Rev. Baker was very interested in mission work and was instrumental in bringing the church into the newly formed Conservative Baptist Association of America in 1948. Subsequently, we severed connections with the Northern (now American) Baptist Convention, the United Baptist Convention of New Hampshire and the Portsmouth Association. He also started the Annual Missionary Conferences in 1947 which our church still continues every year.

When Rev. Baker left in December 1951, he became the Associate Foreign Secretary of the Conservative Baptist Foreign Missionary Society. Rev. Guy Butera was called as the next pastor. Soon the Pioneer Girl Program and Cub Scouts, later replaced by the Christian Service Brigade, were established. Rev. Butera also had a radio ministry over WHEB in Portsmouth.

In 1957 three houses along Fayette Street became available and once again our church leaders had the foresight to purchase them. This was the first of a long list of physical improvements during the next fourteen years. Rev. Harold E. Burchett replaced Rev. Butera in 1958 and he spearheaded a number of fund drives to accomplish these improvements. The three houses were rented for a while and then removed for a parking lot. Meanwhile, a fourth house directly behind the church was purchased and used for our expanding Sunday school until 1971 when it was also removed.

Improvements to the church building during these years included: a new back entrance; church offices in the back vestry; a dropped ceiling with flush lights in the main vestry; 150 new folding chairs; redecoration and new furniture for the parlor; and new seat cushions, curtains, organ chimes, sound system, carpet, and new Yamaha baby grand piano for the sanctuary. The exterior brick walls were repointed and new glass entrance doors were installed as well.

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