Back in 1981
Each Monday, the T Bar M staff gathers in Buckboard for coffee. It’s a time we share announcements, what we have seen God do over the past week, alongside of reading “a good word from The Good Word". After that, we gather in our Cov Groups to pray. This past week, it occurred to me that we were sitting in the first building ever built for T Bar M.
In 1981, when the world found themselves amazed at the first computer, captivated by a new thing called “music videos,” and watching every moment of Princess Diana’s wedding, something special was happening in New Braunfels. A couple of buildings were built, and a group of faithful people set out on a new adventure called T Bar M. They soon found themselves amazed at what the Lord could do, captivated by His Word and watching every moment of God changing people’s lives forever.
So much has changed in our world and at T Bar M since that first summer… but God changing people’s lives hasn’t wavered a bit, and we are so grateful.
Celebrate With Us
In the past 45 years, we have never grown tired of hearing how God changes folks' eternity… and therefore generations’ eternity. In fact, we celebrate it… big time… and want to share some of those recent stories with you. Read along and celebrate with us!
God Is Good
- Our Base Camp Director was visiting with a coach waiting in line at a coffee shop in College Station when the young mom behind them said “I am so sorry to interrupt, but I heard you mention T Bar M. That is where the Lord saved me. He changed my life there. Now, I am raising my kids with Jesus.” God is using one summer, years ago to change a family’s eternity right now.
- A Camp mom writes us a letter after her son’s final year at T Bar M. She had come years ago on scholarship and now her son comes in the same manner. “My own childhood memories at T Bar M are my BEST summer memories... I did things 20 years ago at camp that I haven't done since: horseback riding, ropes course, trampoline on the lake, the blob... But, even more, I haven't had the undivided time away from the noise of the world to just speak to GOD like I did at camp... That is the greatest memory of all... I truly am grateful for T Bar M, and the opportunities you have given both me, and now my child.” From generation to generation, summer memories collide with a unique shared experience between this mother and son.
- "My daughter had the best week of her life at T bar M! I wanted to reach out to you say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Kinley made a decision to invite Jesus into her heart at camp and we spent the weekend celebrating! " Another life, God rescues forever.
- A camper showed up to T Bar M based on the recommendation of family friends. During the first night’s cabin huddle, she looked at the other girls and coaches and told them she had no idea T Bar M was a Christian camp. She had never been around anything like this. Her friends at home were mostly Mormon and her parents were of no “religion”. Her coaches started begging God for Her salvation. On Wednesday morning, this camper, with her coach came running to share some news with the women’s director, "the angels must certainly be celebrating!", because this camper now knew the Lord as her Savior.
We have so much to Celebrate. God continues to change people’s eternities, and we are so grateful to have a front row view to what He is doing!
“Heaven on earth” - that’s the name by which my mother, a self-professed T Bar M super fan, refers to camp. My wife and I often comment, somewhat in jest but mostly with sincerity, that everything in our lives is a result of camp. We both grew up at camp. Our siblings grew up at camp. We, separately, lived on sailboats in the Bahamas and set up camp in Peru with T Bar M. Then, we met… as campers at Camp Travis (parents…tell your kids to always keep their eyes open). We both worked multiple summers at Camp Travis as coaches and on leadership. Now, all three of our kids are T Bar M campers. It is generational. Camp is a place that has meant more to our family than I can possibly explain in this short post. Many of our most intimate experiences with Jesus have been at camp. His presence is palpable. The Lord used (and continues to use) camp to provide a brief glimpse of how a Christ-centered life - when stripped of everyday, worldly distractions - provides true joy, true fellowship, and true growth.
Camp tends to unlock a childish joy that many of us have lost along the way. The common phrase “life comes at you fast” becomes all too true as we age. Professional ups and downs, family life joys and sorrows, and the everyday stresses of being an adult in an increasingly crazy and confusing world can cause us to forget the beautifully simple escape that camp offers – a place for a quiet mind. Matthew 11:28-30 often comes to mind when reflecting on camp, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” We all know that camp certainly doesn’t provide physical rest, but I believe it does uniquely provide the mental and spiritual rest that Jesus is talking about in Matthew 11. That is why we “return to the well” year after year: to see God work, to re-center, and quiet the noise.
I’ve long believed, and increasingly so as the years go on, that camp is one of the most important places on earth. I think a common negative refrain is that camp is not real life. But maybe we’d all be better off if it were real life. Maybe camp (the simplicity, the joy, the stillness, the focus, the FUAGNEM) is what we should aspire for real life to look like.
I pray that generations of Vicks experience the life-changing, eternity-shaping growth that God continues to orchestrate through T Bar M. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the closest thing we have to “Heaven on earth.”
