Inside the Cove | Stories | Summer Staff
by Pine Cove
Believe it or not, it’s time for us to sing the Birthday Rap to the Ranch—our East Texas junior high camp just turned 50 (let’s count ’em!) years old! The Lord has used the Ranch to transform the lives of thousands of campers and staffers since its very first summer back in 1974. Buildings have come and gone, activities have cycled in and out of fashion, and campers have grown and had children of their own that they’ve sent to the very same camp.
It’s amazing to think back on those early days when there was so much anticipation and excitement for this new property. Bedford ‘Chaps’ Holmes, a Ranch staffer throughout the 70’s and 80’s, shared, “It was just a time for all these college students coming to know the Lord, and all these kids coming to know the Lord, to have a place to come to camp. The seventies were a time when the Ranch camp came online just in time to step into the ministry opportunity of reaching all these people.” Fifty years later, and the seeds planted all those years ago are still growing and flourishing. We are thankful for where we’ve been, and eager about where we’re going. Join us as we take a look back at 50 years of the Pine Cove Ranch!
“There’s just something about the spirit that is just close to the Pine Cove Ranch. You feel it when you step on property.” —Caroline ‘Rents’ Reyes
More than a few legendary Pine Cove skits have been born at the Ranch! Often thought of on the fly or cobbled together from a collection of wigs, masks, and crazy hats, Ranch skits have always been hilarious and memorable. One iconic skit character in particular was known as “Delbert the Wonder Chicken”.
“We went down to Brookshire’s and bought a raw chicken, and then it did all these tricks. We’d slingshot it into the pool, launch it with a water balloon launcher, and even zipline it during closing celebrations with all the parents in the room. We’d have it race kids, too. We’d pick the fastest kid, have them start running, and then throw the chicken back there. Of course, the chicken would win every time. It was the fastest chicken, could fly the highest, and was basically training for the Poultry Olympics!” —Craig ‘Dutch’ Langemeier, on a popular recurring 90’s skit.
“Camp people can live on a wing and a prayer. They can make a game for 250 children out of a dodgeball and some random stuff that they find in a sports shed.” —Caroline ‘Rents’ Reyes
“A girl’s parents reached out saying that she’d never made it through a full week of camp due to homesickness, but that they’d love to see her make it through this time.
I picked a counselor I thought would be a great fit for her. She struggled for the first few days, but at some point, one of our program staffers was able to connect with her. The staff member shared her own story about struggles with anxiety, worry, and fear. For the first time, this little girl realized, ‘I’m not alone. This is other people’s story too.’ They made a deep connection, and for the camper, I think it was a transformative moment. She felt safe, known, fully loved, and cared for.
She ended up making it through the week, which was an incredible accomplishment. But what was even more powerful was what happened at our staff meeting that week. The staffer stood up and shared the story of their connection. I still vividly remember her saying, ‘For the first time in my life, I realized why God had me walk through such a hard road with anxiety and depression.’ It was one of those full-circle moments where you just think, ‘Only God can orchestrate something like this.’”—Lance ‘Silly Puddy’ Sisco
“I remember counselors going around praying for kids before they arrived at camp, walking through and praying over the bunks. They’d sense the Holy Spirit pause them at one specific bunk, and they’d stop and pray specifically, led by the Spirit. And then that bunk would end up belonging to a kid with all kinds of challenges—someone who, by the end of the week, put their faith in Christ. It was just incredible to see the sensitivity of the Spirit in our staff to pause and pray like that.” —Craig ‘Dutch’ Langemeier
Jiggs Gaffney has been a fixture at the Ranch for almost as long as the camp has existed! Everyone’s favorite “Commando Boss” and professional bell ringer first started coming to the Ranch 47 years ago, and we couldn’t be more grateful for him. Jiggs may live with an intellectual disability, but he remains an example of selflessness and service to all of our campers and staffers.
“I remember walking through camp one night during the last week of the summer. And on the pickleball court while no one’s around, there’s Jiggs, just sweeping it off, getting it clear of all the leaves and all the things. And I just remember thinking, “Dude, what a gift.” —Lance ‘Silly Puddy’ Sisco
The Lord has used the Ranch to impact the lives of thousands of campers. We are incredibly humbled and overwhelmed to reflect back on all the ways He has blessed this property and its people over the course of five decades, and we can’t wait to see what He’ll do in the years to come!
“It is such a privilege to get to be a part of what God has been doing and what He will continue to do at the Ranch! As a former Ranch camper, I have seen the property transform over the years, and now as director, I have gotten to see numerous lives transformed as well! We are humbled to steward and shepherd roughly 3,500 campers and 200 staffers each summer, and we are excited to keep expanding activity classes and facilities to provide the most excellent, seriously fun environment for the truth of the Gospel to keep transforming lives!”
—JD ‘Rambus’ Moore, Ranch Camp Director
“I continue to be excited about us staying Christ-centered, others-focused, and seriously fun. Our mission is to inspire campers to walk intimately with Jesus, and equip college students to be launched out into this world to be agents of transformation, joining Jesus in His work, in this Kingdom of His. My hope and prayer is that long after I’m gone, that the ministry is healthy, that it is strong, that it is still focused on Jesus and guided by scripture and listening to the Holy Spirit.” —Craig ‘Dutch’ Langemeier
Posted Apr 8, 2025
Categories: Inside the Cove, Stories, Summer Staff (Browse all)
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