We have had the joy of seeing the Lord work in and through Cole Adams, Jen, and their family for quite a few years (30 summers…22 of those on full time staff!). God has impacted Cole greatly through T Bar M and used Cole to impact others in tremendous ways.  We invite you to let Cole know how he has impacted you by sending a note to abby@tbarm.org. We encourage you to read Cole's reflections below on how God has impacted him as he moves to the next season away from T Bar M.

"Team T Bar M,

It is with mixed emotions that I tell you the Lord is moving the Adams family into a new season and that Deep in the Heart will be my last summer serving with T Bar M. Total Commitment (1996) was the start for us…and we apparently took it to heart in more ways than one…and the Lord allowed us to join the year-round staff for Full Up (2003).

Camp memories abound for the Adamses:

The Adams’ kids were raised with the help of the T Bar M village, including so many of you who took them on JD rides, played with them, took them swimming, and let them "help" you with any projects. The boys lived most of their summer days waiting on the next pick-up Squirrel Ball game, and Kate became a summer Registrar assistant before she could drive. And then there was the warning to Beth and others in the Sanctuary offices that, 'you’re about to hear a loud cry, it’s ok. Leighton needs some discipline.' Kate learning to crawl for the first time on a table in the Rio out at Camp Travis. Lance showing up in multiple camp videos (if you haven’t seen T Bar M Gangnam Style…Google it!). Layne jumping into a Football vs. Soccer game before he was old enough to be a camper and scoring a touchdown!

Jen and I loved working together in ministry. The work alongside friends has been an incredible blessing. We talk often about the cherished relationships the Lord has brought over the years and what a gift it has been to us…especially in the last few years. You’ve probably heard our declaration concerning marriage: 'T Bar M saved our marriage before we were even married.' The Leadership Teams, Nannies, Coaches, and of course, Directors were (and still are in many cases) our extended family.

The experiences through relationships with such great people at T Bar M will continue to be talked about for years and years.

It all started with Ron Miller interviewing Jen and I at the same time as boyfriend and girlfriend sitting on a couch in a lounge at McMurry…don’t tell HR.

Aggies giving up watching their only Big 12 Football Championship to come to our wedding…good thing we had VHS tapes for y’all to watch the recording & no ESPN notifications back in '98.

Hosting Spring Leadership Retreats at our home…including the occasional youth soccer game as our Saturday morning activity.

Smoking out the neighborhood when we thought it would be a good idea to give every camper a sparkler on the 4th of July (Sean Hill, surely this was your idea!)…I mean, at least we didn’t try and do our own fireworks…well, or wait, maybe we did in the sand volleyball pit! Wising up to taking all the campers to the NBHS football practice field and watching the New Braunfels fireworks…including sno cones (thanks Eric Littleton) and a night of worship (thanks Judah Owens)!

I’ve been scarred for life after being talked into being a part of the Soggy Bottom Boys (thanks to Chief and Ron Miller) as well as the Director Dance Team (Cole & the Pinks) & a 'Boy Band.'

The crazy pranks that would just 'show up' each morning that one summer at Camp Travis…full table set at the bottom of the pool, the horses getting war painted, etc…Caleb Lee, I’m pretty sure you were the ringleader…well done.

Speaking of horses, I’ve never been so excited to have horses escape from the pasture and getting a call on the radio and watching people running wild trying to be “helpful!" Ryan Poutinen, Justin VanNorman, Bobby Swole, and all the wranglers, thanks for letting us think we were cowboys.

Theme Night posters were another stretch…Mission Impossible seemed to always be my lot…but man, how did I end up posing as the Green Lantern or in a one piece bull fighter suit that showed most of my chest, and then there’s the one where I grew the thick goatee and donned a white, ribbed, tank top undershirt with Will Mitchell as the police officer! …it’s for the kids, right?

Sean Hill recruiting on the A&M campus in a full cat costume…including face paint.

Staying up most of the night to comb sticky flour out of girl’s hair (kudos Trish White and Leadership Team) and washing every camper’s clothes after a terrible (but planned!) food fight!

Leadership guys disassembling and removing the stairs up to Pecos/Maverick and trapping the girls up in their cabin.

Catching and addressing the “Great Sneak Out” (here’s to you, Donnie Carr)!

The septic backup no one wants to remember (Andy Krawiec, Trish, and crew…), not just once but twice with the second one in Winchester (Stephen Udo, you get the award for surviving this one).

And who could ever forget the Bike Cops (yeah, yeah Bike Cops!)…thank you Jason Boone and Hunter Mangrum for birthing that (and ruining tandem bikes for me forever)…and to Will Washington, Nathan Harvey and others for v2, v3, etc., including Scooter Cops when we couldn’t find another bike! Ryan Guadagnolo, Garrrrryyyyy! was a really good follow up…

Shawn Bueche and Judah, the expectations for the stage in the sanctuary will never be the same…thanks for upping the ante.

Spending every Thursday afternoon for years out at TSR.

There are some things that will always be “right” in my mind: Sammy in the Rio, Adam Jungeblut and family joining us for Training Camp to encourage and equip staff, Mark Kaufmann wanting to compete in every little thing, Rachel (Wolters) Shelton living in the Outpost…thanks for lending me your deodorant, Trish White speed walking everywhere she goes, Sean Hill falling asleep within 30 seconds of being in the car, and ‘porch time’ at the Sammy Shack with Sammy, Ron, and Eric.

So many privileges associated with my years at T Bar M:

Our kids grew up with thousands of big brothers and sisters…

Too many great weddings to count…and the added honor of being a part of many as well.

Gospel Presentations…push-ups and the encouragement that continued to come even years later when Campers became Coaches, stations of the Cross (especially tetelestai…thanks Brian Rodriguez), paintings (Casey Huval, you gave me a new appreciation for art), and geez…how many stargazes…thank you, Lord for using us.

So many “sobremesas” (post-meal conversations) with great people while sweating on the Back Porch.

More incredible adventures than I can count: South Africa (and so many others with Johnny Polk), Egypt with Keith Myer, racing Mark Kaufmann up 44 flights of stairs, and so many more!

Soooo many memories…I’m confident I’ve left some incredible ones out (I mean, this thing had to go to print at some point, but the stories just kept coming to me)…would love your help being reminded of them…shoot me an email or call.

There is no way I can really put my appreciation of what the Lord has done through T Bar M into words…but if I had to try it might look like this:

'Words can’t fully express the gratitude I feel for the years I’ve spent growing within this ministry—as a Christ follower, husband, father, and servant-leader. T Bar M has been a central part of my and my family’s lives, shaping us in profound and lasting ways.'

Additionally, I am not sure how the Adams family endures the last 5 years if not for the friendships we’ve forged through the years at T Bar M. You friends were the hands and feet of Christ. God has worked through y’all, our church, and the community of New Braunfels in nothing short of miraculous ways to care for me and my family through sickness, injury, and even death. The amount of people who loved, served, laughed, and grieved with us will never be forgotten.

We trust God has great plans for our family and T Bar M. We look forward to the Lord continuing to cross our paths in the future as we all run this 'Christ-centered Adventure' race this side of heaven.

Gratefully,

Cole"