KYLE ACHESON, 9, and Case Acheson, 10, play with giant dominoes at Pine Cove Christian Camps' new headquarters in Tyler, which debuted on Friday.

Pine Cove Christian Camps, a nondenominational organization started in Tyler more than 50 years ago, will be able to focus on expanding its ministry and better serving its locations with its new headquarters located on Kinsey Drive, Senior Director of Communications Susan Andreone said.

The organization has relocated its headquarters from one of its camps to Kinsey Drive to step away from the day-to-day of the camp in which the original base of operations was located, Andreone said.

The camp started in 1967 with 345 campers. This year they expect to have around 37,000 campers across the three regions in which the organization hosts camps.

The one camp in East Texas grew into 12 camps in three regions, including one in South Carolina.

“Like the boy in John 6, with the fish and the loaves, we gave our land and buildings to God and he blessed and multiplied what we had,” founder Bill McKenzie, 88, said. “I didn’t ever see us growing this big, but we have a great God who does amazing things.”

McKenzie said he would like to one day see the organization host camps in five regions, or maybe even seven.

Andreone said the organization’s current goal is to have camps in five regions by 2040.

The camps focus on kids and teens based on their grade or what level of school (elementary, junior high and high school) they are in.

Chief Ministry Officer Craig Langemeier said the camp has the serious mission of sharing the gospel

with everyone they come in contact with but they don’t take themselves too seriously.

“Our culture is we want to be Christ-centered, others-focused and seriously fun,” Langemeier said. “The building reflects that. We built the place intentionally designed to create collaboration and a fun, interactive environment.”

The art in the building reflects that easygoing, selfless attitude.

Messages encouraging those in the office space to breathe, have fun, fellowship with one another over meals, and remember their goal that adorns the walls. Hanging seats, beanbag chairs, reclined leather seats with a side table and a lamp all offer their employees places to go and relax away from their desks or offices while they work.

One large photograph mounted on a wall of camp volunteers worshiping together is overlaid with the message “It’s not about you.”

“We’re not trying to be rude, but our job, our mission is not about us,” Andreone said. “We’re here to serve others, to think about others. To think about our campers and the families that come to our family camps. So it’s really not about us.”