Our Church History

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:19-22

Rev. Dick Adkins and Mr. Morton Hite…this is where our church history begins. In 1942, Mr. Adkins moved to the Buffalo Springs community as a farmer. Prior to moving, Dick Adkins had just been saved a year or so earlier. He was a man with no formal education. It is said that the only thing Mr. Adkins could read was his Bible. It was around this time that Dick Adkins felt a calling on his life to the ministry. Mr. Adkins’ farm was joined next to Mr. Morton Hite’s. Now, Mr. Hite had been saved since he was 16 years old. He was a member of a local church where he served on the deacon board. Morton Hite was a devoted student of God’s Word; he read and studied every moment he could possibly find. He had a burden for the lost people in the neighborhood.

Two neighboring farmers…

Rev. Dick Adkins

It wasn’t before long, these two farmers met and got to know each other. Mr. Hite and Mr. Adkins sat together night after night reading and discussing God’s Word. When their chores were all finished, and they had their evening meal, you could almost always find these two men together, reading and studying the Bible. Now, these meetings went on more during the winter months, but even during the summertime, Mr. Adkins and Mr. Hite was never too tired to talk over the Bible. They both had a burning desire to share Christ to others in the community.

In 1943, Morton Hite and Dick Adkins began to hold prayer meetings in the homes around the community. Every Saturday night, they would meet in someone’s home to sing, pray, and preach the gospel. Rev. Dick Adkins would preach how lost souls could be saved and have the assurance of going to heaven when they die (John 3:7; Ephesians 2:8-9). Rev. Adkins presented the plan of salvation in a way that even children could grasp the truth. As a result, many people were saved in these meetings. As God answered prayers, the attendance of this prayer meetings grew. It was not uncommon for the crowds to number as high as 100 in attendance. This added fuel to the desire in the hearts of God’s children.

So, prayer meetings began…

In 1944, the people became interested in having a church in the community. Rev. Adkins knew of someone that could loan a tent. He also knew the pastor of South Hall Baptist Church in Danville, Virginia - Rev. W.C. Bradley. He preached the gospel that the young and old alike needed to hear. Then, the question arose - Where can the tent be set up? The location needed to be well known with easy access and large enough for parking. The answer?…Mr. Morton Hite! Now, Mr. Hite just harvested the crop off his field that was located on Route 58. No preparation was needed except to take down the fence.

A tent revival in Buffalo Springs…

So, everyone got to work, and God was always there to counteract any stumbling blocks of that ol’ devil. Mr. Hite, his boys, and others began taking down the fence surrounding his field. The tent was borrowed and set up. Someone even loaned a piano to be used. Rev. Bradley brought with him singers and people to play the piano. People came…the gospel was presented…souls were saved! Revival was set to last for two weeks; however, at the end of the second week, the people asked for Rev. Bradley to continue revival for one more week. And at the end of that third week, on July 25, 1944, the Buffalo Baptist Tabernacle was organized under Rev. W.C. Bradley.

As the church was established, the people decided it was time to build a church building. Mr. Morton Hite gave the church a deed to the same field that the tent revival had been setup. Today, Buffalo Baptist Tabernacle sets on that very same property. Now, after the tent had to be returned, the church needed a place to meet until the building was constructed. So, the church began meeting in a vacant schoolhouse that was located on present-day Cow Road. The church continued to meet in the schoolhouse until the church building was completed in 1945. Rev. W.C. Bradley, along with Rev. Dick Adkins, continued to preach for Buffalo Baptist Tabernacle until the church called its first full-time pastor, Rev. Eugene Wood, in October 1947.

Establishing a permanent home…

Buffalo Baptist Tabernacle has grown over the years. The church has had 14 full-time preachers sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the congregation. Many souls have been saved, and there was growth in membership. Men of God have been called to the ministry from inside the very pews of our church. The church has built support for various missionaries here in our country and out in the foreign fields. The Ladies Fellowship was started in 1960. Various youth ministries have filled the classrooms. Homecomings…revivals…church-wide stews…Vacation Bible Schools…these have all helped to build the church over the years. Today, Buffalo Baptist Tabernacle still stands as a beacon for Christ in the Buffalo Springs community where second and third generations of those faithful members who started the church continues to make much of Christ. Buffalo Baptist Tabernacle is the result of the faithfulness of just two neighborly farmers who shared a burden for their community.

Since its humble beginnings…

Fun Facts about Buffalo Baptist Tabernacle

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6

October 1944, the church hired Mr. Ellis Bowen to building the church building for $6,000.
The church held its first business meeting in the new building April 6, 1945.
1st revival was April 1945.
In June 1945, the church elected the first three deacons - Mr. BC Owen, Mr. Algie Bowen, and Mr. Morton Hite. In September, the church elected Mr. Arthur L. Tillotson, Mr. Lemuel Matthews, Mr. Raymond Bowen, and Mr. Victor Coghill as deacons-giving the church 7 deacons total.
1st Homecoming was October 18, 1945.

September 6, 1946, the church started having Sunday night services.
The 1st stew was November 1, 1950. It started when Mrs. Finard Owen hosted a stew for her Sunday School class; the stew later turned into a church-wide event and has been a yearly treasured tradition.
Mr. Ellis Bowen was hired by the church to build parsonage in 1951 and the educational building (the old fellowship hall) in 1953.
In 1960, Mrs. Janie Wood started hosting monthly meetings for her Sunday School at her home. This led to our women’s ministry, the Ladies Fellowship.
The church commissioned Mrs. Mary Peele Owen to paint the scenery in the baptist in 1964. The painting is still there today,

In 1965, the church had its 1st Vacation Bible School.
On February 8, 1967, the church voted to remodel the auditorium and add the pastor’s study, nursery, vestibule, and steeple.
The stained glass windows were added to the sanctuary in 1969.
In 1985, the fellowship hall was built where it currently is today.
In 1988, the Awana’s Program began on Wednesday nights
Prior to the church baptistry, congregation would meet for baptisms at:

— branch behind Mr. Arthur Glasscock’s home
— Poole’s Mill raceway near Aaron’s Creek
— spring branch near Mr. Ellis Bowen’s home
— Aaron’s Creek mainstream between Poole’s Mill & Hwy 58
— branch cement spillway below Buffalo Springs Lake

Homecoming
1948

Our Pastors at Buffalo Baptist Tabernacle

“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.” ~I Peter 5:1-3

the founding pastors of Buffalo Baptist Tabernacle

They continued to preach for the church until the church elected its first full-time pastor.