On June 26, Danny Toombs celebrated retirement after more than 40 years of service in Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BMC) in Oklahoma. Below is an article reflecting on his time serving and the importance of BCM.
It’s so hard to believe that I have been serving at the Cameron University Baptist Collegiate Ministry more than 40 years. I would never have dreamed that I would be at this stage of my life so soon. I have been extremely blessed to be able to do what I have done and to be able to do it all at Cameron University.
I am forever grateful to God for His grace and to Oklahoma Baptists for allowing me to serve in this awesome ministry. I am also thankful for my family as they have supported, sacrificed for and encouraged me over the years. I am indebted to our local associations and churches who have faithfully supported the ministry at Cameron.
Through the years we have seen numerous students surrender their lives to Christ and experience His salvation. Many others have surrendered to vocational ministry and are currently serving all over the world, and there are even more who are faithfully serving in their churches.
It’s been a blessing to be a part of each student’s journey to follow Christ wherever He leads. One of my favorite things is to take students on International Mission trips and watch God open their eyes and hearts to see more than they imagined. Another is getting to be there when the light switch comes on and God reveals something to them in a powerful, life-changing way.
Over the years, there have been many changes in how we minister to students. Changes in technology and trends are always “fun” to keep up with. But some things have not changed. The students’ need and search for real community and the desire to be poured into have remained consistent throughout my time in collegiate ministry.
Students know if you really care about them or if they are just a number to you. God gave me a love for them that I cannot explain any other way. If you are, or desire to, work with college students and young adults, I cannot overemphasize how important it is to truly love them. They will get on your last nerve, they will disappoint you and even turn on you sometimes, but I have done no less to my Savior Who continues to love me.
Do not ask God to give you patience for them or you will develop plenty of it very quickly. Rather, pray that God will grow your love for them because, in the end, it will all be worth it.
