“This is really a night for persons with special needs to know they’re part of the community. It’s about letting them know they’re loved, accepted and included.”
That’s what inspires Pastor Bryan Meadows of Cornerstone Church in Huntsville to continue to host Night to Shine, a yearly event sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. Its goal —to offer special needs members of a community a prom-like experience. They make sure every attendee feels like a king or a queen, complete with a crowning ceremony at the end of the night.
But Pastor Meadows hardly does this alone. He and his wife, Alice, are supported and assisted by an army of volunteers, from members of their congregation to social workers to providers, caregivers and case workers. They also have plenty of first responders on-hand to make sure everyone is safe and secure.
“Tim Tebow has a passion for people with special needs and he feels they’re often underserved,” Alice said. “We’re here to honor them, to let them know God loves them and, for tonight, they’re the kings and queens of the prom.”
This worldwide event — always the Friday before Valentine’s Day — is hosted at 600 churches over 45 countries, with 41 in Ohio alone.
Besides dinner and dancing, Huntsville’s night included limo rides, karaoke, a photo booth with props, a DJ, a shoe shine station, a craft room and another room where attendees could have their hair, makeup and nails done. In addition, each king and queen received a boutonniere or corsage, a crown or a tiara, and a gift bag.
This was the first time they were able to host the celebration in person since 2020 due to covid restrictions. And the enthusiasm to be back together was obvious. Pastor Meadows said they limited reservations to 100 special needs attendees … and they reached that very quickly this year.
Meadows concluded, “The other side of this is to make Jesus Christ known, to lift His cross and draw people to Him. It’s our ministry and our mission. I’m honored and humbled to pastor a church that does this.”
To register for next year’s Night to Shine, visit the church’s website cornerstonehuntsville.com (currently under construction) in January 2024. Volunteers are also welcome but must participate in a mandatory in-person training session. You can also learn more at timtebowfoundation.org/night-to-shine.