Hosting A Presentation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shining Light?
We are a Christian youth performing arts ministry from south central Pennsylvania.
What is Shining Light’s purpose?
We use the creative arts to present the message of the hope and new life that can be found through Jesus Christ. We want people to know they are deeply loved by God and were created for a purpose.
What is your religious affiliation?
We are an ecumenical group, with numerous Protestant denominations and Catholic parishes represented.
Is your program appropriate for people of other faiths?
We often present programs in secular facilities where people of other faiths attend. They have expressed appreciation and asked thoughtful questions afterwards. We never pressure audiences to make a choice about faith during the course of our program, but instead encourage them to seek the counsel of facility staff or clergy with their questions.
Is there a cost for your program?
There is no fee for our program in prisons and shelters. In churches we take a free-will offering to help defray production costs, which are about $7,000 per program.
How do you receive your funding?
We receive funding from private sponsors – individuals and businesses – who donate generously to make it possible for us to minister in prisons and shelters at no cost to these facilities.
What is your target audience?
We design our program to minister especially to those in prisons and shelters, but we also present it in churches and community venues. Our program is appropriate for all ages.
What is your program about?
We use high-energy choreographed songs by current Christian artists, a live band, dramas, dance, high-tech lighting, and video to engage our audiences. Serious and humorous drama sketches portray situations that are relevant to life experiences of those in our audiences.
What is the caliber of your production?
We believe that excellence honors God and inspires people, and work to present a very high-quality production. All soloists, dancers, and actors are auditioned roles. High quality computerized lighting, audio sequencing, staging, and sound engineering are key elements in the overall effect of the production.
How long is your program?
The program is approximately 90 minutes in length.
What is the size of the group?
Our group includes 50-60 youth and 15-20 production staff.
What is the age of members?
Members range in age from 14-23.
What is the minimum size of an audience to which you will present?
We steward resources wisely, and seek to present to large audiences. In smaller facilities we ask for a minimum audience of 75 people.
What amount of space do you need for your presentation?
A presentation space no less than 50’ x 35’ with a flat floor and a ceiling height greater than 18’ is necessary. (Additional space will be needed for the audience.) A full-size gym or auditorium is ideal.
When will you arrive?
We arrive with our tractor-trailer, generator, and coach bus about 4 hours before the scheduled program to allow sufficient time for staging, lighting, and technical setup and sound checks. If security check-in measures are needed, we will arrive earlier.
What is the process for bringing equipment into the presentation area?
Our 12+ tons of equipment is on rolling carts. We need to be able to roll the carts from our trailer to the presentation area on a hard, flat surface.
Do you need help from the host facility with setting up /tearing down your equipment?
No. Our trained members and staff all participate in highly organized setup and tear-down processes.
What are your power requirements?
We bring a 61 KW diesel-powered generator that supplies our power. It is pulled by a pickup truck, and must be parked outside within 150-200 feet of the presentation area. We run cables from the generator to distribution boxes backstage; a doorway that can be left slightly ajar where cables can pass through is necessary. If the use of our generator is not approved by the facility, we have other power supply options that can be discussed with our Technical Director, Jeff Arntz.
What assistance will you need when you arrive?
We may need a facility electrician if we are not able to use our generator. Someone from the facility who can direct us as we enter the facility, and who can be available if we have any questions is also helpful. We appreciate when our host can address our group before the program to help us learn more about the facility and our audience.
Is there anything you will need while you are at the facility?
From arrival time to departure time we are at a facility for about 8 hours, which means will we be there during lunch or dinner time. Some facilities are able to provide a meal for us, which we greatly appreciate! When that is not possible, our food service staff prepares a meal for us. If that would be the case, we would need space available for serving food.
What kind of follow-up should the facility do after the program?
Please complete a Host Evaluation, which will be given to you after the program. We also appreciate letters from wardens, chaplains, counselors, etc. describing any immediate and ongoing effects our ministry may have had on the audience.
