The threatening skies on Saturday September 10th, were no match for the show of force and enthusiasm shown by over 250 supporters and volunteers who gathered at the Pennrose Park Country Club in celebration of Mount Jubilee’s 7th Annual Family Fun Walk and Auction. The ministry, whose mission is to provide a Christ-centered community offering dynamic opportunities for those with intellectual and/or development disabilities and their families, serves the greater Triad area. Despite the arrival of predicted rain, the joyful participants began arriving at 9 AM for the scheduled 10:30 start.
Though the rain intensified somewhat, parking spaces were gobbled up quickly by the gathering crowd who shifted indoors for some “team photos” followed by a few warm-up exercises led by Pastor Peter Dodge of Reidsville Alliance Church and his family. Many of the walkers, who brought ponchos and other rain gear in anticipation of inclement weather, then set out on the 2.9 mile walk along Reidsville’s historic Main Street in a heart-warming show of support for the work of Mount Jubilee.
Upon their return to Pennrose, the happy (and, somewhat damp) crowd came back inside to partake of a barbecue luncheon graciously provided by Doyle O’Bryant, whose daughter receives services from Mount Jubilee. After everyone was refueled and satisfied, a rousing live auction was conducted by Reidsville’s own Jim Isley who volunteered his time to this wonderful cause. This year’s auction included items that were produced with the help of Mount Jubilee’s very own His Path Heroes. These Heroes are participants in Mount Jubilee’s three His Path Day Programs which operate out of Reidsville, Winston-Salem and their newest location, Greensboro.
The new location enables Mount Jubilee to expand their reach to a wider portion of the Triad area with their curriculum-based, supervised His Path Day Program. The program provides much needed social and developmental opportunities addressing the human needs for producing, contributing and being included. The opening of His Path Greensboro, which meets at the Westover Church on Muirs Chapel Road, indicates not only a clear need for such programming, but a willingness on the part of God’s people to partner together to meet that need. In mid-September the Reidsville His Path Program will be transitioning from their current facility in the Mission First church building to Reidsville Christian Church (located at 2020 South Park Drive) who have kindly opened up its facility to the Mount Jubilee Heroes. God and His people are so good!
The Family Fun Walk and Auction set out with a mammoth goal of $100,000 (up almost 50% from last year’s goal of $65,000). The work began in mid-July by soliciting event sponsorship and in-kind gifts from corporations, business entities and partners through the Triad. This year there were 57 event sponsors who contributed, many of whom are returning partners! Thanks to their help, the help of hundreds of Family Fun Walk registrants and those who simply donated through the ministry’s web-site, the total amount currently raised exceeds an amazing $125,500! On a day when the rains fell down hard in and around the Reidsville area, God chose to bring showers of blessings, as well!
Committed to their core belief that ALL people, regardless of their ability, have a God-ordained purpose for their lives and must have the opportunity to live as contributing members of society, MJM moves forward with continued expansion. MJM is currently engaged in the development of two new committees for the purposes of exploring social enterprise opportunities and the development of a residential community. These lofty goals will enable the ministry to bring into clearer focus its vision of “creating holistic life for those with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.”
Those interested can still contribute to the final revenue total of this signature event throughout the month of September. Donations may be made online at MountJubilee.org or by mailing donations to MJM, PO Box 81, Reidsville, NC 27323.
Visit the MJM website at MountJubilee.org to learn more about opportunities for participating, volunteering and providing financial support for Rockingham County’s special needs population. To contact Cecil Cottrell, MJM’s Executive Director, you may email him at or call 336-552-3766.