Nearly 100 guests arrived to cheers, music, pom poms, and flashing smiles at Holly Brook Baptist Church on Friday, Feb. 13 for one of the best nights of the year: the Tim Tebow Foundation’s annual “Night to Shine.”

Night to Shine is described as a worldwide celebration designed for people with special needs. It is hosted by churches across the globe on the same evening each year. Holly Brook Baptist Church is one of about a dozen churches in the Northeast Texas region to host the event, and this marks their third year opening their doors – and hearts – to the community in this special way.

From the moment guests stepped off their bus, they were treated like royalty. Volunteers helped guests get glammed up via hair and makeup stations before escorting them down a red carpet entrance worthy of any movie premiere. Some guests waved shyly as they made their entrance, while others soaked up the cheers and applause. Every single one was celebrated.

Holly Brook Baptist Pastor David LeFlore said the red carpet moment never gets old.

“The best part is to see them come off the bus and walk down the red carpet,” LeFlore said. “It’s fantastic to see their face light up and just have fun and realize that people love them and care about them. That’s what we’re here to do.”

Student Minister Ryan Jones agreed that the red carpet was his favorite moment of the evening.

“I love seeing the excitement in their faces when they realize everyone is cheering just for them,” Jones said. “That moment means everything.”

Once guests were inside, the night was filled with dancing, dinner and nonstop smiles. Each guest was paired with a personal escort who stayed by their side throughout the evening, making sure they felt comfortable, included and free to have fun. 

For parents and caregivers, the night offered a rare chance to relax. They watched the event through a live video feed from a nearby room while enjoying dinner and connecting with others who understand the daily joys and challenges of caregiving.

For guests who needed a quieter space, volunteers had prepared a sensory room where they could take a break and regroup. Another classroom hosted the Canines for Christ Ministry, where therapy dogs provided calm comfort – and plenty of furry hugs – for anyone who needed one.

As the night unfolded, the dance floor filled with laughter and movement. Guests and volunteers showed off their best moves to songs like the Macarena and lip-synced along to crowd favorites like “Bye Bye Bye.” The stage became a place for confidence, joy and self-expression, with cheers rising every time someone stepped into the spotlight.

LeFlore said Holly Brook’s heart for special-needs ministry has grown steadily over the years. The church offers a Sunday School and Wednesday night class called Embrace created for people with special needs. 

“I grew up in church and served as a youth minister where we had 50 to 60 special-needs individuals every Sunday,” LeFlore said. “I just fell in love with them. When I came here, we had one special-needs person. I began to pray, ‘God, if you bring the right people, we’ll start a special-needs ministry,’ and He did. This continues to grow year after year. We always gain at least one family after each of these nights.”

According to the official Tim Tebow Foundation Facebook page, Night to Shine started as “a hopeful idea – a unique way to celebrate the foundation’s fifth anniversary and honor individuals with special needs.” What began as a small idea, however, has grown into a global movement. The first year included just 44 churches. This year, more than 120,000 guests attended celebrations in 76 countries, with 979 churches hosting events.

The focus at Holly Brook Baptist Church wasn’t on the numbers, though, last Friday; it was on the smiles, the dancing and the powerful reminder that everyone deserves to be celebrated.