Prayer and Planning:
The Lord burdened Matt and Amy Fagan to plant a Baptist church in New England and they moved to New Hampshire in June of 2001 to follow that call. Under the auspices of Trinity Baptist Church in Concord, New Hampshire prayer and planning began for a new work to be started in the region. With the counsel of area pastors, southern New Hampshire was identified as an ideal location with access to a large population and need of a gospel witness. The border town of Salem was further defined as a gateway to southern New Hampshire and having easy access to both southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. On July 11, 2001, at 7:00 pm seven people gathered at the home of Gabe and Beth Marinelli (5 Sullivan Ave., Salem) to mark the unofficial beginning of Heritage Baptist Church. This weekly prayer meeting continued through July and August and others were soon added to the group. Within one month the prayer meeting had grown to ten. The group continued to ask God for a proper meeting place for worship on Sundays and for the people of southern New Hampshire to be reached with the gospel.

Prayer and People:
A date was set for the first Sunday service, September 9th, 2001, and a location was secured at Woodbury Middle School, 206 Main Street in Salem. Brochures were printed to advertise the first worship service and canvassing of the area began with the help of young people from Trinity Baptist Church in Concord, New Hampshire, and Cornerstone Baptist Church in Scarborough, Maine. Fifty-three people were in attendance for the inaugural service of Heritage Baptist Church and the work had officially begun.

The first baptismal service of the church was conducted in the Marinelli’s swimming pool on July 14, 2002. Forty-four people gathered to witness three adults and one child publicly profess Christ. Amidst the excitement of the new work, the people continued to pray. In the second calendar year of Heritage Baptist Church the church prayed for one new family to be added to the work each month and the Lord answered. At the one-year anniversary of the church, September 15, 2002, twenty-two people signed as charter members of Heritage Baptist Church. By the end of 2002, the average attendance had nearly tripled, and by the end of 2005 the attendance had reached sixty. The Lord soon added others and during the spring of 2007 the church averaged eighty-five.

Prayer and Property:
In November of 2003 a property committee was formed to identify potential properties for a permanent meeting place for the church. After much prayer and discussion with several land owners, the Lord provided six acres of land at 108 Rockingham Road in Windham, New Hampshire, just four miles from the school. Financing arrangements were made with God’s gracious guidance, and on December 9, 2005, Heritage Baptist Church became the owners of six acres of property at well-under market value.

Soon after closing, renovations began on the 3,300 square foot house on the lot to accommodate the church’s building needs until a new facility is erected.

In November of 2006 the owner of an adjacent piece of property on the corner of Rockingham Road and Seavey Pond Road approached the church concerning the sale of his property. Although the church was not seeking more land at the time, the church asked God to make known His will with regard to the valuable piece of land. The church family decided to collect a sacrificial offering on May 20, 2007, and asked God to provide $33,000 for a down payment and closing costs on the property. The Lord answered by providing $68,000 for the purchase – more than double what was asked (Eph. 3:20, 21). On October 11, 2007, Heritage Baptist Church owned seven acres of prime real estate on one of the most traveled roads in southeastern New Hampshire.

The story of Heritage Baptist Church is a story of people asking of God and God answering in order to glorify His name among us and our community! We look forward with great anticipation to how God will further glorify His name among the people of southern New Hampshire. To God be the glory great things He hath done.