Temple Baptist Church is hosting A Night to Shine, a prom for people with special needs, ages 14 and older, for the third year.
This year’s event gets underway at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, and is sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation.
On this one night, more than 655 churches from around the world will come together to host this event, now in its fifth year, for about 100,000 guests and with the help of thousands of volunteers.
Activities get underway at 6 p.m. when prom guests arrive and check in. They then walk the red carpet with an escort, local volunteers who enjoy it as much as the participants, and begin activities such as a limo ride, karaoke, hair/makeup, shoe shines, food and dance. At the end of the evening, all guests are crowned kings and queens on the dance floor.
A Night to Shine is described as an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people with special needs.
"We are thrilled that Temple Baptist Church has been selected to host Night to Shine again this year," said Kelli Brent, children's director.
Four other Mississippi churches will also be hosting Night to Shine events – Broadmoor Baptist in Madison, Grace Bible Church in Oxford, Hillcrest Baptist in New Albany, Longview Point Baptist/Longview Heights Baptist Church in Hernando and Woolmarket Baptist in Biloxi.
Every guest of Night to Shine enters this complimentary event on a red carpet complete with a warm welcome from a friendly crowd and paparazzi. Once inside, guests receive the royal treatment, including hair and makeup stations, shoe shining areas, limousine rides, corsages and boutonnieres, a catered dinner, karaoke, prom favors for each honored guest and, of course, a dance floor… all leading up to the moment when each guest is crowned king or queen of the prom.
"We are honored to be able to work with so many churches across the county and around the world to impact the lives of people with special needs," said Erik Dellenback, executive director of the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Cindy Pennington, director of the Hub City’s Arc (Association for the Rights of Citizens with Disabilities) is super excited about the event.
“A name like Tim Tebow certainly gets the attention of the community, and it will serve as another way for Temple Baptist Church and the City of Hattiesburg to show love and acceptance of individuals with disabilities,” Pennington said. “Our community will certainly be blessed by Tim Tebow, the resources he provides for such an event, his personal testimony and his recognition of the ‘least of these.’ But the biggest blessings that you will receive at Night to Shine will actually come from the participants with disabilities as you witness their joy and love of life. It will leave you with no doubt that there are angels among us. And it might teach you a new dance move.”
A respite lounge will be available for caregivers and parents.
For more information on Night to Shine visit tbclife.net/events. For more information on the worldwide movement of Night to Shine, http://bit.ly/2BK9U4d.
