Dr. Mark Ballard, President

The Father continues to do amazing things in and through the NEBC Family! Several of our students, staff, and faculty members are serving in a new church plant in Bennington. The Lord is blessing this new congregation with much spiritual fruit. Just a few weeks ago the Lord led a new family to attend for the first time. The family of six did an internet search and found NEBC, which also led to them finding out about the new church plant. Over the last month, the Dad, two sons, a daughter, and the oldest son’s girlfriend have all turned to faith in Jesus and will be baptized on October 19th . The Mom trusted Jesus as a child. Yet, the spiritual growth in her life over the last month has skyrocketed and the entire family is sharing Jesus with others and bringing new folks to the church.

These kinds of stories are happening all over the Northeast. Every week we are hearing of people who have either never been to church, or have not been for a very long time, going to Gospel preaching churches, hearing the Gospel, coming to faith in Jesus, growing in their walk with Him, and sharing the Gospel with others. Cindy and I will soon reach our 28th anniversary of serving in the Northeast. We, and many others, have prayed to see what we are witnessing today for many years. All of us serving here stand on the shoulders of many faithful servants who have prayed and worked to see these days. This is an exciting time to get involved in the Father’s work in and through NEBC and all across the Northeast.

While we have seen the Lord do so much, there remains much work to accomplish. This summer my office completed an extensive research project regarding the state of Vermont. While we rejoice in knowing that we have grown from 14 churches in our Baptist network in 2013, to almost 60, we cannot ignore the fact that there remains 150 townships in Vermont with no Gospel witness. That means 60% of the towns in Vermont still have no Gospel preaching church.

This is why the Until Jesus Comes Campaign is crucial to the future of NEBC and the future of Vermont. You will remember that in 2023 we kicked off this 10-year, Three Phase, capital campaign to ensure that NEBC continues to make a difference in the Northeast, the nation, and the world Until Jesus Comes. The campaign was well received and started off strong. Phase One went very well and this time last year we moved into Phase Two of the campaign. The focus of Phase Two is three-fold.

Ø The Presidential Partners’ Scholarship Fund goal is $4,500,000. Giving to this fund provides much needed scholarship assistance. This fund supports the costs of operations and salaries, making a high quality education in the Northeast possible for students to afford. We anticipated receiving at least $1,000,000 toward this goal during last year’s end of year campaign. However, do to circumstances beyond anyone’s control this significant gift did not materialize. Therefore, we need to see at least $2,000,000 given to this fund during the 2025 year-end giving campaign to get back on track with our growth.

Ø The Goal to complete the Dr. Gray Allison Student Housing Village was set at $2,500,000. The permitting for this construction project requires that we complete the student housing in 2026. While we continue to progress toward completion, we still have $1,136,425 to go to finish the task.

Ø The goal to establish a Permanent Downtown Campus was set at $7,000,000. The Lord is bringing consistent growth in the student body at NEBC. We rejoice in the growth and we need additional space to maintain it. This includes more educational space, more office space, more student life space, more chapel space, and we need additional space for our graduate library. Recently, the Lord provided for a first step toward this goal with the purchase of one of the properties we have been asking Him to provide. A couple who have been long time partners with NEBC sensed the Lord leading them to make a significant gift to purchase the property. This property will house the graduate library, a new chapel, and add four additional 2-bedroom apartments. We praise the Lord for His provision through these generous partners. We still need $6,000,000 to reach this Phase Two goal.

As we enter the fourth quarter of 2025, we are asking the Lord to get us back on track with Phase Two and move us forward in the Until Jesus Comes Campaign between now and December 31, 2025. You can make a difference in at least three ways.

1. Please join us in prayer. We are asking the Lord to move on the hearts of His children to give towards the 2025 End of Year Giving Goals. Will you join us in this prayer?

a. Presidential Partners’ Scholarship Fund Year-End Goal 2025 – $2,000,000

b. Dr. Gray Allison Student Housing Fund Year -End Goal 2025- $1,136,425

c. Downtown Campus Fund Year-End Goal 2025- $2,000,000

2. Please give generously, as the Lord leads. No gift is too large or too small to make a difference. The Lord does not call us each to give the same amount. We only ask that you prayerfully seek the Lord to see if and how He wants you to give to meet these needs.

3. Please invite others to partner with us in the Lord’s work. Feel free to share this letter with your church, small group, Sunday school class, friends, and family; inviting them to get involved, as the Lord leads.

As you pray, the Lord moves. As you give, the Lord takes your gift and multiplies it in Gospel fruit. As you share with others, you are inviting them to join God in His work. Together, we can make a difference! One day we hope to see every township in Vermont, and throughout the Northeast, with a Gospel witness. Together, we can ensure that NEBC continues to move us toward that goal Until Jesus Comes!

Thank you for your faithful prayers, encouragement, and support!

In Him,

Mark H. Ballard

President, NEBC