We Love Dr. Buffington
We are very honored to have Dr. J.B. Buffington with Christchurch Baptist Fellowship this morning! When he was a young man, he came to the aid of his country and was the pilot of the B-29, commonly known as “The Flying Fortress.” After completing his tenure in defending our country against world tyranny, he settled down to live the good life that was promised to these parents of the “Baby Boomer Generation.” He moved back to central Florida with his precious wife, and became the most promising young man in the clothing retail business. He was admired greatly by Mr. Lindsey of The Belk-Lindsey chain. And as the world might say, “His future was set.” One problem: young J.B. Buffington could not get his mind or heart off the call to preach. He and his precious wife Betty pulled up roots and moved to Tennessee to attend what could be said to be the “hot-house” of evangelism, Tennessee Temple College. To this day J. B. Buffington holds the honor of maintaining the highest grade point average of any student to have ever attended this college.
Upon completion of training for the ministry, Dr. Buffington went back home to central Florida. When I was a boy in Lakeland, Florida, we were blessed to have a man of God such as Dr. J.B. Buffington in our midst. In every possible area he stood for the truth, battled sin in every arena, and lifted high the cross of Christ at Calvary Baptist Church. I think of two verses as I think of Dr. and Mrs. Buffington: “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour” (Romans 13:7). “And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go” (I Samuel 9:6).
We love Dr. J.B. Buffington for many reasons. Let me share with you a few:
I. He has preached the Gospel in its purest form.
J. B. has not preached Christ as an answer to life’s greatest questions and problems; he has preached Christ as the answer. What an encouragement for younger preachers on maintaining the balance of their ministry, while “keeping the main thing, the main thing!”
“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (I Corinthians 2:2).
II. He has fought sin with all his strength.
It was not unusual for us to open up The Ledger, to discover that Dr. Buffington had addressed on not one, but two full pages the most controversial subjects as they came up in society, from abortion to capital punishment to so-called adult entertainment. I remember in my youth hearing Dr. Buffington say, “The church is to be the conscience of the community.” I have never forgotten that! Just recently I was with Dr. Mickey Carter who pointed out to me that just recently a legal decision had been made in Central Florida barring the adult entertainment trade and he pointed out that it all goes back to those days a few decades ago when Dr. Buffington helped keep Florida “morally” pollution free.
III. He has set an example for what it means to be a good husband.
Mrs. Buffington could not be with us today, but let me say that after all these years, Dr. & Mrs. Buffington have been faithful and true to each other. The honeymoon never escaped their blessed marriage, not even through their kids’ up-bringing. He has lived what Ephesians 5:25 admonishes, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”
IV. He has been a wonderful father and grandfather.
You cannot be around Dr. Buffington very long without knowing a little something about either a child or grandchild of his. He set an example that none of his offspring have to apologize about. Recently the craze WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) has been promoted throughout our country. What a blessing that when the Buffington kids might not have been able to physically see Jesus, they were able to see in both of their parents the life of Jesus. If for no other reason, I love the Buffingtons for the Christ-likeness they have exemplified.
V. He has been a friend to preachers and missionaries.
Dr. Buffington is still known throughout the world as a preacher’s preacher. He will still speak at some of the largest mission conferences throughout our country. When he was pastor of the great Calvary Baptist Church, he sent missionaries to every continent and to every corner of the world. All throughout his ministry he was called upon to leave the comforts of home while he preached Bible conferences throughout the country. He challenged preachers to live above the level of mediocrity and stand for something. He still challenges me personally to live the life God has called me to!
VI. He has aged gracefully.
Dr. and Mrs. Buffington have both grown older gracefully. It is not unusual for older preachers to sometime get a little “sharp around the edges.” In the Buffingtons, you will see a very sweet spirit. Although they have both known what it means to get hurt, yes, even in the work of the Lord, they have remained the same.
One thing I appreciate about Dr. and Mrs. Buffington is they both have such a keen sense of humor. They could have easily been impressed with their own importance, but they never took themselves so seriously that a good joke could not be enjoyed, even at their own expense.
Welcome, Dr. J. B. Buffington! We love you!
- Pastor Pope -