Bedrock Church Lynchburg Hosts Night To Shine Event

Bedrock Church Lynchburg hosted Night to Shine with the support of Liberty University’s Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS) and LU One Feb. 7 to showcase God’s love for the disabled community. 

Night to Shine was first created by the Tim Tebow foundation, which defines the event as, “an unforgettable worldwide celebration event, centered on God’s love, honoring and valuing people with special needs.” The event provides a prom-like experience for anyone 14 or older who has any kind of disability. 

Attendees were lined up outside Bedrock Church as they waited for the event to begin. The guests had the opportunity to take a ride around in a limo and make their way inside to a red-carpet entrance, video games, karaoke, a balloon artist and a decorated sanctuary ready for a night of dancing and fun.  

Every guest received their own buddy, a trained volunteer who stayed with the guest during the entire event and did their best to make sure each guest had the best night of their lives. 

“I think that the Lord created me to serve and love people who have special needs,” junior Jessica Aschenbrand, one of the buddies, said. “So, my heart is very close to this community. My friend that I’m getting to hang out with tonight is a great dancer, so we’ve just been on the dance floor all night … it’s a really fun time!” 

Liberty’s Sparky and Lynchburg Hillcats’ Southpaw were present at the event as well. The mascots posed for photos, danced and interacted with the guests and their buddies. Sensory rooms were also outfitted for guests, as well as a respite room for parents and caregivers. Dinner was provided for all guests, caregivers, parents and volunteers, and everyone was encouraged to enjoy their night to the fullest.  

Steve Stilwell, general manager of the Light Radio and his wife, Heather Stilwell played a major role in the event. The couple attended their first Night to Shine event in 2024 with their daughter in Roanoke, Virginia, and realized how much fun the event was for her and others in the disabled community.  

Buck Romero, a pastor at Bedrock Church Lynchburg reached out and asked if they would be willing to organize their own Night to Shine for the local community, and the couple agreed. With help from the church, several generous donors and 230 volunteers, over 100 registered guests were able to attend the event of a lifetime.  

“It’s amazing to watch the way the Lord just weaves things together,” Steve Stilwell said. “Just when you think it’s just balled up yarn, he’s like, ‘No, I’m not done here.’ … I can’t wait for Friday night and for all future events, because this isn’t going to be the only one.” 

As the night drew to a close, Romero presented a Gospel message reminding everyone that they were made for a purpose and loved by God. The event finished with a video message from Tim Tebow and his wife, Demi-Leigh Tebow. Every guest was then crowned by name as the king or queen of Night to Shine and the evening ended with a few final songs and a swag bag to take home.  

“Too often people with disabilities are made to feel less than or as though God made a mistake when he created them,” Ester Warren, senior executive director of ODAS said. “The Night to Shine event gave us an opportunity to make our guests feel like kings and queens, and remind them that is the way God sees them every day.”  

McKinnon is the off-campus news editor for the Liberty Champion.