Something special was taking place. It was evident in the smiles and infectious laughter that permeated the room. Amidst a sea of formal wear, sequined shoes and baubles, a group of prom goers was busy trying on formal wear in search of the perfect outfit for the big night.
But this particular prom differs from the others. It’s a prom with a mission. Sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, Night to Shine, is a prom exclusively for individuals with special needs. Its mission is two-fold: demonstrate the value of life and celebrate God’s love for special needs people by giving them an extraordinary prom. The evening kicks off with a red carpet entrance where each guest is greeted by a group of cheering volunteers and paparazzi. From there, guests will be treated to the usual prom activities: dinner, dancing and karaoke. But the highlight of the evening is the crowning of the prom kings and queens. Every single Night to Shine attendee will be crowned and celebrated as a way of signifying God’s love and adoration for them.
“My daughter would never have an opportunity to do something like this,” said Karen, the mother of a Night to Shine attendee as she looked over the racks of dresses. “She’s so excited.”
Cuyahoga Valley Church is excited too. An army of nearly 400 CVC volunteers will join 70,000 other volunteers around the globe to help host Night to Shine on February 12. From Cleveland to Denver to Auckland, New Zealand and Nairobi, Kenya, 200 churches will open their doors to give their honored guests a memorable evening.
After trying on several dresses, Sara ended up choosing a red one to wear to the prom. Grinning from ear to ear she declared, “I’m happy.” And at CVC, we are happy too. Happy to have this wonderful opportunity to allow our special guests to shine and most importantly to let Christ’s love shine.
