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Shine: Special Needs

About

Shine, the Special Needs Ministry at Highland Baptist Church, is dedicated to supporting individuals in embracing their unique role within the Body of Christ through our Gather, Grow, and GO mindset. Ephesians 2:10 underlines our belief that every individual is uniquely crafted and empowered by God for the purpose of revealing the glorious nature of Jesus.

We are dedicated to supporting students and families with special needs, fostering their spiritual growth, and strengthening their relationship with God, allowing His work to manifest through them.

Our mission comes from Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

This mission is guided by four core objectives:

  1. Cultivate a safe and nurturing environment where individuals with special needs can thrive in their faith journey, deepening their understanding of the Gospel.
  2. Embody the qualities of Jesus through our words and actions, forming meaningful relationships with each individual.
  3. Share Jesus and His Word through engaging weekly lessons and activities during our Sunday morning and Wednesday night programs.
  4. Empower individuals to actively contribute to the Body of Christ by investing their God-orchestrated gifts to support the church in its mission to Gather, Grow, and Go.

Our heartfelt prayer is that through these efforts, individuals will experience growth in their faith, allowing them to shine their light by reflecting Jesus and sharing the Gospel with others.

Sunday mornings

Kids Connection

Kids will gather for a time of learning each Sunday morning on the 3rd floor for Kids Connection at 8:40 or 10am. We will have volunteers as buddies to accompany your child to their grade level class or in the Shine Kids classroom in 308.

Kids Connection (K-5th Grade)

Sunday mornings in the Kid’s Hall located on the 3rd floor of the Education Building. Kid's Connection uses “The Gospel Story for Kids” and "The Gospel Project" curriculums. Kids are taught how the Gospel of Jesus Christ weaves through every story in the Bible. These curriculums are a unique, three-year program that helps churches and families ground children in the Gospel story from Genesis to Revelation.  At each age level, kids are taught the Gospel through age-appropriate illustrations, activities, coloring pages, object lessons, and memorization. There are weekly family-friendly devotionals that go along with the curriculum, which is available for you to use at home.

Policy & Procedures

We provide a physically and emotionally safe environment for all kids and families. One method is our electronic Check-in system used on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Check-in stations enable parents to quickly and easily check-in kids and give our staff a way to contact parents, if necessary, during the Gatherings. K-5th grade students will need to be checked in and picked up by an approved adult.  A guardian receipt will be printed out at the time of check-in, which is required to pick up your child from class.

We also require our leaders to go through a rigorous screening process in order to serve in Highland Kids. If you are interested in being a Highland Kids Leader, please contact Emily Eagle.

Shine Generations

Time & Location | Sundays 10am | Wellness Center: Den
Teacher: Sarah Mire

Shine Generations is a safe environment for adults with special needs to develop community and participate in fellowship in the study of scripture. Shine Generations will begin on August 24.

You can register for Shine Generations HERE.

Wednesday Nights

What is Kids Foundation?

At Kids Foundation, we equip kids with the Truth, empowering them to defend their faith as set-apart followers of Jesus. We will partner with families to lay a strong foundation through Scripture, worship, and discipleship in fun and engaging ways.

Fall Semester Starts September 10

Kids Foundation meets on Wednesday nights (September - April) at Highland from 6:30-8 pm. Kids Foundation is open for ages 3 to fifth grade. Each age group will participate in large group teaching time, small group discipleship, worship, and games. There is a $10 cost for materials with scholarships available. Nursery care is available for those under 3 (parents must be present on campus) and no pre-registration is required.

Register My Child

Volunteer Needs

We need people who love the Lord and want to share the Truth with children. Volunteers must be covenant members of Highland, complete an application and interview, and submit to a background check. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Kiersten Adams. 

Volunteer Signup

Volunteer Resources

Serving in Shine Kids is an incredible way to invest in children with special needs and help them experience God’s love. We’re passionate about partnering with leaders who want to serve with joy and point kids to Jesus.

There are many ways to serve, including:

  • Shine Classroom (Sundays and Wednesdays) – walking alongside kids in small groups and helping them engage in activities that teach God’s truth

  • Buddies – accompanying children to their grade-level groups or assisting in Room 308 during Shine programming

  • Special Events & Nights – supporting kids during Shine Night and other seasonal programs

To ensure the best environment for our kids and families, all Shine volunteers must:

  • Be a covenant member of Highland Baptist Church

  • Complete an in-depth onboarding process, including training and screening

If you are interested in serving, we would love to connect with you! Please email Kiersten Adams to get started. After connecting with Kiersten, you can use the resources to begin your volunteer journey with Shine.

Kid's Volunteer Training Video
Shine Ministry Handbook and Forms

Staff

Kiersten Adams

Associate Kids Minister: Shine

Emily Eagle

Kids Minister