Somewhere in the back of a closet, buried under old trophies and childhood keepsakes, there’s probably a gold plastic medal on a thick ribbon—the one your three-year-old self received at the end of a soccer season. You didn’t have to do much to earn it. Maybe you chased the ball a few times. Maybe you were just there for the post-game snacks. But to your parents, that little medal meant more. It represented teamwork, coachability, and a whole lot of energy burned on the field. And when the season ended, you stood proudly alongside your Purple Dragon teammates, medal around your neck, feeling like a champion.

Fast forward a decade or so, and you joined another team. Maybe you weren’t sure what you had to offer. Maybe you were still just there for the snacks. But at T Bar M, you had the same opportunity—to work with others, to be coached, to give your all. And at the end of that season, you stood with your T Bar M teammates, hearts knit together, wearing a different kind of medal—one that held far more meaning.

For over 30 years, the T Bar M Staff Medallion has been given to those who faithfully serve (though many served long before this tradition began). More than 6,000 people have been part of this family. Whether your medallion still hangs around your neck, is tucked away in a safe place, or is displayed where you can see it daily, it’s a symbol of sacrifice, service, and the way God changed you through Camp.

Each part of the medallion carries meaning, reminding us of the purpose and impact of our time at Camp.

The Shape

The medallion is designed to resemble an ancient coin, a nod to the widow’s mite in Luke 21:1-4—reminding us to be faithful with what we’ve been given. Because of this, staff are encouraged to wear the medallion only if they are actively walking with Jesus and living in dependence on Him.

The Wording

Etched into the medallion is the Greek word διάκονος, meaning “minister” or “servant.” It carries the image of one who waits on tables—just as Jesus “took on the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). Every summer, we see this lived out as high school and college students serve the Campers and families who come through our gates.

The Place

The front of the medallion bears the Cross, while the back carries the name T Bar M. This isn’t about us—it’s about Jesus and what He did in and through those who served here.

The charge remains the same: we are still called to serve. Being a “minister of the gospel” doesn’t require a church position or a title. It looks like everyday faithfulness—serving in the way a waiter serves a table, in the way a Coach serves a Camper wholeheartedly at Camp.

That plastic medal from childhood? It will fade and get tossed eventually. But this one? It lasts—not because of the metal, but because of the mission. Your T Bar M Medallion is a symbol of sacrifice, service, and life change that didn’t end when your Camp season did.

Wear it. Keep it. And remember—you’re always part of the T Bar M Family.

If your medallion has been lost along the way, we’d love to help you replace it. Email alumni@tbarm.org to order a new one for $35 and continue carrying the reminder of your time serving at T Bar M.