For America’s “Forever Children”
Enriching the lives of intellectually disabled adults ~ our “forever children”.
From recreational camp activities to vocational training to placement in select group homes, a Pierre de Wet’s Mane Mission scholarship makes a huge difference in the lives of intellectually disabled adults and their families.
Make an impact today
Support our Bridges Community Ministries by contributing a donation.
Pierre de Wet was a passionate entrepreneur who’s sister, Suzanne, is intellectually disabled. He fought his whole life to make sure she had everything she needed and to protect her. He passed away in 2016 leaving the legacy of Mane Mission to his daughters Marnelle and Velmay. Suzanne still lives on the farm with them today.
Today, his daughter, Velmay Power, is the heart and mission behind Bridges Community Ministries, inspired by his hard work and dedication to God and service.
Who was Pierre?
How did Mane Mission start?
Mane Mission was started as a dream challenge to break a Guinness Book World Record and to raise funds for our “forever children”.
In 2005, Pierre brought together horse lovers across the nation for an attempt at the Guinness World Record at the longest trail ride. Weather and tornadoes across the southeast were not on our side and not all the horse lovers that signed up to ride were able to get to East Texas. A chuckwagon cookoff and a beautiful trail ride did happen, but the record was not reached. However, funding for adults with intellectual disabilities was launched and Mane Mission had a voice.
That voice became Randy Owen of the music group Alabama. Randy and Pierre had become fast friends through the polled Hereford cattle business. Randy agreed to work with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra and put on a concert like no other to raise the initial money for Mane Mission.
