Group
(VOLUNTEER)
What a
Year
Volunteer
serving
with
> By Mike Newton facilities director
&
heart
What a year! Our first year at the
camp has been filled with learning
and progress. Since moving to
the camp, I’ve been amazed by
the scale of the construction and
remodeling projects that get done
around here. Large things happen
fast. If you come to the camp at
least annually, you can’t help but
notice that we are continually
growing. Improvement to existing
structures and new facility
construction is frequently under
way. We do a good job, too. But, we don’t do all of it. We don’t even do half, really.
The labor of some very special folks we call volunteers is evident in everything we offer our guests.
Retreat, for many, has so much to do with what we see around us. The ability to relax in mind is
influenced, in large part, by what we see. These servants are making a tremendous difference in
what our guests see. It would be difficult to have a conversation with someone about the growth
of Tejas without mentioning volunteers. These projects would be obstacles without the skill and
sacrifice of organizations such as the Texas Baptist Men, Mobile Missionary Assistance Program
(MMAP), Campers on Mission, Roving Volunteers in Christ’s Service (RVICS) and SOWERS. These
folks descend upon Camp Tejas during the retreat season like a small swarm of bees and things start
happening.
This past retreat season, with the help of volunteers, we were able to complete the construction of
the first house in our off-site staff housing plans. So many other things have been done to improve
the appearance of the camp in the short time I’ve been here. From paint at Four Seasons to outdoor
lighting and sprinkler systems across the Meadows Retreat Center; from repaired masonry at the
main camp to trash can covers campus-wide.
The transient nature of their service -moving from one project to the next and spending so much
time away from home- is inspiring to me. I hope that I have the energy and means to serve in this
way if the opportunity comes. Thank you, volunteers. Thank you all for your service to Him and
your help to us. >>
soul
“The labor of
some very
special folks we
call volunteers
is evident in
everything
we offer our
guests.”
Summer SMT
Volunteer:
- Kaleb Parks
>>
Ways to help
>>
Staff Volunteer
BRING A GROUP
MEALS-ON-WHEELS
Volunteer and your stay with us could be free.
There are some weekends when the camp is
not completely full. If space is available, small
volunteer groups (up to 30), including families, can
stay with us, eat any guest meals, help us with
some projects, and use a conference room. This
is a great opportunity to teach servanthood.
Giddings Outreach
Every other Wednesday during the summer,
Community Ministry Intern Mikey Rivas
and full-time staff member Aaron Renfroe
delivered meals and built relationships with
the elderly community of Giddings. Find out
more about what Tejas is doing for the
Kingdom of God on page 28.
>>
18
pages 2009
Magazine.indd 18
11/12/2009 1:16:32 PM