T Bar M has been part of New Braunfels for a long time, and this year the camp turns 45. What began in 1981 as a small place for families to find rest and fun in the outdoors has grown into a community with camps for kids, teens, and whole families to deepen their connection with God and with each other. Over the years, T Bar M has kept its core mission: to present Jesus, teach His ways, and help people draw closer to God. That steady focus has provided guidance while keeping the heart of the camp the same.
Walk into a T Bar M week, and you will notice a few things right away. Staff and volunteers work hard to help campers set aside screens and distractions so they can focus on relationships. As John MacDonald, President of T Bar M, put it, campers are encouraged to “unplug” so they can build friendships “shoulder to shoulder” and deepen their walk with God. That mix of serious faith and real joy is what campers and families keep coming back for. As Kelli Boyd, Director of Alumni and Engagement, often reminds the team, if there is a fun way to do something, they choose it. Their #1 rule is "Don't Waste Fun."
Access matters at T Bar M. John and the rest of the team believe money should not keep kids and teens from coming. To lower that barrier, they run a campership program, funded by the community. Last year, the community raised about $190 thousand, helping 250 youth attend camp who otherwise might not have been able to go. After a sponsored stay, campers write thank-you notes and send a photo to their sponsor.
Kelli shared how “one very well-written letter” sent to their sponsor resulted in their sponsor supporting their camp stays year after year. Even after the youth ages out of camp, the community continues to support kids being able to come and experience a truly life-changing experience. Those moments show how giving is personal, not anonymous.
Community support goes beyond checks. People pitch in with hands-on work, training, and regular gifts. Many of the camp’s counselors, called coaches, are local teens and college students who grew up at T Bar M. That local love keeps the camp tied to our beautiful community. Families, churches, and local businesses also help through one-time gifts, monthly support, and by volunteering during busy weeks. Those steady acts of care keep doors open and help the camp keep costs fair for families.
This anniversary year is also a year of growth. T Bar M is moving forward on a major expansion that will let more families come and stay. A 20-acre parcel was sold to the camp by a local family who felt strongly that this gift was God’s call for the land. That extra acreage will let the camp expand its family program, add cabins and common spaces, and offer more weeks for their family camp program. The expansion effort shows the plan in numbers. The first phases total more than 30 million dollars in work. John said, “God has provided $23 million of that,” which places the project well on its way. “But what we are more excited about is the porches and fields where families can unplug to reconnect.”
Those funds are already shaping the future. Work includes a new dining hall, a water feature, and open fields where families can play and pray together. Future phases include a ropes course, a sports center, and an outdoor space for worship. The hope is practical. These additions give families more time and space to talk about faith, to rest, and to return to daily life with fresh energy.
The camp is using its 45th anniversary to invite the community to join its Team 1981 initiative. Landing 1,981 monthly donations to the Today program means more camperships and more kids being able to experience the wonder.
What stands out in every conversation with the team is humility. John keeps returning to a simple pair of rules. “Love God and love each other.” Kelli went on to emphasize “each other,” meaning each person who walks through the gate. The camp’s leadership says the goal is not only to operate as a formal ministry. They describe their work as living out a discipleship model that flows into churches, neighborhoods, and the community. The result is a steady stream of people who carry lessons learned at camp into daily life.
T Bar M’s 45th year is a reminder that a faithful little idea, creating a place for families to rest, play, and grow in faith, can become a lasting gift for a whole community. The camp is ready to welcome more families, strengthen more faith, and keep the fun and purpose alive for another generation.
...if there is a fun way to do something, they choose it. Their #1 rule is "Don't Waste Fun."
T Bar M’s 45th year is a reminder that a faithful little idea, creating a place for families to rest, play, and grow in faith, can become a lasting gift for a whole community.