At T Bar M, our number one rule is Don’t Waste Fun, and that spirit carries over into our retreat season just as much as our summer camps! You might wonder what happens here when we’re not in summer camp mode—our retreat team shifts gears to serve groups of all kinds, creating spaces where lives are enriched and hearts are renewed.

From church groups and schools to corporate teams and families, we’re privileged to welcome so many through our gates, each bringing their unique story and purpose. Groups experience joy and connection through activities like high ropes, team building, even a little bit of blacklight dodgeball, or simply relaxing on a wooden swing.

We’re also deeply blessed by the work of our Tim Team—a dedicated discipleship program where young adults serve alongside us, learning to lead and love like Christ while serving others. Together, we strive to create an environment where God’s love is evident and each group leaves feeling cared for, inspired, and refreshed.

Even when summer camp is not happening, we get the privilege to witness the Gospel taking root in hearts all over our property. Hear it from Kaiti Hogan, one of our Retreat Coordinators:

"Last week I was walking around property while a 7th-grade school group was on their retreat here. The school had split the students up into smaller groups, and they were meeting all over property doing a devotional with one of their teachers. There were groups meeting on the field, on the basketball court, and even up in the tree weave. It reminded me a lot of the summer when property is full of campers and coaches going through Trail Guide. I loved getting to see these students learning more about God while on this property and knowing that this happens all year long."

God continues to write amazing stories. Take a moment to settle in and read this one from the summer. You won't regret it.

Calvin came to pick up his sister from T Bar M last summer and saw how her week at camp affected her. He knew he wanted to experience the same thing.

And he did.

His first year of camp provided all the same wonder and fun—theme nights and traditions, cabin cheers and competitions.

Wednesday night set the same stage as it has for generations: holy and still moments on the field to stop and consider why Jesus died for us and the gift of eternal life He offers us. And Calvin did just that. He sat on the field and considered. His coach went to check on him and asked if there was anything he wanted to talk about. Calvin replied, "Maybe about giving my life to Christ." He said he came to T Bar M knowing it was a place he could talk about that and had been waiting for a year to come so he could have this very conversation.

And they did.

His coach describes that conversation: "Once I had talked with him for a bit about what it means to give your life to Christ, we prayed a salvation prayer for him, and he opened his eyes with a huge smile and said, ‘Wow, that feels better than I thought it would.’”

Calvin and his coach had stayed long past anyone else on the field that evening. When asked if he wanted to go tell his cabin, there was nothing but an enthusiastic YES!

Everyone was showered and tucked into bed when his coach told the cabin the decision Calvin had made. One camper started jumping around cheering, and within seconds, the whole cabin was cheering and telling Calvin how awesome that was. The party was so loud, neighboring coaches came over to join in the celebration.

In a moment of calm, a fellow camper asked what exactly that meant—becoming a Christian. This allowed the coaches to talk more about giving your life to Jesus with campers who had the same questions but didn’t know what to ask.

The night wound down as they huddled in the cabin with Calvin in the middle, and a prayer was said by the coaches. The cabin of boys hugged and high-fived as they went to bed.

It seems Calvin's life was affected as much as his sister’s.

As was everyone’s in the cabin that Wednesday night.

Calvin's story is amazing. As is your story of salvation. Who can you share God’s story in your life with today?

Kelli Boyd, Director of Alumni and Engagement

The Timothy Team has looked different all 30 years we have done it. Of course it does, because there are no two Teams the same. We have new people every year and a new dynamic that shapes the entire team. But it seems like there are common rhythms for every Team, and October seems to be a part of that.

As we sit here in October, the honeymoon phase of the Timothy Team has set sail, and reality begins to set in. The Team has spent 2+ months together, and May is still so far away in camp time. It probably is exacerbated by the fact that it is still 90 degrees outside in South Texas. But this is and has always been one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of this program.

I remember coming to Team and wanting to have deep relationships with my teammates. But I don’t know that I came in wanting to know and to be known by my Teammates. And to know someone just takes time. By October, the Team begins to know each other, and it will only grow for better or for worse. It is so fun to watch as they get to know the things that are wonderful about each other. But humility comes as Teammates learn the “negatives” about each other.

Now is all the more reason to remind our Team and each other what the goal is. It comes back to the words on the gates of T Bar M. The goal is to Love God and Love Each Other. Our Teamers get the opportunity to love each other in spite of flaws and shortcomings. Not just that, they get the opportunity to be loved in spite of their own flaws and shortcomings. And as my Team experience is 15 years removed, I get the same opportunity with my family, community, church, and co-workers. Am I going to love those around me and also be willing to be loved?

Seth McCord, Senior Director of Discipleship Programs

In the first week of August, as our camps team was wrapping up with the final week of Family Camp, we welcomed a significant milestone onto the property. Our 30th Timothy Team began the 9-month journey and adventure that is T Bar M’s Discipleship Team. That means in the past 30 years, we have welcomed over 275 men and women to be intentionally discipled in the way of Christ as they serve at T Bar M. 

This year’s Team is made up of 12 incredible men and women who have chosen to come to T Bar M and dedicate a season of their lives to chasing after Jesus in an intentional way. As has been T Bar M’s way from the beginning, it is an adventure centered around our Savior Jesus. We frame this early part of the Team as an opportunity to create space for God to fill. That means Bible reading in the morning, studying and practicing the spiritual disciplines, enjoying home-cooked meals in the Mission House, and serving the groups that come to T Bar M to retreat. 

At this point, the Team is a month into the experience. We haven’t even gotten close to the cold months! And as rich as this experience is, it is one that Christians have practiced for centuries. Followers of Christ have always sought to orient their lives around the teachings of Jesus, and that is really what is happening on the Timothy Team. The question we are consistently asking our Teamers is, “How are you orienting your life around the teachings of Jesus today? In the 21st century? At T Bar M for these 9 months?” We trust that when we orient our lives around the King of Heaven, we help bring the Kingdom of Heaven to this Earth. 

The question for our Timothy Team is valuable for you as well: “How are you orienting your life around the teachings of Jesus today?” 

Seth McCord, Senior Director of Discipleship