people who are still waiting for wheelchairs. Even so, I still wonder about and am drawn to what could be next. What can people do once they get a wheelchair? Many of the people I meet and give wheelchairs to are extremely brilliant and talented individuals, yet they face barriers and lack the resources they need to pursue their talents and passions.
Disabilities also hold a stigma in many cultures, especially in the developing countries we serve. In certain places, a disability can even be seen as a curse, and so people with disabilities are often shunned or hidden away from view.
I ultimately want the world to understand that a disability does not disqualify you from society. It is not a curse. In the future, I would love to continue to resource and support those who receive our wheelchairs. If we can solve the mobility crisis, my heart is being pulled to do even more.
We love Don’s heart to serve and give. But what stood out to us the most in his interview was his relentless drive. When he saw the need (75 million people still waiting for wheelchairs) and felt God’s call, he responded and worked hard to start meeting that need.
But that’s where many of us might stop. After all, we’ve obeyed, didn’t we? We did what we were asked to do, right?
Not Don. He’s constantly looking for the next need he can help fill, and the next, and the next.
And isn’t that how it’s supposed to be? Because it’s not about ticking off a box on a Christian checklist of good deeds or assuaging the guilt of seeing someone in pain and in need. It’s about love—genuine love that keeps giving and keeps serving and keeps hoping.
Don Schoendorfer is a biomedical engineer based in Santa Ana, California. He has an undergraduate degree from Columbia University, a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from MIT, and more than 60 patents in the biomedical field. Over 20 years ago, Don used his engineering gifts to create a cost-efficient, durable wheelchair—and Free Wheelchair Mission was born. Since 2001, the nonprofit has designed, manufactured, and distributed more than 1.3 million wheelchairs for people living with disabilities in 94 developing countries. When he’s not busy working on wheelchairs, Don enjoys spending time with his loved ones, including his amazing granddaughters.
