A red carpet, bright lights, and loud cheers greeted each guest as they arrived at the Goose Creek Special Needs Prom.

Hosted in partnership between New Life Baptist Church and the City of Goose Creek’s Recreation Department, the event grew out of Pastor Billy Harmon and his wife’s vision to serve adults with special needs nearly seven years ago. “We see that there’s a lot of involvement in the children with special needs, but when the kids grow up and they become adults, there’s just not a lot of involvement in the community,” Harmon said. The effort is also a personal one, as Harmon’s oldest daughter has special needs. “That really put us in the middle of the special needs community here,” Harmon said. 

Reaching the Special Needs Community

For parents, events like this prom help their entire family feel included. “Our children want to be treated just like typical children want to be treated, too,” one parent said. “So many times, the voiceless, the vulnerable, they’re the ones that are left out. But as the Bible says, those are the ones that Jesus expects us to cater to,” she explained. Even further than blessing the attendees, though, the event also impacts the families on a broader scale. “If you bless my child, my adult now, you bless me.”

Harmon emphasized that often, the special needs community is challenging to reach, citing that families often feel isolated in church. “We wanted to encourage the church to love on the special needs community,” he said. “Our congregation is very focused on trying to live the Gospel out.” He shared that members of the church have intentionally developed relationships in the community through the prom and other events. “It’s a tough ministry, but it is so worth it. Our church will be so encouraged coming off of this event, and they will be ready to do it again,” Harmon said. 

Citywide Partnership

The event also highlights a larger partnership in Goose Creek by partnering with the city’s recreational department. New Life Baptist began working closely with the city to form an intentional, long-term partnership. Hannah Miller is the Therapeutic Recreation Manager for the City of Goose Creek. “As we partner in the community more and more people build awareness for people with disabilities,” Miller said. She hopes other churches continue to find ways to include the special needs community in their services. One way she mentioned was to create sensory options, saying that “church is not always super friendly to people with disabilities because of the band and the lights.” She thinks that partnering in events like these helps churches to be more welcoming and more inclusive. 

Charleston Southern University (CSU) also plays a key role in supporting the event, thanks to its connection with the Harmons and SCBaptist’s Catalyst Program. Pastor Harmon and his wife are also both professors at CSU, just down the road from the church. They also use their connections at the University to get students involved in the ministry. “We get our students to make a big emphasis on campus to get other students to come and participate, but they love it,” Harmon said. Two students in SCBaptist’s Catalyst Program also helped with the event. “It’s a great opportunity for students to be able to connect in a ministry area and learn more and get actively involved in what churches are doing,” Bobby Howard, Director of Adult Discipleship and Special Needs Ministry at SCBaptist, said. Sophia Santos is both a Catalyst and a CSU student. “It’s been really awesome to see how we can be inclusive in our church spaces, and I’ve gotten to learn a lot,” she said. 

Expanding Ministry Efforts

While the prom is a local effort, it reflects a broader movement within SCBaptist to expand how churches view and engage with special needs ministry. As a father to an adult daughter with Down Syndrome, Bobby Howard has seen the value of inclusion. For Howard, one goal of the ministry is to help churches around the state to think outside of just children’s ministry when it comes to accommodating those in the special needs community. “It’s important for us to move beyond just children’s ministry and find some creative ways to connect with people of all ages who are dealing with some sort of special need that requires an accommodation, big or small, in order for them to fully participate in the life of our churches,” Howard said. 

The Goose Creek Special Needs Prom is more than a one-night event; it’s a model for how churches, cities, and college campuses can work together to build a more inclusive community. By creating space for individuals with special needs to be celebrated, supported, and welcomed, New Life Baptist Church and its partners are demonstrating the Gospel in action. As SCBaptist encourages churches to broaden their approach to special needs ministry, events like this show what’s possible when intentional relationships and a heart for inclusion lead the way.