Fusion Community Church
The first time that Reverend Andrew Fetter got involved with Night to Shine (created and sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation) was over eight years ago. Having grown up with two special needs cousins, he saw the potential to “send a message of love to the community” in addition to reaching those within the church at Fusion Community Church in Cobleskill, New York, many who have special needs family members. As his cousins were always a source of joy, Rev. Fetter reflected that “folks that are often marginalized or ostracized, because they are different, have an ability to carry joy to others.”
Through Night to Shine, Rev. Fetter wanted to “demonstrate love to a segment of our society whose family recognizes that their family member is often discarded. It impacts them.” To pull the event off, Fusion Community Church partnered with a local nonprofit and 11 other churches. Fusion does not budget for the event but instead relies on business donations to cover limos and decorations and local restaurants the food.
ALIVE Wesleyan Church
Partnering with others to serve their community is a common thread among Wesleyan churches hosting a Night to Shine event. Reverend Victoria Fetterhoff of ALIVE Wesleyan Church, Central, South Carolina, viewed it as a moment to pull people together from inside and outside the walls of ALIVE. The church saw it as a great opportunity to partner with two local universities, Clemson and Southern Wesleyan, who provided volunteers to help staff their event.
Beyond the community connections, Rev. Fetterhoff saw the potential ministry impact: “I want this event to help people with special needs know that the church sees them. Everyone is loved and valued in the kingdom of heaven.”
Other churches got involved because of the event’s past successes and a desire to reach their neighbors. Reverend Josh Fakhoury from Christ Community Wesleyan Church (CCWC) in Albany, Ohio, saw the potential to minister in a unique way. Although the church has done Night to Shine the last four years, they chose to create their own version of the event this April called the Shining Stars Gala. Many of CCWC’s honored guests come from a local group home, and recently they have baptized nine of those guests who attended Night to Shine at the church in previous years. Rev. Fakhoury reflected, “There is spiritual fruit that comes from this kind of event.”
Heritage Church
Heritage Church in Rock Island, Illinois, became involved at the last second this year. Lead Pastor Bryan Savage was approached by a church volunteer asking if Heritage could pull off the event by February. Desiring “to celebrate and praise God for those with special needs and disabilities, that they are made by God” Pastor Savage asked Missions Pastor Carolyn O’Connor to explore the possibility. Pastor O’Connor shared, “There were certain things that needed to happen, and within 30 minutes all of them did.”
Heritage recently unveiled a new mission statement: “Heritage Church exists so all people can BELONG to God’s family, ENCOUNTER the presence of the Holy Spirit, and BECOME transformed by Jesus Christ.” Night to Shine was the perfect occasion “to see our congregation live out that first part, to welcome people to the family of God. It was a home run to be able to put into action that part of our statement,” said Rev. Savage. “Many volunteers got to experience the mission statement in a very tangible way.”
Together, these churches mentioned above served a combined 670 guests in addition to several hundred caretakers and family members. The event’s impact goes far beyond one night. Reverend O’Connor is still talking with a Heritage Night to Shine guest who was questioning whether God really loved her. As Rev. O’Connor listened to her express pain and rejection, she was able to assist the guest in realizing God’s profound love for her as she is. “It changes their demeanor and how they talk about themselves,” stated Rev. O’Connor.
Rev. Fetterhoff is grateful for how ALIVE comes together: “I have a team of five ladies who do this with me. They are all congregation members and don’t get paid. They put in so much time and their own resources to make Night to Shine happen. It shows how much our people believe in it.”
“This event is an opportunity to elevate people who are often not considered at all,” said Rev. Fetter. “It helps us see that the gospel really is for everyone. It is unselfish, which is good for the culture of the church. We do good deeds, to earn good will, to share good news.”
Rev. Jacob Gibson is the senior pastor at LifeSpring Wesleyan Church, Richmond, Indiana, and graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University and Wesley Seminary, Marion, Indiana.
