Having No Arms Helped Me Embrace the Cross | John Foppe

John Foppe was born without arms — and he wouldn't have it any other way. In this powerful episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, John shares how a childhood of trauma, tough love, and feeling different led to a life-changing mission trip to Haiti, a career in corporate motivation under Zig Ziglar, and the founding of Friends of the Forgotten — an organization connecting adults with disabilities to institutionalized children in the developing world. John opened a can of Coke with his feet right in front of me. He eats salads with a fork. He's been traveling internationally by himself for 35 years. As he says, "there are no unsolvable problems." We go deep on embracing your cross, the lies that hold us back, the theology of presence, contemplative prayer, and why suffering isn't just redemptive—it's worship. This is the truth I think every single one of us needs to hear: your pain is not an accident. It's a feature. It's your connection to the crucified Christ. I asked John: if I could snap my fingers and give you arms, would you take them? His answer floored me. If you've ever felt disqualified, not enough, or like your pain has no purpose—this conversation will change that. HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Intro3:06 "There are no unsolvable problems."9:46 A mission trip to Haiti triggers a painful flashback.11:44 A little boy in Mother Teresa's hospital changes everything.13:38 He wasn't asking to be picked up — he was hugging me.24:00 Suffering isn't just redemptive — it's worship.27:01 Don't follow your passion. Take up God's mission.40:43 "Would you take the arms?" John's answer is immediate. Check out Friends of the Forgotten: https://www.friendsforgotten.org/.......Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP........Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to 9 transformative courses: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0........Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/ Chapters (00:00:00) - Daily Inspiration(00:01:30) - A Paralyzed Man's Challenge to His Disability(00:03:37) - When Did You First Realize That You're Different?(00:04:38) - One of the Disabilities of the World(00:06:21) - Missionaries of Joy(00:07:45) - Deliver Me From the Cross(00:14:44) - Inspiring speakers: Zig Ziglar(00:16:05) - In the Elevator With a High School Student(00:22:41) - John Fappe on His Suffering(00:26:15) - Chris Gantz on Friends of the Forgotten(00:31:15) - John on The Theology of Presence(00:35:53) - Wonders of the World(00:39:48) - Pilgrims Praying the Jesus Prayer(00:43:16) - Pray for Those Who Are Lonely