He discovered that he was wrong about that.
In his online “faculty office” at FacultyLinc.com, Buff relates his conversation with a college ministry leader at a local church. They discussed Jesus’ talk with Nicodemus in John 3. “It began to dawn on me that what I thought it meant to be a Christian and how one went to heaven was different than what the Bible says,” Buff recalls.
He gave his life to Christ, and tells today’s students, “Being a Christian has given me a sure foundation, for life now, and for life after death.”
More than 30 years later, Buff is a professor of mechanical engineering at San Jose State University, where he leads the local faculty/staff Christian fellowship. “Buff has been the glue that holds the Christian Faculty and Staff Fellowship together,” one of his colleagues reports.
“He has a strong testimony for our Lord’s love and grace to all those around him,” says Faculty Commons staff John Walkup. His leadership skills and his desire to impact the faculty, staff and students at San Jose State for Christ have led him to organize a number of different outreaches to his campus over the years.
Buff organized an Interfaith Panel Discussion at San Jose State in the spring of 2002. Speakers representing Judaism, Islam and Christianity made presentations and answered probing questions about their concept of God, the nature of evil, the role of law and their views of salvation and life after death. Forty students and faculty—representing many faiths—attended, including some who hold totally secular philosophies.
Buff also led an SJSU discussion group for the PBS The Question of God series, which compares the lives and philosophies of C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud. Faculty, staff, and a middle-aged self-declared agnostic student attended these meetings. Some spirited discussions, led by Buff, followed the weekly video presentations.
Buff begins class each semester by telling his students that he is a follower of Jesus. He posted the details of that story at FacultyLinc, where all of his students can see it. Buff’s faith shines like a beacon at SJSU.
For all this and more, Dr. Buff Furman received the Faculty Commons 2009 Erick Nilson Award and Grant, given annually to recognize outstanding Christian leadership, service and ministry by a university professor or administrator.