BCNE Foundation’s Revitalization and Technology Grant Will Foster Vitality and Vigor at Hillside Baptist Church
Hillside Baptist Church, Pembroke, New Hampshire
Hillside Baptist Church has been described as “a faithful church with an aging congregation and limited resources.” That’s a true but incomplete description. It is never a simple endeavor for a church of any size to cultivate a substantial vision for spiritual faithfulness and numerical growth, and that is especially so when fewer than twenty people attend worship and half that number are members.
A Rhode Islander who moved to the Granite State after graduating from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Alexander Musard, 30, has been pastor for just one year of the historic fellowship in Pembroke, New Hampshire. He also works full time as a teacher at Concord Christian Academy, where he is dean of students (for grades 4-8 boys) and the chapel coordinator.
Musard is leading the congregation as they reinvent themselves for a new generation. “We are definitely in the early stages of revitalization,” he said.
With a $3,000 revitalization and technology grant from the Baptist Foundation of New England (BFNE) and teamwork with Fellowship Church-Granite State, in nearby Hooksett, Hillside Baptist seeks both vitality and vigor for their church as they “obey God’s word and uphold a biblical standard” before their 7,200 neighbors, commented Musard.
Alexander Musard, pastor of Hillside Baptist Church
He stated that he has “been encouraged by all the local pastors who’ve partnered with our church in different ways.” Specifically, he mentioned Aaron Cockrum, lead pastor/planter of Fellowship Church-Granite State, and Rich Clegg, senior pastor of FaithBridge Church, Manchester; Clegg is also the New Hampshire Regional Coordinator for the Baptist Churches of New England (BCNE). They stepped up to offer their partnership.
Clegg emailed Terry Dorsett, the BCNE and BFNE Executive Director, on February 5 that Fellowship and Hillside churches were adopting a “model to help get Hillside through this critical juncture and back to a place of thriving.”
“This could be a great model of how church plants can be key partners in revitalization.” Fellowship committed to receive and manage the finances for the grant that was approved at the March meeting of the BFNE trustees.
“Many times, an established church has helped start a new church, but rarely does a new church revitalize an established church. This is a great day for the Kingdom of God in New Hampshire,” Dorsett wrote Aaron Cockrum March 3.
Fellowship volunteers helped Hillside Baptist Church by painting the sanctuary, expanding the stage to accommodate updated new technology, purchasing and installing three large televisions, and replacing an outdated computer. Fellowship members also have been playing the piano for worship and serving as Hillside’s treasurer.
Musard expressed appreciation for the grant, praised the work of Fellowship Church volunteers, and observed that “true Christian partnership is not merely one church giving resources to another, but mutual encouragement and labor for the sake of Christ’s kingdom.”
In 2026, the BFNE is working to strengthen churches like Hillside Baptist, equip leaders, support students, respond to crises, and advance gospel ministry across New England.
Baptist Foundation of New England
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“In this season, because we are a very small and aging congregation with limited financial and manpower resources, we are not in a position to offer material support in the same way Fellowship Church has generously offered to us. However, we do desire this relationship to be genuinely mutual in meaningful ways.”
Musard added that Hillside Baptist members are “committed to praying regularly and intentionally for Fellowship Church, its pastor, elders, families, ministries, and outreach. We have already begun speaking positively about Fellowship Church to our congregation and encouraging our people with the example of another church investing in the work of Christ beyond its own walls.”
The pastor commented that he hopes the Hillside-Fellowship “relationship can become an encouragement to other churches that are seeking to remain faithful in New England. Ministry here can often feel isolated, especially for smaller churches. Our prayer is that, over time, this relationship will continue to grow through fellowship, encouragement, shared prayer, and opportunities to serve Christ together.”
Musard preaches expositionally and wants his church “to be healthy in various ways.” They have “a high priority on membership and working towards growing in our outreach and evangelism. Carrying out the Great Commission [Matthew 28] is really the main thing for our church.”
Besides its location on a hillside, the church chose its name to reflect Matthew’s gospel: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (5:14, 16, LSB).
“One of the things that encourages me is that our church has a love for God’s word and a desire to live under its authority. We’re growing together and it’s not about the numbers. It matters to me, pastorally, that everyone’s growing spiritually—that we would all become spiritually mature.”
Hillside Baptist Church traces its start to January 1982, when a small Bible study began meeting with two families. That gathering became New Hope Baptist Church but, after they bought land two years later, the name was changed to reflect its geography.
The church and their new pastor continue to benefit from the perspective offered by Pastor Emeritus Al Page, 93, who started the church. A native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, he served for twenty-five years in the US submarine fleet before becoming a pastor.
Other Foundation Decisions . . .
The Baptist Foundation of New England (BFNE) trustees also approved grants to the Baptist Convention of New England (BCNE):
$45,000—from the BFNE Church Health Fund to the BCNE Hoover Pastoral Fund for salary and ministry expenses of the part-time pastoral development director.
$21,000—from the BFNE Vermont Special Projects Fund to the BCNE Hoover Vermont Fund for ministry expenses in Vermont.
$20,000—from the BFNE Chair of Church Multiplication Fund to the BCNE Church Planting Staff Fund.
$58,000—from the BFNE Chair of Church Multiplication Fund to the BCNE Church Revitalization Staff Fund.
$75,000—from the BFNE Chair of Collegiate Ministry Fund to the BCNE Collegiate Ministry Staff Fund.
$55,000—from the BFNE Sponsor an Hour Fund for now, and an additional $55,000 after the Burke Springs income is received, to the BCNE General Fund.
Trustees also approved grant requests including:
$11,000—from the Greater Boston Special Projects Fund for New Colony Baptist Church, Billerica, Massachusetts, for audio/video equipment.
25,000—from the Southeastern New England Special Projects Fund for Grace Harbor Church, New Bedford, Massachusetts, to help them secure a $400,000 matching grant.
$6,000—from the Church Planting Fund for Elevate Church, North Clarendon, Vermont.