It's humbling to think back on the first days of Night to Shine. The days of praying over God's will for this concept… trying to come up with a name… hoping churches will want to host… dreaming of what a guest will experience… It's truly humbling to see what God has done with a simple idea, and how He has turned it into a global movement to celebrate His love for people living with special needs. Recently, the team and I were reflecting on the change we dream of seeing in the world for people living with disabilities – and how we hope Night to Shine can propel that change forward. To be honest, the thought moved me to tears. There is SO much change that I would like to see! It's hard not to be overwhelmed by it at times. An estimated 16% of the world is living with special needs, and a false, harmful narrative around disabilities is even more widespread. By God's grace, we are beginning to see these lives and this narrative transform in many places. But many places are not enough. My heart's desire is for change to take place everywhere. My hope is for every person with special needs to be celebrated, to know they're loved, and to know their true identity as a child of God.

As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Night to Shine, and look forward to the next ten years, my hope is that you will join us in spreading the worldwide movement to every corner of the globe. Our job isn't done until all are celebrated. Whatever country you are in, whatever city you call home, wherever your friend's church home is, we want a Night to Shine to be there. I'm asking you to join our mission by referring your local church to host Night to Shine. Share this message with a friend and ask them to refer their church. We have a big job to do that will not be finished until all are celebrated, until all are loved, and until all know their true identity as God's royalty.

Thank you for believing in us and, more importantly, for believing in the people we serve together. I hope you know how deeply grateful we are for your willingness to join us to reach these precious lives.