By Troy Schmidt, Director of Communications, Family Church
Limousines. Red carpet. Cheering fans. Cameras flashing. You would think it was the Academy Awards in Hollywood California.
But it’s not. It’s Windermere Florida.
However, these are some very special guests, called VIPS, who are attending an invitation-only event at Family Church in Windermere called Night to Shine. “The local special needs community is overwhelmed by the special treatment received at Night to Shine. Our honored guests are excited for the event each year and their parents (or caregivers) are grateful for such a special event for their children,” said Denise Burch, the Director of the Special Needs Ministry at Family Church and organizer of the event every year.
Night to Shine is a one-night prom experience for guests 14 and older with special needs. Worldwide it has grown to 56 countries, over a thousand churches, and over a million attendees every year. It has been in operation since 2013. All of it was inspired by former Florida Gators quarterback, Tim Tebow.
For Family Church lead pastor Chuck Carter, Night to Shine means a lot. Chuck and his wife Gina have a special needs son, Zach (31). “Night to Shine is one of the best events we do all year. Not only are we impacting over 100 individuals with special needs, letting them know that they are loved by God and others, we also engage hundreds of volunteers who thank us for the opportunity to serve. Being the father of a special needs son makes this event even more powerful for me.”
Family Church has organized Night to Shine since February 2016, with a slight break during the Covid outbreak. The church looks forward to the event and volunteers come out in droves. There are usually three times as many volunteers as guests at every event. Denise loves her volunteers, “Our church and its volunteers truly care about, and have a desire to serve and bless, our local community.”
