The prom must go on: OKC church plans in-person dance for people with special needs

It's time for the "Return of the Super Heroes."

Batman, Wonder Woman and Captain America have been invited but individuals with special needs will be the real-life super heroes at Putnam City Baptist Church's OKC Prom 2022.

The VIP participants will get to mingle with comic book super hero characters that inspire them at the in-person prom experience set for 6 p.m. Feb. 11 at the church, 11401 N Rockwell.

"Our participants are coming back, the real heroes," said Robert Miller, a Putnam City Baptist member who serves as prom coordinator.

He said the event will feature many of the same special activities that have been offered over the years as part of the "Night to Shine" prom events held at the church.

However, he said it important to note that this year's in-person event is not being held in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation's international "Night to Shine" program, which will be virtual.

The Tim Tebow Foundation started the "Night to Shine" proms in cooperation with churches around the world. Details about the foundation's plans for a 2022 virtual experiencer were included on the nonprofit's website.

"Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Night to Shine 2022 will be a world wide Shine-Thru Parade and Virtual Celebration," the foundation said in a statement. "Though this year will look a little different, nothing can keep Faith, Hope and Love from shining on bright as ever."

Last year, Putnam City Baptist and several other Oklahoma churches participated in the foundation's first virtual prom experience, offered online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Miller said the church decided to host its own in-person event this year, hoping that the predictions of a late-January peak in COVID-19 cases hold true and that virus cases will be on the decrease by the time of the prom in mid-February.

"These kids, they need a prom, that's why we're going to hold ours live," he said.

Super heroes welcome

The Tim Tebow Foundation created the prom-night gathering for individuals ages 14 and older with special needs. The foundation partners with churches around the world to host the prom experiences on Valentine's weekend as celebrations of God’s love for the VIP guests.

Miller served as "Night to Shine" Oklahoma coordinator since Putnam City Baptist began hosting the special proms in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation in 2016.

Like the previous Night to Shine events, OKC Prom will have volunteers serving as buddies for each VIP participant to help ensure they have the best prom experience. Miller said there will be room for 200 VIP participants and their volunteer buddies. He said the church has had hundreds more participants in the past but decided to lower the registration limit this. The church also has additional square footage due to a new addition so participants should have plenty of room to enjoy the evening without it being overcrowded.

A parent prom for participants' parents and caregivers will be held at Putnam City North High School this year. In previous years, the parents' event has been held at an Oklahoma City Senior Health and Wellness Center adjacent to the church but Miller said work is being done to that building.

Chick-Fil-A will provide meals for the prom experience while Qdoba is set to provide for for the parent prom. Miller said prom participants will be able to visit with the Thunder Girls and local celebrities. A DJ will be in charge of music for dancing and participants will be able to enjoy karaoke and limousine rides.

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Miller, known as the "Prom Guy," said the church will partner with the Tim Tebow Foundation next year if the organization collaborates for for live prom experiences.

Shine on

Although Putnam City Baptist is hosting its own in-person prom event, several Oklahoma churches are participating in this year's Tim Tebow Foundation's Shine-Thru Parade and Virtual Celebration.

These include Crossings Edmond in the Oklahoma City metro area.

Kari Holder, the church's nursery and early childhood pastor, said this will be the third time Crossings Edmond has hosted "Night to Shine." She said the church is hosting a drive-thru "Shine-Thru" event in the parking lot of the church, 1500 Covell Road. VIP participants will be able to visit several stations to receive items to enjoy the Night to Shine Shine-Thru Parade and Virtual Celebration at home on Feb. 12.

"This is a way for them to experience a little bit of the fun prom experience from the comfort of their own car," Holder said.

OKC Prom

When: 6 p.m. Feb. 11.

Where: Putnam City Baptist Church, 11401 N Rockwell.

Cost: Free.

Information: To register as a participant or buddy, go https://pcbc.tv/prom/; also check out https://www.facebook.com/NightToShineOKC/.

Crossings Edmond Shine-Thru

When: Drive-thru event is Feb. 10. Virtual "Night to Shine" will be Feb. 12.

Where: Crossings Edmond, 1500 W Covell Road, Edmond.

Cost: Free.

Information/registration: www.crossings.church/shine.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Special-needs individuals can be real-life superheroes at OKC Prom 2022