“Lord, it’s good to be alive.” — Ridgely, circa 1997

This is the heartbeat of the lyrics to a song that played every Wednesday morning in the summer of 2002, my first summer on the leadership team at camp. “It’s good to be alive.” I still believe this, but so much has changed in 23 years… or maybe not. Maybe it’s mostly me that has changed — me, my perspective, and my naivety. I didn’t think as much back then about this question, but I ask myself this a lot as I get older: what is good? Bear with me. Let’s go for a good ride.

If we were asking, “Who is good?” the simple answer I grew up with is a classic one-word answer for the Sunday school teacher — “Jesus!” You could say that, and you’d be right! Jesus Himself said, “No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18). And the Psalms tell us that “no one is good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:12). Okay, so now we know who is good (Jesus) and who isn’t (people, including you and me, reader), but the answer to “what is good” is more complex.

When God created everything, He said it was good! He created people and said they were “very good!” (yes, this was before sin entered the world). These are tangible things that God called good, but let’s go a step further. What about some intangible things? “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). “The commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Romans 7:12). Jesus knows that fathers know how to give good gifts to their children (Matthew 7:11). We are to do good works, and there is so much more good mentioned in Scripture.

So far we’re all good, right? It’s not too hard to think of those things listed above and agree that they are good, and with these things in mind, it’s easy to say, “God is good. I will rejoice!” But the complexity comes in when we experience — and hopefully learn and grow through — suffering. Is God still good then? And I’ll say the obvious… suffering is hard.

I don’t want to be a downer here, but as you get to know me, you’ll start to understand that I am authentic. It’s actually a core value in my family. As I reflect on 2025 and consider what is in store for 2026, I cannot escape some really difficult things. A friend of mine lost his life in an accident and left a wife and four kids without a husband and father. Two couples close to us have gone through divorce. In close proximity to our community, we have seen cancer diagnoses, miscarriages, layoffs, financially crippling medical bills, surprise relocations, mid-life crises and depression, wayward children, and tragic loss of life. Where is the goodness in all of this???

Please understand that most of me would much rather be writing this blog post about a really spectacular plan to stick to your spiritual disciplines this year, to really see sunshine and rainbows in God’s abundant material provision, to have all of our prayers answered in really happy ways. But I am feeling compelled to instead acknowledge that Jesus wept — and we will too. What will we do when our family, close friends, or our own selves come on hard times? Who will we trust? As for me, I cling to the hope that is ours for the taking in Scripture. Check this out:

Some who are reading these very words are in the depth of suffering and confusion. 2025 was tough, and 2026 might be tougher. I want you to know that (1) you are loved more than you can possibly imagine — last year, this year, the next, and for eternity after — and also (2) the suffering will not last forever. For those who trust in the saving work of Christ’s death on the cross and His power over death in His resurrection, this temporary life will close someday, and we will be resurrected, glorified, and united with Him in Heaven, and see Him as He is.

I am also praying for you tonight as I write, that you may have relief from your burden and be able to honestly and authentically say, “Not my will, but God’s will be done” (Luke 22:42). If you ever need a hug in 2026 — to mourn the hard or to celebrate the good — you can find me at T Bar M. Remember, when our life is hidden with Christ, even when it’s complicated, this is true: it’s good to be alive — abundantly alive.

- Joe Dalton, Senior Director of Camps

Follow along with updates from Timothy Team 30! The Team is headed to Belize from January 21-28 and will be running day camp ministry in Hope Creek, a village 2 hours south of Belize City. They are partnering with a ministry there, All 4 Jesus, that partners with local schools and churches for gospel opportunities.

DAY ONE

"Praise God! Travel day was insanely smooth. Rolled out at a wonderful 6:45 and got to the airport and everyone made it through. San Antonio to Dallas was a chill hour flight, and Dallas to Belize was about 3 hours. The flight's view was so beautiful! When we landed, customs was scary to me, but it gave me a chance to talk about T Bar M because they asked what I do for work. We got packed into a van and we were actually in the middle of the jungle. We passed signs for panther, capybara, and monkey crossings. 2 hours later, we pulled up to the property and it was so peaceful. Gorgeous scenery and we got to meet our incredible hosts. To end the night, we all came together and praised the Lord for the day we got to spend together and how blessed we are to be here. Thank you Jesus for Belize and time together!"

Savannah Stanton

DAY TWO

"Wow! Today was a full day! An amazing day full of joy, smiles, and hugs all around! We left camp this morning around 7:30 and headed to the school. When we got there, we immediately got to start playing with the kids! The kids are about kindergarten - 8th grade age. We got to facilitate and play a bunch of games all day. A lot of catch (tag) and helping the kids on the monkey bars. Also, let’s just say we are still getting used to the Belizean sun… it was really warm and a few of us have some pink faces to show for it 🙂


We were blessed to serve, and in return we were so seen and loved on by these kids!! I saw God work in our team and through many conversations! Can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds!"

Zoe Dutton

DAY THREE

"Today was our longest day of programming we will have, and coming off of yesterday, we were pretty exhausted. We woke up and drove to the school again with plans to share the gospel today. As we pulled up to the school, all the students were already waiting for us! It brought some of us to tears and we felt so loved by them. We had the younger students first the morning and started the day off by running tropical mission impossible. It sprinkled on and off adding to the intensity of the competition. After a close contest, we were relieved that it was snack time and we could finally get out of the sun. We then did skits and presented the gospel bracelets to the kids. For the most part, they were all excited to receive the bracelets and listen to the gospel. We pray that God will continue to water the seeds that He let us plant. After lunch, we did the same thing with the older students at the school. The skits got a lot dirtier (Tommie and Christian rolled around in the dirt), and the humidity and heat combo during the competition was really taking a toll. But through the strength of the Lord, we did the next gospel presentations and bracelets for the older students.

We left soon after and the kids were really sad. We were probably sadder. Disheartened and leaving our new friends, we prayed that God would use the work He allowed us to have an impact on those kids and that they would know Jesus. We returned to camp, deeply in need of a break before heading back out to Youth Group. It was game night at Youth Group and we played a ton of games and met even more kids. It was a lot of fun but we sure are tired. We are grateful to sleep in tomorrow. Please pray for physical strength and that we would stay alert to the way God is moving and what He asks of us as we continue this trip!"

Seth McCord

DAY FOUR

"Today was such a fun and restful day for us! We started our day off by hanging out with our sweet friends at the school. We played lots of sports, fun games, and had a sweet and sorrowful goodbye to our new little friends. Today, after we left the school, we got to explore a little more of Belize and visit some fun shops! We started at an ice cream shop and got some yummy treats and ended off at a gift shop near the ocean with some fun goodies! We got tons of Belizian treats and souvenirs! We came back and swim in the river at our camp site. Praising the Lord for such a fun restful day. And His beautiful creation! So excited to see what He has in store for us tomorrow!"

Jalynn Howard

DAY FIVE

"Today was such a spiritually uplifting day! We started out with a wonderful church service where we sang praise and worship with the locals. The sermon Pastor Tim delivered served as an uplifting reminder that the greatest thing in this world is the love of God.


After small group discussion, we set up for lunch and dined with some of the church family and staff. We then made the trek to Billy Barquedier National Park to take a refreshing yet slippery hike to a beautiful waterfall and watering hole (I dislocated my pinky finger and Seth was kind enough to relocate it for me, thanks Seth). Being surrounded by the abundance of the Caribbean rainforest just further served as reminder that the same God that made this oasis is the same God that made and loves us deeply. Once the team had their fill of laughter and waterfall jumping, we headed back to camp where we finished the night with skits for some of the camp staff and played card games."

Tommie Doege

DAY SIX

"Leaving today in awe of the creator I serve and in awe of what He’s done in this team and in me during our time here. Today was our team’s reflection day! We got to go out into the Caribbean Sea and reflect on all that God has done here. It was a day full of getting to experience the fullness of God while being in creation with all of my best friends. We got on a boat, planted at an island out in the ocean and got to snorkel! During this time, I felt the overwhelming awe of who God is and how much He cares for us. To know my name and to make every fish in the sea leaves me in wonder and gratitude that I have a relationship with the creator of the world! Seeing each and every little thing He put into the colors of the ocean, the coral, and getting to see a real-life shark was amazing. I got to sit and stare at the mountains meeting the sea and all I could think of was creation proclaiming His great handiwork and how real God is. Today was a true testament to His faithfulness getting to rest in His creation and realize how loved I am to be just a fragment of His creation. He is good and He is worthy of our worship! Creation sings His praises and all the earth sings worthy! Praise the Lord!"

Carlea Wyman

Follow along with updates from our Panama Mission Trip Team!

This March, a team of our summer staff, led by two of our full-time staff members, will head deep into the jungle near David, Panama! Together, they’ll serve alongside local missionaries and share the Gospel with indigenous communities. Our prayer is to spark excitement for following Jesus and strengthen the work already happening through the local church.

We can't wait to see what God does through this team!

SATURDAY

Our team landed safely in David! We have already witnessed the Lord’s faithfulness in having a hand over our travel and the people we have met. We have another long day ahead of us as we will be hiking into the jungle. Continue to keep us in your prayers as we begin to minister to the people in Hacha over the next few days!

MONDAY

"Dear friends and family, this is Mackenzie Medina and Maximus Martinez. We just wanted to share about how God has been moving recently in this trip. We have befriended the people of Panama and had the opportunity to speak God's Word to them. We hiked from home to home to spread the Gospel and hand out Bibles. Many people fell down while hiking, but everyone is safe. The children here are so joyful and so full of life. Seeing them play and have so much innocence is so sweet to see. They get so excited to play with us and seeing them learn the games we teach is just so awesome. Please pray for us as we go through this week. Thank you to everyone who supported us!" - Mackenzie and Maximus

TUESDAY

"Hello again friends and family! This time around it’s Eric Gonzalez and Emma Gratland. Beyond grateful for what God did yesterday and we wanted to share how He has continued to just show Himself so abundantly. This morning, the rain had hit us a bit but that didn’t stop the joy of the Lord that was within. Every kid, teacher, parent and leader had so much fun participating in each activity. Fast forwarding after lunch, we grouped up and started heading towards other huts in the village. First, we stopped at local classrooms at the school and had the privilege of sharing the Gospel. We got to pray over the students, pray over their families and even their animals. After the classrooms we hiked up to this one hut. We got to share the Gospel with these 3 strong wonderful women, one of them already being a believer, 2 of the other women believed but through a different religion. We asked the question “if today were your last day how confident are you that’d you’d go to heaven?”. 2 of them very doubtful about where their salvation lied. We walked them through more of what salvation is and we even had the opportunity and blessing of leading them in a salvation prayer! 2 souls now confident of what their eternity looks like and praise Jesus for that!! Leaving the hut, our team was just so encouraged, so overflowed and in complete awe of how the Lord moved! We finished the night by sharing testimonies, by sharing what encouraged us throughout the day and just how thankful we all are to just be here, being the hands and feet of Jesus. With tomorrow being our last day, we’re still so expectant for what Jesus is going to do. We just ask you guys continue to pray over our team's safety, health, minds, and hearts as we hike to a new village. We are blessed for you to be on this mission with us, and we are praying for you guys as well!" - Eric and Emma

WEDNESDAY

"HOLLAAAA FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!
It’s Emme and Jackson reassuring all you worried parents with our sign of life through this blog!! Today was our last day with the kids so we spent the morning playing games and got to do Gospel beads with them!!! Every student was presented the Gospel and received a bracelet with various colors that signified a different part of the story. We said 'hasta luego' to the kids and after lunch journeyed to the next village. There, our team split up with some leading a women’s Bible study, a men’s Bible study, and played games with the children!! The children there also received Gospel bracelets, and we had lots of fun (and falls) playing duck, duck goose! On our way back to Hacha, one of our guides ushered us to a home for a man that needed prayer. Although Jordan was the only one that went into the home, a group of us fervently prayed for this man and felt the Spirit move!! TOMORROW!! We journey back out of the mountains so POR FAVOR pls pls pls pray for safety, good weather, and stable ankles while hiking back!! We are so confident in the seeds that were planted and although we might not see the fruit of it, by faith, we are confident the Lord will continue to move!!! SEE Y’ALL SOON!!!" - Emme and Jackson

When families gather around God’s Word and commit it to memory, something powerful happens: 

Our December Family Verse Challenge 

This December, we invite every family in the T Bar M community to meditate on and memorize Luke 2:8‑20: the story of Christ’s birth. Together we’ll reflect on the shepherds, the angels, the humility of the manger, and the glorious declaration: “Glory to God in the highest… and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” 
Let this passage become part of your family’s ordinary rhythm: at dinner, in the car, on your couch.  

Tips from Our Staff for Practicing Scripture Together 

  1. See it, read it, say it, sing it! Repeat it together at breakfast or on a bike ride – incorporate it into your everyday routines. 
  1. Write it on a large poster board and hang it in your house where you will see it each day. 
  1. Create hand motions together as a family that goes with the verse. Do the motions each time you recite it. 
  1. Write it on your kids bathroom mirrors with a dry erase marker so that it can be read out loud each morning and night. 

1. Go See DAVID Together — Then Talk About Your “Giants.” 
Make one night during break a family outing to see the new animated film DAVID. When you’re home with hot cocoa, take ten minutes to ask: What giant am I trusting God with this next season? 
It’s simple, grounding, and opens the door for meaningful connection. 

2. Alpha vs. Omega Christmas Game Night. 
Share one of T Bar M’s favorite traditions with the people you love. Most families will naturally fall into one team, so make it bigger — invite friends, cousins, neighbors, or grandparents over and introduce them to our favorite red and blue tradition. 

Split into teams, gear up in your colors, and play a few easy, camp-style competitions: 

Keep score, celebrate wildly, and expect the tide to turn at least once. It’s the kind of friendly chaos that feels like summer fun wrapped in Christmas lights. 

3. Family Campfire With a Story Swap. 
Gather around a fire in the backyard or turn down the lights, and light a few candles for an indoor campfire. Invite everyone to share: 

Roast some marshmallows or make oven-made s'mores and you've got instant campfire magic.

4. A “Love God, Love Others” Countdown Chain. 
Make a paper chain with a simple act of love or service on each link and tear one off every morning during the break. 
Ideas: 

It’s a hands-on way to practice the heart of T Bar M at home. 

5. Create Your Own 2025 “Session Video.” 
Just like the end-of-week highlight videos your campers get each summer, make your family’s own version for 2025: 

Kids feel celebrated. Parents see God’s faithfulness. Everyone ends the year remembering the good. 

This past Monday, Alumni Mark Strong hosted his church staff at camp for a planning day. I knew they had a guest coming in to speak to them about good counseling practices. What I didn’t know until I went to see how their day was going was that it was another Alumni, Jeremy McQuown. 

I walked away that day, yes, thankful to see these guys “home” at camp. But more so, deeply thankful for what they were investing their lives in. They are continuing to invest in the Word of God and people… just not as a skit character or on a ropes course. 

It opened a floodgate of thankfulness… for YOU. While we don’t know all the things you are doing since you’ve walked outside the Gates of T Bar M, we do get glimpses and can imagine all the ways you are continuing to live out Christ-Centered Adventure. 

We are thankful for the way you keep… 

Christ in the center of the classroom where you teach, serve students, faculty, and families. 

Christ in the center of the family that you care for, provide for, and love. 

Christ in the center of the office or clinic or shop as you “work in a way that pleases God.” 

Christ in the center of the coffee shop where you lean in to encourage a friend. 

Christ in the center of the team you are leading and shepherding as our Savior would. 

Christ in the center of the wondering what’s next in your life adventure. 

Christ in the center of the hard manual labor you do for your company or employer. 

Christ in the center of your heart and trust when the adventure isn’t going as you thought. 

Christ in the center of the halls and streets where you work and live as you love your neighbors. 

Christ in the center of what you are doing outside the Gates of T Bar M. 

And y’all, this causes my heart to smile so deeply and to say, as Paul said so often, “I thank God every time I remember you.” 

This Thanksgiving, your family at T Bar M is truly thankful for YOU and the way you continue to Love God and Love Others. 

- Kelli Boyd, Director of Alumni and Engagement

Around here, we love the dinner table. Not just because it’s where the food is (though that’s a perk!), but because it’s where real connection happens.

If you’ve ever stepped foot in one of our dining halls at camp, you’ve seen it. Every meal, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, is spent shoulder to shoulder. No screens. No distractions. Just the sound of laughter, stomping feet on benches, and campers swapping stories about the zipline, cabin devos, or who's going to "win" the round of Scraper Head. The table becomes the heartbeat of the day - a place to be known, to belong, and to remember what really matters.

Back home, the rhythm of family dinners can look a little different. Soccer practice, late work calls, a toddler meltdown… it’s easy for evenings to blur into survival mode. Maybe you’ve tried to eat together, and it just didn’t stick. Maybe you’ve thought, what’s the big deal? Or maybe dinner has just become another task on the list.

But what if it’s more than that?

When we sit down at the table - even if it’s just for 20 minutes - we’re doing something quietly radical in today’s world. We’re saying: this family values presence over productivity, connection over convenience.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to have a three-course meal or a devotional planned every night. Sometimes, discipleship looks like a simple question across the table:

Those small conversations are seeds of faith. They’re where our kids learn that Jesus isn’t just someone we talk about on Sundays - He’s someone we can talk to, right in the middle of mac and cheese and spilled milk.

At T Bar M, we see how Jesus uses community to shape hearts. Around every table, campers get a glimpse of what it looks like to live differently; to slow down, to share, to listen. It’s one of the simplest, most beautiful rhythms of camp life… and one that can carry home with you

Friends! Buckle your seatbelts and get out your calendar, we have an invite for YOU!

An invitation to come and play on the fields and courts.  Waste no fun in the pools and on the ropes.

An invitation to come sit on the porches. To catch your breath and catch up with one another.

An invitation to dress up (or not) for The Theme Night of all Theme Nights.

An invitation to laugh and worship and thank the Lord for who He is and what He has done.

An invitation to come Home to camp.

Mark your calendar to be in New Braunfels March 20-22, 2026.

The weekend will look a bit like this:

Friday Night: Gather for Team Meeting and Goodnight Goodies.

Saturday: A day at camp! No fun will be wasted while we take in all of the camp traditions you know and love.
- Batter's Box/Trail Guide
- Free Time on the fields, in the pools, on the ropes, on the courts, on the porches catching up
- Epic Theme Night and Team Meeting/Main Thing
- And of course, three square meals... (who's up for some yellow meal or poppy seed chicken!)

Sunday: Breakfast and worship as we wrap up our time together.

Are you ready?  Are you FUAGNEM?  But have a few more questions?  Read on.

Is there a charge?  A small one, to help cover a portion of the costs. See below for details.

What about lodging?  The Country Inn/Lodge as well as the cabins will be ready for you.  There is a small fee to cover costs, but well worth the commute!

Can I bring my family? Absolutely!  

Can we come on Saturday only? Absolutely!

Can dietary needs be accommodated? Absolutely!

Will there be Alpha/Omega Competition?  Absolutely!

Should I go ahead and sign up? Absolutely!

Click Here to Register!

- Kelli Boyd, Director of Alumni and Engagement

45th Reunion Pricing
(our desire is to be good stewards for you and us)

Programming: shirts, meals, snacks, swag, all the fun & activities
Adults (18 & up): $60
Kids (2-17): $40
Babies (0-2): No charge

Lodging (if needed):
Lodge Rooms (sleeps 4): $75/night
Family Cabin (sleeps 10): $50/night
Individual in a Cabin: $10/night

The fun of camp doesn’t have to stay at camp... you can bring it to school with you! One fun and easy way to camp-ify your child’s school day is by packing them Yellow Meal (a camper favorite) in their lunchbox! 

First thing’s first... What is Yellow Meal? We’re so glad you asked! 

Imagine you’re a first-time camper. After a long day of swimming, playing, and jumping from activity to activity, you’ve worked up quite the appetite. As you head to the dining hall for dinner, you hear a buzz from your fellow campers. “I think it’s Yellow Meal tonight,” you hear them say. You don’t know what that means, but they seem excited about it, so you are too. 

You make your way over to your cabin’s table and discover that everything on the table in front of you is, well, yellow! Chicken tenders, cornbread, mac and cheese, and applesauce—it's a feast fit for a hungry camper.  

Yellow meal is a time-honored tradition at T Bar M, and one your camper will remember whether they’ve been to camp one summer or ten. 

You can re-create yellow meal in your camper’s school lunch—and bring back all those fun summer memories—with four simple components! 

Chicken Nuggets 

The star of the show and the main protein source! At camp, they’re chicken tenders, but bite sized nuggets are easy to pack and eat on the go. Make them from scratch if you’re feeling fancy or grab them from the freezer aisle, we won’t tell! Throw in a sauce (honey mustard is yellow!), and you’re good to go.  

Cheese Stick  

Pack in that protein and calcium! Instead of mac and cheese, pack your camper a cheese stick or cheese slices. From cheddar to colby jack, there are plenty of yellow cheeses to choose from.  

Cornbread Muffin 

At camp, cornbread is a crucial part of the yellow meal menu. Pack a slice in a plastic bag if you have leftovers from last night’s dinner, or make it in a muffin tin for easy, on-the-go snacking. 

Applesauce or Apple Slices 

Fruit belongs in yellow meal, too! Applesauce pouches or cups are a quick and convenient option, or you can slice up a fresh apple. Bonus points if it’s yellow!  

Bonus Add-Ins 

Every Wednesday night since the dawn of T Bar M, the Sports Field is transformed from a place of fun and play to a place of reflection. Star Gaze. It’s a moment when every camper and coach lays on the sports field and takes time to “be still and know that He is God” (Psalm 46:10). Campers have just been presented with the incredible news that Jesus Christ has a gift for them. Some would call it a “tradition,” but if you have laid on that field, you know it to be so much more than that. Holy. Life-changing. 

In fact, it is so important to T Bar M, that Campfires at Camp Travis and Huddles at Day Camps were the first things that found their place in their year one schedules. There is no doubt that some of the best conversations and life change happen on porches and fields—where God’s people talk with Him and one another about the life He wants us to live. 
 
Not a week goes by each summer that a parent, an alumni, or an older camper doesn’t see that field and say, “that’s where I met Jesus for the first time,” “I remember laying on that field in elementary school and knowing I needed Jesus,” or “I prayed to accept Christ right there.” Friends recall conversations that began in Bible studies in the morning, porches in the afternoon, and in the quiet (or even wrestling) of hearts that were given time to take root by simply sitting still Wednesday night on the Sports Field. 

This summer was no exception. God continued to meet hundreds of campers on that field and at Campfire… in their hearts. 
 
On July 9th, during Session 7 of the summer, our full-time staff came to Base Camp to pray for the campers and coaches while the Gospel presentation was being given. We broke into small groups as they found their spots on the field. Campers had their Bibles and hearts open while laying scattered near their coaches, close by but far enough to have space to consider, talk to, and for many, accept Jesus. 
 
This was the moment in the summer, when the entire state was looking to Jesus—in fear, in hope, in disappointment. Many campers and parents were anxious. And that night, many campers laid on that field and gave those anxieties and their hearts to Jesus.  
 
Those campers outlasted our prayer huddles. They remained still and engaged with their Bibles, their thoughts, and their coaches for nearly two hours. Not one cartwheel or wrestling match combusted. Not one person asked them to stay that long. It took our breath away. It was holy.  
 
And it was what had been happening all summer. Sure, maybe a bit longer that particular week as the state mourned with Kerr County. But campers and coaches looking to Jesus in fear, in hope, in disappointment of what storm was hitting their own life, had undistracted space and time to meet with Jesus. And they did. 
 

Camp yields a special time to unplug, refocus, and hear Jesus in a different way. The challenge for us is this: How can we each take time each day, each week, to linger longer with Jesus? How can we give our disappointments, fears, and questions to Him and create space to hear and know the hope He has for each of us? 

- Kelli Boyd, Alumni Coordinator