January 1, 2026
Happy New Year NCF Family, Friends and Partners,
In many ways 2025 and especially the last month since we arrived back home has gone by very quickly. Part of that is probably we only had two weeks of school before our Christmas break (PC: holiday break) and were almost back in the swing of things before our two weeks off ends next Monday.
We had a great Thanksgiving trip back to Texas again this year and travelled 4,700+ miles with very little issues. It was a little different schedule as some of our usual stops going to Texas were unavailable which actually was a blessing providing opportunities to see friends and ministry partners in the DFW area that we haven’t seen in some time. All of our visits with family and friends were blessed and reminded us once again of how God has cared for us over these last 11+ years. On a humorous note, we also learned that mechanics in Arkansas and Texas don’t recognize Vermont “undercoating” and can mistake it for a fluid leak!
We have experienced a colder than normal December with the temps dropping blow “0” on several occasions. We’ve had snow followed by rain, and it looked like we might not have had a “white Christmas” except two days before we got around 4 inches to return us back from “dirty gray” to “white”.
We had a great attendance at our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 5 pm followed by snacks for those who hung around until the 7 pm service with the people at the United Church of Chelsea/Living Water across the common from us. It is always a joy to celebrate with them and just be participants.
Christmas Day is fun for Jan and I as we go the Riverbend Residential Care Center here in Chelsea and help the staff pass out Christmas gifts to the residents. We laughed together, sang carols and I let out some deep resounding “HO, HO, HOs”. I was even told this year I’m beginning to look more like Santa (I’m trying not to read too much into that, but it’s more motivation to lose some weight in 2026). We spent the rest of the day resting and catching up on Christmas specials. A group from NCF gathered New Year’s Eve for another night of games, food, and fellowship!
The church members approved the church council to begin the process of searching for a new pastor after the first of the new year and the council will discuss that in greater detail on January 13. Be in prayer for NCF as we continue to pray for God’s will and His path to the person He’s preparing to shepherd NCF beginning in September. Our prayer is that we might be able to co-pastor throughout the summer so that he (and his family) might fall in love with NCF and Chelsea as we have.
Preparations for the spring and summer at NCF have already begun and we ask for your prayers for God’s guidance and provisions. We already have commitments for mission teams for a possible soccer camp in June and our VBS in August. Be in prayer for Jan and I as we strive to be faithful and finish strong over the next 8 months as well as seek God’s will, plan and provisions for ourselves in our retirement.
The reality of the coming changes and transitions have been setting in during the holidays as we have done things for the last time and tried to turn loose of responsibilities and help others to take the lead.
Thanks again for your faithful prayers, encouragment and support,
Bill and Jan Smith
*****
November 11, 2025
Dear NCF Family, Friends and Partners,
Much has happened since the last newsletter in May! Life has been pretty much none stop over the last 6 months.
We finished out another school year the 17th of June and jumped right into summer mode with our first team who came to us from Woodlawn Baptist in Baton Rouge, LA. We had only part of the mission team of 30+ who helped us cleanup some damage in the supply room and create the decorations for our VBS float on July 4th. What a blessing they were. Both projects were accomplished far beyond our expectations (pictures are available on our new website: newcreationvt.org).
We took a break before the 4th and traveled to Cooperstown, NY to watch 2 grandsons participate in the Dream Field tournament. Our son-in-law was one of the coaches for the team so the whole family was there. We had a wonderful time rooting them on and visiting for several days. A nice break!
The July 4th parade was Saturday and as soon as the parade was over we had to drive to the Manchester airport to pickup our second mission team from Russell Baptist Association in Alabama. We first met part of the group at the Vermont Pastor’s Snow Camp in February and were asked about our needs for the coming summer. We shared our need for a team to come and help provide a soccer camp. Well, that’s what they did in the mornings and then worked on the facilities in the afternoon. We had a great soccer camp and part of the team put up insulation and sheet rock in the storage rock while others painted and put up VBS decorations in the front window and room.
Two weeks later Jan and two of our ladies went and helped Washington Baptist Church with their VBS. They had a great time and did a great job as our mission team to the church who sponsored us when we moved to Vermont over 11 years ago.
The following week was preparation and more decoration for our VBS Camp at NCF. First Baptist in Breckenridge, TX sent a mission team to help with both repeat and new members to the team. It is always a treat to work with them and catchup on what’s happening back in Texas (this is the church we served in for 11+ years and sent us as their missionaries to Vermont). We had another great VBS and week of ministry alongside longtime friends.
Each mission team helped us with some fantastic block parties on Thursday night each week and shared into the lives of those who attended.
During the two weeks before school started, we rested a little and took a few days to check out retirement vehicles for the future and ended up buying a 2016 Coachmen motorhome with the money we had set aside when we sold our house in 2014. We are hoping that it can be used to getaway from time to time until retirement. We did get to use it Labor Day and since then several things are being corrected before next spring/summer.
In May NCF committed to be a part of the International Commission’s Operation Andrew emphasis in Vermont which is about a six month commitment for members to: 1.) pray about 10 people that God would put on their hearts, 2.) to pray for them for a season, 3.) then to let them know that they were being prayed for and ask for specific things to pray about, 4.) to set up time(s) to visit and connect, 5.) invite to event/service at church, and finally setup a time for Operation Andrew missionaries to share the plan of salvation with them. We had several at NCF participate with over 20 names and 4 professions of faith with many others for us to continue praying and sharing with. We have begun a “First Steps with God” group on Wednesday night for those who have made decisions.
September was packed with encouraging first responders, hosting an “Elvis” concert as an event for Operation Andrew, and preparing for our 10th anniversary of New Creation Fellowship. We had a full weekend, October 3-5 for our celebration with a cookout for the community on Friday night, a open house and reception on Saturday, and worship with lunch on Sunday. Each event was a blessing as we celebrated God’s goodness over the last 10 years.
We hosted our annual Games and Treats for the families of Chelsea on Oct 31 and informally counted over 120 children and their parents who came through our building. We continue to pray for gospel opportunities from all the activities of the past 4 months (actually 11 years of ministry here).
Sunday, Nov 2, Jan and I announced that we will be retiring from this season of ministry at NCF in 10 months on August 31. We had been praying about this over the last year and felt it was time for the announcement so that the leadership could begin the process of seeking God’s pastor for the next season of ministry at NCF. Please be in prayer for the church and leadership, our prayer is that someone might be in place by summer. This would enable us to serve side by side with and introduce them to the people of this town we so love.
Jan and I will be eventually returning to Texas and making our home on family land in NE Texas (Avery/DeKalb area). We cherish your prayers in this transition and strength with our continuing physical struggles in the coming winter months.
Thank you for your continued prayers, encouragement and support over these 11 years. We truly believe that God has great things instore through New Creation Fellowship as we continue to “Love God and Love Chelsea” in Jesus powerful name.
Your church planting missionaries,
Bill and Jan Smith