Mark H. Ballard, PhD, Chancellor

December 19, 2025

In May of 2014, just as we were completing our first year as a college, Irma walked into my office. She said, “President Ballard, God is at work here. We need more students to come and join us in learning and in serving Jesus. We cannot have more students unless we can buy a new dorm. So, I have been praying and asking the Lord to provide the money to buy the dorm. President Ballard, I wish I had all the money we need to buy it. If I had it, I would give it. But what I can do is give my lunch money for this week.” She handed me $36.

I looked at Irma and asked if she was sure she should do this. I knew that this was all the money she had. She assured me that she had prayed about it and believed the Lord led her to do this, but she wished she had more to give. I thanked her and we prayed that the Lord would multiply her gift. I then told her that the Lord would bless her and that she should not feel bad that it was not more. The fact is, no follower of Jesus is accountable for what we do not have. All we are responsible for is what we do have. Irma had sacrificially given all and the Father would take her gift, bless it, use it for His glory, and He would provide for her needs.

The Lord indeed provided for Irma’s needs, and she did not have to go without lunch that week. In addition, the Father took her gift and accomplished far more than she could have ever imagined. Before I share the rest of the story, let’s see how her experience connects with the next Baker’s Dozen Principle from 2 Corinthians 8.

“For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased, and you burdened.” (2 Corinthians 8:12-13)

The fact is the Lord never requires us to give more than we are truly able to give. Rather, He wants us to give willingly and in accordance with what He has entrusted into our stewardship. It is easy to feel overwhelmed with all the needs of the many churches and organizations through which God is at work. We can often feel like we are not able to give as much as we desire. Sometimes we even allow ourselves to feel guilty over the fact that we are unable tard, PhD

December 19, 20o give more than we are able to give. This sense of guilt can cause stress in our lives. However, giving as God intends does not work in that way.

Notice Paul’s statements in today’s passage. First, he wrote to the Corinthians and commended having a willing mind. He indicated that if one has a willing mind, God sees this and will reward the person for his/her willingness. Second, Paul told the Corinthians that when one has a willing mind, it is completely acceptable to give only in accordance with what he/she has. Furthermore, the Cornithians were not expected to give all they had. Rather, he encouraged them to give proportionately considering what they had. His intention was not for the Corinthian believers to be burdened by their giving.

When we understand what Paul communicated in these two verses it enables us to move beyond giving out of guilt and stress to giving in accordance with our ability and experience the joy our Lord intended all along. Simply stated, the Baker’s Dozen Principle # 8 is: We can experience the joy of giving by willingly giving in accordance with what we have.

Irma had a willing mind to give enough to purchase a new dormitory for Northeastern Baptist College (NEBC). However, she did not have the ability to accomplish her desire. After much prayer, the Lord led her to give her lunch money for one week to start a dorm fund. Irma experienced the joy of giving by giving in accordance with what she had.

Two weeks after Irma gave her gift, NEBC hosted our first Vermont State Accreditation Team. After reviewing every aspect of the college, we met to discuss their finding and the next steps in our accreditation process. One item they noted was that we had in our plan to own dorms by the fall of 2014, but it was the end of May, and we didn’t have any money to buy dorms. They asked me how I planned to deal with this problem.

I responded to the Chair of our Accreditation Committee by saying, “I think you missed something. You said we do not have any money to purchase the dorms we have in mind, but we do.” They looked back at their information and then the Chair spoke. “Mark, you have $36, and it is the end of May. There is no way you can buy the property your team showed us for $36. Like I said, you have no money to buy the dorms.” I told the Accreditation Team Irma’s story and concluded, “When God does something like that, He is going to provide the dorms in one way or another.” They repeated a statement that had become a theme of the meeting. The Chair responded, “What you call God, we call luck. You have had more than your share. It will likely run out soon.” We ended the meeting with me assuring the team that one way or another, we fully expected the Lord to provide the dorms by August 1, 2014.

Over the next eight weeks, we watched as the Lord moved one mountain after another. The next gift for the dorm purchase was $100,000 a little over a week later. Many began to give towards the need. Some sacrificial gave $10, 25, $100. Upon hearing the story many gave $36, matching Irma’s gift. Others gave $1000, $5,000, $10,000, $25,000, $50,000. Ten weeks after Irma gave her initial gift (eight weeks after the Accreditation Team Meeting), we closed on Jehovah Jireh Hall.

The Lord took Irma’s willing mind and sacrificial gift and multiplied it as countless others gave varying amounts with a willing mind and in accordance with their ability. He provided all that was needed for the first housing unit of Northeastern Baptist College. Irma, and each donor, enjoyed the joy of giving, because they gave with a willing mind and in accordance with their ability as the Lord led them to give.

If the Lord lays it on your heart to assist in preparing young men and women for ministry, please send your gift today to:

Northeastern Baptist College · PO Box 4600 · Bennington, VT 05201 · USA