Twenty-eight years ago, this morning, Cindy, Ben, and I climbed into our 1999 Expedition and drove to Concord, NH, where we picked up my sister and her husband. With them on board we began making our way southwest to Northfield, MA, the birthplace and burial site of D. L. Moody. The property is also the site where he founded the first of four educational institutions he founded during his lifetime. We had made this trip many times, but this trip was different.
On the drive I shared how the Lord had been working in my life all month, calling me to step out in faith and start Northeastern Baptist College. I told about my struggle but that it was clearly the call of God. We shared how Cindy had joined me in praying for the Lord’s will and together, we were surrendered to following the Lord’s leading. We then shared that the reason we were going to Northfield was to pray. The focus of our prayer was that the Lord would guide every step and that He would enable us to plant a college that would always be faithful to the Bible and to the Gospel message, impacting the northeast, the nation, and the world until Jesus comes.
We arrived in Northfield, parked, and began walking to “Roundtop.” This was Moody’s favorite spot to pray when he was in Northfield and the place where he was buried. With every step the weight of the decision grew heavier on my shoulders. I knew we had no money to start a college. I also knew that at some point I would have to step away from serving as pastor of our church and then we would have no money to take care of our own personal family needs. As we arrived at Moody’s grave, I couldn’t pray. The weight was too great. I looked at Cindy and told her that Ben and I were going for a walk. I asked her to stay with my sister and her husband.
Ben and I found a park bench and sat down. I began to pour out my heart to the Lord, telling Him that I wanted to obey His call, but didn’t know how I could be a good Dad and step out to do this with no money. Gently, His Spirit placed a thought in my mind. “Mark, do you really think you love Ben more than I do?” With that question, the weight was lifted. God loves Ben and He would make sure Ben had everything he needed along the way. Our job was just to trust and obey. We walked back up “Roundtop”, prayed together, headed back to New Hampshire, and on the drive home began putting together a plan to open NEBC in August of 2013.
Today, we celebrate Alumni Homecoming Day. In this, our thirteenth academic year, we have the largest student body in our history. NEBC is impacting the Northeast, the nation, and the world by training students to serve the Lord by exhibiting the mind of a scholar, the heart of a shepherd, and the perseverance of a soldier. In the last 2 years and 10 months we have seen more than 1,300 individuals come to faith in Jesus through the ministries our students, staff, and faculty engage in each week. Churches are being planted, existing churches are being revitalized, business leaders are being a witness in the workplace, Christian counselors and Christian educators are impacting lives for Christ. God is at work! He is faithful.
Today, we rejoice in all the Lord has done, but we also look forward to ensuring that NEBC continues to make a difference Until Jesus Comes. As you know, we are currently in Phase Two of the Until Jesus Comes Capital Campaign. Phase Two is crucial to ensuring that we continue to make a difference for years to come. Specifically, our 2025 Year-End Campaign is focused on three crucial areas. We are asking the Lord to lead His people to give to reach three goals in the final quarter of 2025.
Ø Presidential Partners’ Scholarship Fund – $2,000,000
Ø Dr. Gray Allison Student Housing Fund – $1,136,425
Ø Downtown Campus Fund – $2,000,000
Today, on the 16th Anniversary of our surrender to the Lord’s call to start NEBC, I am asking you to give a special gift to help ensure NEBC continues to make a difference Until Jesus Comes. The Lord invites us to join His work through our prayers and through our giving. He does not call everyone to give the same dollar amount. He simply calls us to prayerfully consider what we can give and then to give generously and cheerfully. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8) Some can give…
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Our mailing address is:
Northeastern Baptist College PO Box 4600 Bennington, VT 05201 USA