Southland Christian Church held their annual Jesus Prom on Sept. 20. The Asbury softball team arrived ready to serve hundreds of people with special needs at what has become one of the most highly-anticipated parties of the year in Lexington.
Jesus Prom is an event for people across central Kentucky and beyond for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Since 2000, Southland has organized thousands of volunteers and donors to put on this one-of-a-kind bash in order to celebrate life and replicate what a party in heaven might look like.
Junior Faith Day originally pitched the idea of participating to her softball team last year.
“I started going to Southland the spring of my freshman year,” said Day. “So last year, as a sophomore, I asked our coaches if they thought we should get involved as a team. The majority of the team signed up and we went.”
It was such a success, Day proposed the idea again this year. “This year I asked our new coach if he wanted to do it as a team, and he said yes, so we all signed up again,” she said.
Thirteen members of the Asbury softball team arrived ready to serve and join in the celebration.
Local tuxedo rental companies, dress shops, tailors and seamstresses provide free services for attendees. Limousine companies provide red-carpet transportation and attendees are welcomed by a sea of paparazzi and applause. Volunteers distribute free food, photo booth lines remain filled the entire evening and live music blasts groovy tunes that propel the party into the late hours of the night.
Like any traditional prom, Jesus Prom has a different theme every year; this year’s was a carnival. There was free popcorn and candy vendors, dozens of carnival games and even a petting zoo. The nearly one thousand attendees, care workers, families and volunteers experienced the eccentric, buzzing energy that a carnival atmosphere invokes.
“Jesus Prom is such an amazing opportunity to interact with people you don’t see every day on campus,” Day said. “Jesus Prom is a chance to love on people intentionally, and I think that’s something everyone wants to be a part of.”
Additionally, the softball team intends to collectively serve and be involved in the community in the future. According to Day, the softball team plans to get involved with Miracle League in October.
Miracle League, established and hosted by the YMCA, is a baseball league that provides the opportunity for children and adults with disabilities to play baseball and share in the love of community and sports.
