This Week in the BRN Family 09.29.22

Keystone North Church sees over 100 attendees at their launch; multiple BRN churches celebrate ministry milestones; and a youth group spends the summer making an impact - it's an exciting week in the BRN family!

September 29, 2022
Macala Mays

This Week in the BRN Family shares quick highlights of BRN churches and ministries throughout Pennsylvania and South Jersey loving their neighbors. Check out the latest happenings, baptisms and accelerating Kingdom movement stories below:

Keystone North Church in Montgomeryville, Pa., sees over 100 first time guests during its launch Sunday

On Sept. 25, Keystone North Church in Montgomeryville, Pa., officially opened their doors and launched their ministry at Souderton Area High School. The church plant’s leaders and team have been working towards this launch since February, and had 54 volunteers help. During their launch Sunday, they saw more than 100 first time guests and three individuals indicate that they gave their lives to Jesus. Praise the Lord for this harvest!

Please join us in praying for this new ministry as it shares the gospel with the Montgomeryville community.

Philadelphia Bible Church International (PBCI) celebrates 21 years of ministry

On Sept. 25, Rev. Roger Manao and the Philadelphia Bible Church International (PBCI) family celebrated the church’s 21st birthday! The church enjoyed worship, special music and a guest appearance from SBC Executive Director of Asian American Relations and Mobilization Peter Yanes. Congratulations, PBCI on 21 years of faithful ministry!

BRN Director and Great Commission Church pastor celebrates 18 years of ministry

On Sept. 25, Great Commission Church (GCC) in Philadelphia, Pa., celebrated Pastor Larry Anderson’s 18th year of shepherding the GCC community. Dr. Anderson also serves as the BRN’s Director of Church Health and Evangelism. Congratulations, Pastor Anderson on this ministry milestone!

New Life in Christ Fellowship in Coatesville, Pa., hosts book signing for ‘The Pastors’ Diaries’

Several BRN pastors who penned The Pastors’ Diaries participated in a book signing event at New Life in Christ Fellowship in Coatesville, Pa. The signing event gave readers the chance to interact with the authors and take home a signed copy of The Pastors’ Diaries.

Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa., turns painting project into a party

In an effort to complete its new mezzanine classrooms, Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa., invited church and community members to join them for a Paint Party. The volunteers got their hands dirty painting classroom walls and staining doors – and, of course, were rewarded with pizza, music and fellowship!

Country & Town youth group engages in disaster relief work, Vacation Bible School and summer fun

Student Impact, the youth group at Country & Town Baptist Church in Mechanicsburg, Pa., had a jam-packed summer, filled with camp, service opportunities and disaster relief projects. The teens enjoyed tubing down the Yellow Breeches Creek during camp, helping with VBS at Country & Town and heading to western Kentucky to help repair homes impacted by a winter tornado – Praise the Lord for these servant-hearted students!

In Memoriam

Rev. Dr. Herbert H. Lusk II

The BRN expresses condolences to Greater Exodus Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pa., and the family of Rev. Dr. Herbert H. Lusk II, who passed away on Monday, Sept. 19. A funeral service will be held on Friday, Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. at The Met Philadelphia. A viewing will be held before the service from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Please join us in praying for Rev. Herbert H. Lusk’s family as well as the Greater Exodus Baptist Church family.

Be a part of This Week in the BRN Family

Have exciting things happening in your church!? Let us know so we can celebrate with you and share the good news with our BRN Family. Submit stories of your church accelerating Kingdom movement, loving their neighbors or celebrating baptisms on our News Tips page. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Macala Mays

In 2022, Macala Mays stepped into her current role as Associate Editor of BRN United and Podcast Producer for the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey (BRN). Before taking this position, she worked as a contracted Podcast Producer in 2021 and a freelance writer in 2020 for the BRN. During her time with the BRN, Macala Mays has produced three different podcast series, including 50 Stories of Transformation (2021-2022), The #LovePASJ Podcast (2022), and Celebrating Cooperative Missions (2023). She also has written over 60 articles for the BRN and has been nationally published by The Baptist Paper and Baptist Press. She is also a member of the Baptist Communicators Association (BCA).

Prior to working with the BRN, Macala interned at the State Capitol of Tennessee in the Publications Division under the office of Secretary of State. She also remotely wrote news for TalkErie, a radio station in Erie, Pa., and previously worked as a News Director/Producer for WJET-TV in Erie, Pa.

Macala Mays holds a master of arts in communications from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (EUP) as well as a bachelor of arts in journalism/public relations from EUP. During her graduate years, Macala worked as a Graduate Assistant and helped manage the on-campus radio station. She also served as a managing editor for the university’s newspaper, which led to an interest in music journalism.
Macala and her husband, Robbie, live in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, where they attend Big Woods Bible Church and Robbie serves as the Associate Pastor of Campus Ministry. Both Robbie and Macala find great joy in discipling and walking alongside college students at Lock Haven University.