The Body of Christ in Buffalo Wyoming
“He is also the head of the body, the church, and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.” Colossians 1:18
As of this time (May 2016) the congregation of Christ here in Buffalo has a membership of about 33 members. Our members range in age from 14 yrs to 85 yrs.
* Please read the article titled, “What is the church ?”
We hold our worship services at 11 am Sunday morning, and at 6 pm Sunday evening. Bible studies are held at 10 am Sunday mornings, with an adult class, a teen class, and a pre-teen class. There is also a Wednesday evening adult bible study at 7 pm. All worship assemblies and bible studies are held at our building located at 1100 Fort St. Buffalo, Wy. Fort St is the same as highway 16 west, that goes over the Bighorn Mountains and heads toward Yellowstone Park.
If you are ever in the neighborhood, we invite you to stop by and worship with us, or take part in one of the bible studies. Visitors are always welcome and we promise that we will do our very best to make sure that you are made to feel right at home during your visit here. Personal bible studies are always available by contacting us through one of our contact phone numbers or by email. You can also leave a comment here on the website, and we promise to get back to you as soon as possible, usually the same day.
Contact numbers:
Jim; 307-620-9218 / Doug; 307-684-7938
Please leave a message if no one answers, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Send text messages to, 307-620-9218
Email: Website:
buffalococ@outlook.com cocbuffalowy.com (or)
buffalochurchofchrist.com
History of the church of Christ in Buffalo
Christians first gathered for worship here in Buffalo in 1956, when a total of eighteen people met in the home of Mrs. Stella Reynolds. That same year five gospel preachers from around Wyoming met here in Buffalo to conduct a gospel meeting. The church began meeting with regularity in 1957, but then some people fell away, and others moved away, and the congregation disbanded for at least a few months, in 1957.
Then in January 1958, a new effort was made by some of the members, to assemble together when Elmer and Vashti Huff began holding bible studies and worship services in their home on Carrington St. in Buffalo. When they first began meeting together, there were six adults and one child who assembled for worship.
By 1963, there were 29 members. The membership fluctuated for several years, but in 1973, the congregation found itself with only one man, 5 women, and three children remaining. Despite the struggles, that small group managed to maintain itself and to assemble for worship every first day of the week. In the mid 70’s growth came, and their perseverance was rewarded, as the Lord added to their numbers.
We have collected and saved much detailed information about the church’s struggles during these early years, but from that point on, in 1958, the church of Christ has never ceased to assemble for worship, which includes partaking of the Lord’s supper, on every first day of the week, right here in Buffalo, Wyoming.
A Building to meet in; 1961
The church in those days came together in private homes and in rented buildings and borrowed buildings, whatever was available. But thanks to the efforts of a brother named J.T. Bristow, funds were raised to build a much needed building in which to meet. The construction commenced on Tuesday, June 6, 1961, and the building was completed, and an “Open House” was held, on Aug. 27, 1961. There were over a hundred people present for the open house, with 74 who attended an afternoon singing, and 59 who came back for evening worship.
Today the church still meets in that same building located at 1100 Fort St. Our membership at the time of this writing is 33. We’ve had many people come and go over the years. Many have just moved on to various areas of the country, and others have moved on from this life. But we thank God for the faith and hard work that many individuals have put forth over the years to keep the congregation alive and strong, in Buffalo.
Come worship with us
We do want to invite everyone to come and worship with us if you are ever in our part of the country. In the meantime, we urge you to continue to visit our website, and to leave your comments here, and ask us any questions you may have concerning the body of Christ as a whole, or this particular congregation, or any spiritual topic at all. We love to talk about Jesus and those He died for, and we love to teach His word. May God bless you all, according to His will. Yours truly, in love; the body of believers in Christ, in Buffalo, Wyo.
Hello brother,
My name is Jason Mallory and I’m a repentant, baptized disciple of Jesus who was saved in the Los Angeles Church of Christ in 1997. I’m contacting you because my faith is that Jesus may return soon and I have attached a pamphlet that I’ve written with 7 signs that must take place before that happens.
The original eschatology of the Barton Stone Movement during the American Restoration was called Historic Premillennialism and was a return to the faith of the Early Church called Chiliasm. Alexander Campbell came along later and held the Postmillennial view. He believed that Jesus would return after a literal 1000 year golden age on earth brought on by the presence of the Church (Rev 20:1-6).
What a person believes about the return of Jesus can be a matter of how one interprets the Bible.
In Greek philosophy an allegory was generally a fictional story with a deeper meaning that taught a spiritual lesson. Some of the parables of Jesus for example are allegories. But there’s a difference between teaching by telling an allegory and interpreting Scripture allegorically.
For example, in Matt 12:38-42 Jesus taught that just as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of a great fish, He would be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth. Jesus did not deny the plain truth of the story of Jonah with His secondary, figurative meaning. Instead, He confirmed it.
No one else in the Bible interpreted Scripture allegorically in the way the Greeks did by denying the plain truth of the Scripture (taking into account symbols and figures of speech) in favor of a secondary ‘hidden’ meaning either.
Paul in Gal 4:21-31 interprets the story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar and says that the two women represent two covenants.
One represents the OT and bondage which is Hagar and one represents the NT, promise and the Spirit which is Sarah. Paul ends by teaching that we are not the children of the slave woman but of the free woman. Paul interpreted the Scriptures allegorically without denying the plain truth while teaching a spiritual lesson.
Paul is another example, along with Jesus, of the proper use of the allegorical method of interpreting Scripture.
All prophecies of Jesus’ first coming were fulfilled literally. The virgin birth, being born in Bethlehem, suffering etc… I can think of no other way a prophecy can be fulfilled but literally. The Book of Revelation says it is prophecy (Rev 22:19).
Preterism is an approach to interpreting Scripture revived by a Roman Catholic Jesuit priest named Luis del Alcazar in the 1600s during the Counter-Reformation. It was used to combat the Protestant Amillennial Historicist view of Revelation which said that the Pope was the beast of Rev 13.
Preterism was condemned by Paul in 2 Tim 2:14-18 referring to those who claimed that the resurrection (Matt 24:29-31, 1 Thes 4:16-17) had already occured.
Preterism says that virtually all prophecy was fulfilled 2000 years ago. It entered the CoC in the 1930s with Foy E. Wallace Jr. and it spread widely in the 1970s with Max King. As a result, Jesus’ command to watch for the sign of His return (Matt 24:15, Lk 21:34-36) changed to ‘He could return at any moment.’
The origin of the ‘imminent,’ ‘any moment return of Jesus’ begins in 1830 with a teenage girl from Scotland named Margaret MacDonald who while ‘speaking in tongues’ saw a ‘vision’ of the church being resurrected/caught up/raptured before the great tribulation of Matt 24:21-31. John Nelson Darby of the Plymouth Bretheren adopted the new idea, C.I. Scofield made the idea famous in America with his Scofield Reference Bible and the theology of Dispensational Premillennialism followed.
There is some dispute over the origin of the ‘imminent return of Jesus’ and those that claim that Darby came up with the idea on his own 3 years before Margaret’s ‘visons’ but either way, this idea never existed in the history of the church until the 19th century.
My intention is to build up the body of Christ in the knowledge of the truth, not cause strife. If you look at the 7 points from my pamphlet below you will see they don’t support the doctrine of ‘imminence’, the teaching that Jesus could return at any moment.
1. Great Tribulation
Jesus was asked 3 questions in Matt 24:1-5. He was asked about the destruction of the 2nd temple, the sign of His coming and the end of the age. He said this regarding the coming of the Son of Man:
‘For then will be great tribulation, such as has not happened since the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.’ ‘Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give it’s light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory’.
Matt 24:21, 29-31 NASB
This time of great tribulation or persecution that will be unequaled by anything before or after according to Jesus’ words has not happened yet. Some who say that it occurred 2000 years ago during the Roman empire are sincerely mistaken.
‘Apocalyptic Literature’ is a man made classification for the prophetic portions of Scripture that was made up by liberal scholars beginning in the 1830s. Many of these scholars didn’t believe the Scriptures were ‘God Breathed,’ questioned the authenticity of Daniel claiming that it was history written as prophecy, therefore doubting the date of its authorship.
‘For false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance’
Matt 24:24-25 NASB
If you are a repentant, baptized disciple of Jesus then you are the elect. Do not be mislead, the great tribulation has not happened yet.
2. City of Jerusalem
Jesus presupposed that Jerusalem would be an existing city in the days before His return.
‘But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are inside the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are days of punishment, so that all things which have been written will be fulfilled. Woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days, for there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.’
Luke 21:20-24 NASB
Some misinterpret this scripture believing it was fulfilled with the destruction of the 2nd temple in 70 a.d. by the Roman empire, however, in verse 23 Jesus mentions ‘great distress’ which he called ‘great tribulation’ in the parallel passage in Matt 24. Don’t forget, Jesus said that this time will never be equaled. This scripture could not possibly have been fulfilled anytime in the past and therefore awaits a future fulfillment.
3. The Beast
Whether you want to call him the ‘man of sin,’ ‘the beast’ or ‘the little horn,’ 2 Thes 2:1-12 says that the Day of the Lord, when Jesus returns to gather the elect from one end of the sky to the other (Matt 24:31, 1 Thes 4:13-17, Rev 14:14), will not happen unless the son of destruction comes first and takes his seat in the temple claiming to be God. Revelation 13:1-18 gives more details regarding this period of time.
4. Mark of the Beast
‘All who live on earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slaughtered.’ ‘And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause all who do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark’
Revelation 13:8, 15-17a NASB
There is no historical fulfillment of this prophecy. Whatever this mark turns out to be, worship of the beast will be required to receive it and it will be mandatory in order to buy or sell. Read Revelation 14:9-11 to learn what happens to those who take the mark of the beast.
5. 3rd Temple in Jerusalem
Remember when Jesus was asked about His return and the end of the age in Matt 24:3 ? In connection with that He said:
‘Therefore when you see the Abomination of Desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place- let the reader understand-‘
Matt 24:15 NASB
Here Jesus was referring back to Daniel 9:27, 11:31 and 12:9-11. Historically, these scriptures had a partial fulfillment in the life of Antiochus Epiphanes but the fact that Jesus told us to watch for the ‘Abomination of Desolation’ 200 years after the death of Antiochus demonstrates that many prophecies in the Bible, especially those regarding the ‘Day of the Lord’, have a duel fulfillment. One fulfillment in the time it was given for the people then and another fulfillment that is yet future.
According to Jesus in Matt 24:15, Paul in 2 Thes 2:3-4 and John in Rev 11 there will be a rebuilt 3rd temple in Jerusalem before Jesus returns. Once the man of sin goes into the temple showing himself to be God, what Jesus called the ‘great tribulation’ in Matt 24:21-31 will begin.
Of all the signs of Jesus’ return, this is the one that once it happens, there will no longer be a question about how to interpret the Scriptures correctly. This sign also refutes the doctrine of ‘imminence’ which is the false teaching that Jesus could return at any moment.
The Israelis have reconvened the Sanhedrin for the first time in almost 2000 years and remade the vessels for temple worship. They also started animal sacrifice a few years ago and began to quarry stone for construction of the 3rd temple.
https://templeinstitute.org/history-holy-temple-menorah/
https://www.israel365news.com/145899/thanks-to-trump-pascal-lamb-could-be-sacrificed-on-temple-mount-for-first-time-in-2000-years/
https://www.israel365news.com/269118/jews-begin-building-third-temple-on-israel-independence-day/
6. Wars and Rumors of War
“‘And when you hear of wars and revolts, do not be alarmed; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.’ Then He continued by saying to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be massive earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven.’”
Luke 21:9-11 NASB
Since the time when Jesus left on a cloud to be seated at the right hand of the Father on His throne in Heaven (Acts 1:9-11, Heb 8:1-6) there have been periods of time in history when this Scripture has been used by people setting dates for His return. If these things must happen first, as Jesus said in Lk 21:9, how can His return be imminent?
Jesus said in Matt 24:11 that many ‘false prophets’ will rise up and mislead people. Paul warned in 2 Thes 2 not to let anyone deceive you about the Day of the Lord. Jesus will not return before certain things happen first.
Chiliasm or ‘Historic Premillennialism’ was the predominate faith of the church for the first 300 years and the original eschatology of the Churches of Christ in America. The disciples expected Christians to one day go through the great tribulation, be persecuted by the antichrist and resist the mark of the beast. The writings of the Early Christians exist today and you can read for yourself what they believed about these things.
7. World Communications
’And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.’
Daniel 12:1-2 NASB
‘But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give it’s light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.’
Matt 24:29-31 NASB
‘Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him.’
Revelation 1:7 NASB
The Bible teaches that when Jesus returns every eye will see Him. Hundreds of years ago people struggled to understand how this could possibly happen. Today, in a world with Live Streaming Social Media where news travels around the world in real time, we can imagine just how this scripture will be fulfilled literally with or without technology.
Once again, my intention is to build up, not tear down. I’m open to further correspondence about the return of the King.
All Love in Christ,
Jason Mallory
Thank you Jason for your comments. I appreciate your interest in the scriptures, and in the coming of Christ, however, the scriptures are clear, in the fact that there will be no signs of His coming. As the scripture says.. He will come like a thief in the night” and “He will come when you do not expect Him”. Many of the verses that you have cited as pertaining to Christ’s return, in fact do NOT speak at all of His return. Some speak of the “abomination of desolation” which occurred at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. And no one ever said anything about a third temple being built. That is simply a misunderstanding of scripture. I would be happy to study any one of these facts with you if you wish. Just let me know please. God bless.
Dear beloved church of Christ, Buffalo,WY,U.S.A,
we have you in our hearts , because, you are working as Philadelphia church Of Christ in Revelation,Chapter 3:7-13.
We love you all. God bless you all,amen.
Churches of Christ in India Salute you.
your brother in Christ
O.Adam
Hi Adam. my good friend and brother. Thank you for your kind words and for your prayers. We in turn pray always for you and your family there in India. And we pray too for the work that you do there. your brother in Christ, Jim.
YOU REFUSE TO OBEY THE SCRIPTURE IN YOUR BIBLE TO FORSAKE ALL YOU HAVE TO BEAR YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST TO COME OUT OF THE DARKNESS BE HIS DISCIPLE AND BE SAVE therefore you have many belief in the thousands, it’s about the god of this world, the spirit of Satan in men and women, creation of confusing, churches of all kinds of religious to name some Christian science, Baptist, Catholic, Jehovah witness Lutheran, Methodist, Buddhist, Mormons, Presbyterian, Seven Day Adventist, Muslim Judaism and many more they are all Satan churches therefore you will not find god children in any of them, Satan have made many of his churches rich in his money, IF YOU DO NOT REPENT WHEN JESUS CHRIST COME YOU ALL WELL GO IN A FLAME FIRE
JESUS CHRIST DID AWAY WITH PAYING TITHE the reason is the children of Israel was going to be among all nation no longer all in one place can you see God children are all over the world all you have to do is obey the message. When you deny your self to follow Jesus Christ you will be going a way from the world, turn back to God and God will turn to you, for denying your self of the riches of the world let house land go you have put your tithe in the house of God, look at it this way Jesus Christ did not tell the young rich ruler he was to pay tithe but to sell all he had and give the money to the poor and follow him, he will have treasure in heaven (Mathew CH. 19 V. 20-22 ) But he did not let his riches go so he did not put his tithe in the house of God are plant a seed, he was the seed to be planted in the name of Jesus Christ, for he choose to be are theft and are robber of God, can a man choose to suffer being poor to bear his cross and follow Jesus Christ pay tithe of money, all Jesus Christ disciple choose to suffer being poor in Satan world. For all congregation to be of Jesus Christ the scale have to be balance you must do what Peter did in the book of Acts the one had house, land sold it and gave the money to Peter and he dived the money with the poor one also peter did not say they was to give tithes. In the book of Luke ch16 v 19-31 the rich man and poor man and they die, the poor man went to heaven, the rich man went into a flame of fire so is it better to choose to die being poor then being rich? Tithes of money have corrupt the churches
GOD WILL IS ALL MEN OBEY HIS COMMANDMENT LET THE TRADITION OF MAN GO AND OBEY THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH YOUR ENTIRE MIND. AND STRENGTH THE FIRST COMMANDMENT IS TO OBEY THE MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST IS TO FORSAKE HOUSE, LAND CHOOSE TO LIVE POOR IN SATAN KINGDOM BARE YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST IN THE SPIRIT’ 38″This is the great and foremost commandment. 39″The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF TO GET YOUR NEIGHBOR TO ALSO OBEY THE MESSAGE. TO BE SAVE FROM ARE FLAME OF FIRE
(CLEVELAND ROBINSON PH. NO. 870-292-9039 EMAIL steven75son@gmail.com
Thank you Cleveland for your comments. I need to ask you though, in order for me to understand you clearly; are you saying that because the church here in Buffalo has a building it it’s possession, that we have not forsaken everything to give to God? I know that there are many people who do not believe it is proper to have a building to worship in. That we must worship in our own homes. However I don’t find a verse of scripture to support that idea. We are given the command to assemble ourselves upon the first day of the week for worship, and that implies of course that we assemble somewhere, but the bible does not tell us where to assemble. God gives examples in His word of Christians assembling in private homes, and in upper rooms of buildings. The church here in Buffalo did meet in the private home of two of the members back in 1958. But it came about that the there was no longer enough space I the small house for all to gather, and so a larger area was needed for the assembly. For a while the church here met in a rented building, but then that building was sold and was no longer available. The church then decided that it was necessary and proper to try to secure a building that they could rely on for their weekly worship assembly and also for all to gather in for group bible study. You can’t gather out side all year in this part of the country. So the two members, Elmer and Vashti Huff, husband and wife, donated a piece of land to the church, so that a building could be erected to enable them to comply with God’s command to assemble upon the first day of every week, rain or shine. Later on various church members from around the country had heard of the lack of a meeting place for the Christians in Buffalo, and the funds were donated by many, many persons, to erect a building on the property that had already been donated. The property and building that the church meets in is owned by God. Everything in this world is owned by God. God’s word says in Psalm 50:10, “For every beast of the field is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.” The things that people think they possess, all really belong to God. We are just stewards of all that we have been given. And we will all give account of our stewardship to God on the last day. It wouldn’t be wise stewardship for the church in Buffalo Wyoming to sell the building and property that God owns, and go back 60 years in time, wondering where we are going to meet the next Lord’s Day. Jesus did not tell the rich young ruler to sell what he had and give it to the poor, because it is wrong to have anything. Jesus could read the hearts of men, and He knew
that the young ruler’s heart was covetous. Consider how rich Abraham was. Abraham and his nephew Lot, had so many herds, that they had to split up, because the land could not hold them all! Gen 13:6 Yet God continued to bless Abraham in all that he did. It’s no different today. It’s no sin in having possessions, if we use them to the glory of God. It’s when covetousness grips our heart that the sins comes in. Remember, it is not money that is the root of all evil, but rather “the love of money”, 1 Tim 6:10. Please tell us how you feel about this. But I hope you will also remember, that we do need scripture to back up all of our convictions. God bless you Cleveland, Jim.
Why does this man feel like it is a sin for the church to have a building to worship in? I don’t understand that.
Hi, thanks for your question. I think the basis for this belief comes from a verse of scripture in Mathew 19:16-26. A rich young man asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to keep the commandments of God. And the young man told Jesus that he HAD kept them from his youth. Then Jesus told him to go and sell what he had, give it to the poor, and come and follow Me. And so people jump to the conclusion that Jesus was teaching that we are not supposed to own anything. But what Jesus was teaching is that covetousness will keep one out of heaven. Jesus could read the heart of the young man, and this man was covetous. He had “many possessions” the scripture says. And because he had many possessions, he went away sad. And so Jesus said, “It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. You see, when we have many possessions, we want to keep them! Not sell them and trust in Jesus. It’s not sinful to have possessions. It’s only sinful to TRUST in them. MONEY is not the root of all evil, but the LOVE of money is! 1 Tim 6:10. Thanks for visiting and for your question. I hope this helps you understand.