Palmer Family Church of the Nazarene has been building relationships in recent years with the special needs community in Palmer, Alaska. What started as simply hosting a Night to Shine prom night experience for special needs students has become something far more significant.

The church has been hosting respite nights for families of kids with disabilities, partnering with an organization called 99 Balloons. The organization aids churches and other establishments in engaging with the disabled (intellectually and physically) in their communities.

Once a month, parents and caregivers can bring their kids (children with disabilities and their siblings) for three hours, using the time however they like. One-on-one care for the children is available, and the church and volunteers use their time to help build relationships. The helping team also holds breakout sessions for the siblings to share their experiences as peers.

In addition, the church parsonage is currently being rented out to a care home for people with special needs.

Lead pastor Joseph Parreira said the efforts initially began by trying to find what types of resources and connection points were lacking in the community, especially for people with special needs and their families. So they got started with the Night to Shine event.

"What we've learned in this journey is that if you're willing to say yes to meeting needs in your community, God will open doors," Parreira said.

In August 2023, the church built a fully inclusive and accessible playground on its campus. Through the relationship that the school district formed by hosting Night to Shine, the church hosts multiple students throughout the week for work experience.
The students come and help with janitorial tasks, inventory, and other tasks as available. The school district pays the students for their work experience. Two students who have come to the church for work experience asked Parreira if they could stay after their recent Night to Shine prom to help clean up.

Parreira added that God's kingdom is for everyone, making space to love and accept both the abled and the disabled. "Every person has value to contribute to the Body of Christ," Parreira said. 

Events like Night to Shine are relationship-building opportunities for Palmer's church and special needs community, which includes the volunteers, the families, those with special needs and their siblings.

Most of those who help partner with Palmer Family Church include members of other churches and nonbelievers who want to help impact their community. And because the church saw meeting the needs of people as a priority, those families are also beginning to hear the gospel message.

Matt Rush, the current youth pastor at Palmer Family Church, came to the church after his son attended a Night to Shine event there. Matt and his family had been in between churches, looking for one that would comfortably meet Matthew’s challenges. After having a great time at their first event night, Matt recalled his wife telling him, “If that church has done all of that for families with kids with special needs, we need to look at going to their church.”

Soon after they started attending, the youth pastor position opened up at Palmer church. Rush, who had previously been a youth pastor, felt called to step into the role. He is currently working toward ordination in the Church of the Nazarene.

"It's amazing how God works when you start reaching into a community that nobody else is reaching into," Parreira said.