In 1964, four men (including Bill McKenzie, Bill Garrison and Professor Howard Hendricks) spent time in a boat in the middle of the 10-acre lake at what is now known as the Pine Cove Woods Camp. During their time of prayer, they asked God to show favor on the idea of a new Christian camp to be called Pine Cove. Four years later, Pine Cove hosted its first summer of campers in 1968, due to the vision and effort of Bill McKenzie.

Now, more than 40 years later, over 800,000 people have attended summer camp at Pine Cove. Eight different camps encompass the modern-day Pine Cove - six in East Texas (Towers, Ranch, Timbers, Shores, Woods, Bluffs) and two near Columbus, Texas (Crier Creek and Outback).

We know that thousands of people have come to know Christ as their personal Savior in the past four decades and countless others have made major decisions in the way they live their life - young adults committing to purity, husbands choosing to love their wives and kids, moms resolving to love their husbands and biblically raise their children.

Mario Zandstra, Pine Cove’s current President and CEO once asked Bill McKenzie, "How does Pine Cove compare to what you imagined that day in 1964?"

Bill’s response: "It has had a far greater impact than we ever could have imagined.”

Pine Cove exists to be used by God to transform the lives of people for His purposes and His glory. It is only by God’s grace that He has chosen to use Pine Cove to change lives. And we at Pine Cove continually rely on God’s grace to use our ministry to change more lives… all for His glory!