Mark H. Ballard, PhD, Chancellor, Northeastern Baptist College

From our very first semester the Lord has brought amazing students to NEBC. As I was reflecting on the seventh Baker’s Dozen Principle this morning, I was immediately reminded of several students the Lord has brought to NEBC since our beginning. The Lord has used many students throughout the years in unexpected ways.

When we opened NEBC in 2013, we were still remodeling parts of our campus. All the work was being done by volunteer mission teams. We faced a major challenge in the years leading up to opening the college. We could not find a local HVAC company willing to work with us to put heat in the building with the help of mission teams. That meant that we needed $250,000 to have the heating system installed. Throughout 2012 and 2013, we met with several HVAC companies around the region to no avail.

In August we opened the doors to the college by faith, trusting that somehow the Lord would provide heat. It was an unusual fall with no snow and warmer than normal weather. So, we continued to pray, trust the Lord, and walk by faith. On Friday morning, November 1st one of our students, Tim, came to see me. Nervously he spoke, “President Ballard, I have to ask you something and you can’t tell me no.” Of course, my curiosity was peaked.

He went on to tell me that he had been praying for the Lord to provide heat for the building as we all had been. However, the Lord put it on Tim’s heart to give towards the need of providing the heat. He pulled an envelope out of his Bible and slid it across my desk. As he did, he said, “President Ballard, you know my financial condition, and you know this is all I have. But, you cannot tell me no. You must accept this, because the Lord led me to do this.” I sat stunned. Then he said, “One more thing. Would you please pray with me asking the Lord to multiply this gift, like He did the little boy’s fish and bread when Jesus fed the 5,000?”

We prayed. He left. I opened the envelop and found $25. I took it to the business office and asked them to open a new fund for the heat with this gift. Several hours went by and I received a call from one of the local HVAC companies asking to meet with me on the next Monday. First thing on Monday we met and the manager told me that the owner had changed his mind and was willing for us to use mission teams. There had also been a change in state regulations that would save us additional money. They thought we could have the heat system operational with mission teams for $50,000. By faith we told them to order the materials. Then I called a mission team in NC who agreed to be here the following week.

We had an HVAC company willing to work with us, a mission team coming, and $25. Later in the day we received a check in the mail for $250 with the word, “Heat” written on the memo line. On Tuesday we received a check in the mail for $2,500 with “Heat” on the memo line. On Wednesday we received two checks for the heat system that totaled, $25,000. By end of day Friday, the full amount of $50,000 had been given.

The Father took the sacrificial gift Tim gave, blessed it, multiplied it, and provided heat for the college. Over the next few weeks several teams came and helped, including one team that came and worked Christmas week. The full system came online December 31, 2013, just in time for the coldest week of the winter (the first week of January 2014). Tim prayed faithfully asking the Lord to provide the heat for the building. Then the Father led him to give all he had himself. Tim purposed in his heart to obey the leading of the Lord and give. As hard as it was to come to me, he did, and he insisted that I receive the gift. He not only made the commitment to give as the Lord led, but Tim also followed through with the gift.

In 2 Corinthians 8:10-11, Paul encourages the Corinthians to follow through by giving the gift they planned to give when the Lord first led them to give. The seventh principle is, We can experience the joy of giving when we follow through with giving just what the Lord leads us to give. Tim not only experienced the joy of giving, but he also saw the way the Father took that gift, blessed it, and multiplied it to meet the need.

Through the years the Father has used many students in similar ways. Several times through the years, it has been my joy to watch a student sacrificially give at the Lord’s leading and then to watch as the Father multiplies their gift to accomplish great things. Truly, the joy of giving is amazing!

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