The Last Summer on the Mountain

See You Around the Campfire

Three years ago, our family packed up and moved to the mountain.

We didn't know exactly what God had planned. We just knew He had opened a door at Beersheba Springs Assembly, and we were willing to walk through it.

Now, as I spend my final summer here, I find myself looking at familiar places a little differently.

The dining hall where countless meals have been shared.

The porches where guests have gathered to catch up with old friends.

The meeting rooms where church groups, retreats, and conferences have spent time studying God's Word.

The winding roads that have become second nature.

For three years, this mountain has been home.

Not forever. But for a season.

And what a season it has been.

More Than a Place

If you've ever served in ministry, you know that places are really about people.

The mountain is beautiful, but what I'll remember most are the relationships.

The guests who returned year after year.

The volunteers who gave their time to make events successful.

The staff members who became friends.

The pastors, leaders, and retreat planners who trusted us to help create spaces where people could step away from the noise of everyday life.

Hospitality ministry is unique because most of the work happens behind the scenes.

A guest may never know how many people worked to prepare a room, plan a meal, solve a maintenance issue, or answer a last-minute request.

And that's okay.

The goal was never recognition.

The goal was always creating an environment where people could focus on what mattered most.

The Gift of Three Years

Three years isn't a lifetime.

But it's long enough to build friendships.

Long enough to watch children grow.

Long enough to become part of a community.

Long enough to see God work again and again.

I've learned that ministry isn't always about standing on a stage. Sometimes it's setting tables, solving problems, welcoming guests, and helping people feel cared for.

Some of the most meaningful moments happened in ordinary conversations.

A guest sharing how much a retreat meant to them.

A church group celebrating a milestone.

A family finding rest during a busy season of life.

Those moments remind me why hospitality matters.

When people feel welcomed, they are often more open to what God wants to do in their lives.

Looking Ahead, Grateful for Today

This fall, our family will begin a new chapter as we move to Florida and join the ministry of Pickett Lake Camp.

We're excited about what's ahead.

But excitement for the future doesn't lessen gratitude for the past.

This mountain has been a place of growth for me as a leader, a husband, a father, and a follower of Christ.

It has been a place where God provided, taught, challenged, and encouraged us.

And while I know there are still a few months left before we say goodbye, this final summer feels like a good reminder to slow down and appreciate the season we're in.

Too often we're focused on what's next.

God is teaching me to be thankful for what's now.

One More Summer

So this summer, I'm paying a little more attention.

To the conversations.

To the laughter.

To the familiar faces.

To the mountain views that have greeted us for three years.

Because seasons change.

That's part of life.

But God's faithfulness doesn't.

And when this chapter closes, we'll carry the lessons, friendships, and memories with us wherever He leads next.

For now, I'm simply grateful for one more summer on the mountain.

Until next time...

See you around the campfire.

Travis