On Friday evening, Feb. 13, Fellowship Bible Church and the Union University EDGE program hosted Night to Shine, an event started by the Tim Tebow Foundation. The event “is an unforgettable worldwide celebration event, centered on God’s love, honoring and valuing people with special needs,” according to the foundation’s website. The evening celebrates friends with disabilities through music, activities and fellowship.
“We had 160 Honored Guests walk the red carpet, dance the night away, and hear the hope of the Gospel- all while being celebrated for exactly who God created them to be,” said Rebecca Holloway, director of the EDGE program. “Night to Shine is an event our Honored Guests talk about all year long. As someone who worked at the event, I am more impacted by the Honored Guests than I am impacting them.”
The night began at 5 p.m., when the volunteers, known as “buddies,” arrived for training. Thirty minutes later, the honored guests arrived, after having their hair and makeup done as they wished. Upon arrival, guests were paired with buddies who stayed with them the entire night, ensuring they had a fun and memorable experience.
Chick-fil-A was served for dinner, followed by a wide variety of activities, including dancing, limo rides, karaoke, photos in a booth, balloon animals and snow cones for dessert.
The night ended with a gospel message from one of the church’s pastors and a video from Tim Tebow and Demi Tebow. At the end of the evening, every honored guest was crowned a king or queen of Night to Shine.
“Night to Shine for me was an amazing night! I enjoyed getting ready for the night, dancing, and having fun with friends!” said Ellie, an EDGE student at Union University. “What makes Night to Shine special for me is how it’s a reminder of how God created us for a reason, God has a purpose and a plan, and having a disability is not a burden but something unique and beautiful. How we all come together for one night to celebrate, towards the end, when we do the crowns, it’s just a beautiful reminder that we are God’s children who are fearfully and wonderfully made. It’s truly a wonderful night, thankful for the people who help make the night special.”
This night was special not only to the honored guests but also to the people around them.
“As an EDGE mentor, I was blessed to be paired with my mentee for the night,” said Haiven Potts, EDGE mentor and sophmore in public relations. “I was able to witness her step out of her comfort zone in ways I’d never seen before and be uplifted every step of the way. She had so much fun and was glowing with joy by the time the night ended. Nights like Night to Shine remind me what life is truly about.”
From staffers and volunteers to the honored guests, everyone in attendance at Night to Shine was moved by the night.
“I see God in every single one of them, and it is an absolute blessing to be a part of such a special evening,” said Holloway. “The Union EDGE Program is thankful to partner with Fellowship Bible Church, Therapy and Learning Center, Englewood Baptist Church, and West Jackson Baptist Church on such a special event.”
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