By Kristi Spencer
In Joplin, Missouri, SHINE is making a difference in the lives of adults with developmental disabilities. SHINE provides opportunities for individuals to live, serve and work as valuable members of their communities, guided by their Christian faith. The program’s mission is to help people live purposeful, service-oriented lives and honor each individual’s dignity.
SHINE (Serving Him In Everything) began as a response to a common question among parents of children with special needs: “What does it mean to be a contributing member of society?” For many, the future of their adult children was uncertain. After looking around the Joplin area, parents found few programs, limited job opportunities and long waiting lists for vocational services tailored to adults with special needs. Faced with these challenges, a group of parents, along with leaders from the disabilities ministry of College Heights Christian Church, decided to create their own faith-based day program. The result was SHINE. Heather Wimsett was selected as the executive director, and they got to work.
SHINE launched in 2021 as a small pilot program. Today, it is a four-day-a-week program with members ages 19 to 53. Along with learning and growing in their faith, the members connect over projects like making candles, home décor, wristlets and jewelry. Their goods are found at Union Station Deli and Spiva’s gift shop in Joplin. In Carthage, Missouri, you can find them at Midwest Ag. You’ll also find them at Third Thursdays in downtown Joplin, craft fairs and pop-up shops.
Heather says the feedback has been fantastic. “People are often surprised to learn these high-quality products are made by individuals with disabilities,” she says. “The best part is that people are using them every day in their homes.”
SHINE’s Five Pillars
SHINE’s approach is grounded in five key pillars: faith development, service, work, fitness and personal growth. These pillars guide every activity, ensuring each member is supported in all aspects of life—spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally.
- Faith: Our prayer is that everyone who is involved with SHINE (member, parent, volunteer, donor, staff) will grow more in love with Jesus.
- Service: As we learn to love Jesus more, we want to become more like him by caring for others. Helping other people is something we can all do.
- Work:Taking pride in a job well done is important. At SHINE, our members work.
- Fitness: First Corinthians 6 reminds us that our bodies are God’s template. Movement and activity are important as we take care of our bodies.
- Growth: We strive to become better people each day. Growth includes learning how to make and be friends, show gratitude or to do something new for ourselves.
The organization’s philosophy is based on the Social Role Valorization theory, which focuses on how society views people based on their roles. People are often treated better when they have valued roles in society, like being a worker, artist or leader. On the other hand, people in roles seen as less valuable may be mistreated or ignored. SHINE uses this approach to focus on what each person can do and the value they bring. The goal is to help everyone find a role that gives them purpose and shows their worth to society. By focusing on contributions, SHINE helps change how we view individuals with disabilities, ensuring they are seen as capable and valuable, not just defined by their disability.
Each day begins with prayer and a Bible lesson. Members take part in various activities, including physical exercise, which might include a walk, time at the College Heights gym or watching and working out to exercise videos that are specifically geared toward people with developmental disabilities. The rest of the day centers around work sessions and skill- building tasks. They are matched with activities that suit their abilities, allowing them to work at their own pace while contributing to the products made at their workshops, which is in a converted house. The members are working on their garden and will learn how to harvest and cook, always learning and growing skills. At the end of the time together, there’s a wind-down session, and then everyone pitches in to clean up and prepare for the next day.
The SHINE staff includes Implementers Lynae Sanchez and Bethany Ball, who help lead the day’s activities. Lynae was inspired to work with individuals with disabilities during her college years. Bethany, who has a personal connection to caregiving through her experience with her grandmother, finds joy in watching the group grow and learn new skills.
The impact of SHINE extends beyond helping those with special needs. It also touches the lives of their families and the wider community. SHINE provides a space for families to come together and witness their loved ones’ growth and development. Parents who were initially hesitant to send their children to SHINE now see the transformation in their loved ones.
Heather shared a touching story from the mother of one of their members. “The two sat down to dinner, and the daughter asked her mother about her day. To the mother’s surprise, the two then had their first true conversation, something that had never happened before.” Heather also shared that another of their members has lost 40 pounds through their fitness program.
SHINE is expanding, and as its numbers continue to grow, the program is looking for a larger space to accommodate its needs. Heather says, “The goal isn’t to be big, but for people to build skills and their relationships with Jesus.”
SHINE is funded through product sales, grants, donations and member tuition. It is committed to keeping its services affordable and accessible to as many people as possible.
SHINE Joplin is changing the way we think about people with disabilities. By focusing on faith, service, work, fitness and growth, SHINE creates a space where everyone can thrive and contribute. If you’re looking for a way to get involved or support a local cause that truly makes a difference, stop by one of SHINE’s events or check out their website to learn more. Every purchase, every conversation and every act of support brings us one step closer to creating a more inclusive and compassionate world.
To learn more, visit SHINEJoplin.org.